Blue Thumb – Page 2 – East Metro Water

All about Insects

By: angiehongmn March 9, 2016

Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, gardening, insects, native plants, planting for birds, pollinatorsLeave a Comment

One example, wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa – also known as bee balm), is one of the best forage plants for bumble bees. Bergamot also provides nectar for honeybees, black sweat bees, mason wasps, great black wasps, eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies, silver spotted skipper butterflies, monarch butterflies, great spangled fritillary butterflies, moths, snout moths, hummingbird clearwing moths, long-horned bees, cuckoo bees, green sweat bees, wool carder bees, small resin bees, leafcutter bees, and sweat bees.

Under the snow, gardens wait to grow

By: angiehongmn January 26, 2016

Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, native plants, pollinatorsLeave a Comment

On February 20, Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes will hold its annual Design with Nature Conference in St. Paul at St. Thomas University. The event is an opportunity for gardeners, native plant enthusiasts, habitat restorationists, and landscape designers to learn more about gardening with native plants and making use of residential landscapes to improve habitat for birds and pollinators, and keep stormwater pollution out of local lakes, rivers and wetlands.

Monarchs in the Trees

By: angiehongmn August 6, 2014

Wildlife, Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, butterflies, monarchs, native plants, pollinators, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

On Thursday, Aug. 7, 6:30-8pm, the Jurans and the Grabowskis will open up their yards to neighbors and other members of the local community who are looking for ideas and inspiration.

Find Inspiration at the FamilyMeans St. Croix Valley Garden Tour – July 12-13

By: angiehongmn July 7, 2014

Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, Brown's Creek Watershed District, FamilyMeans, garden tours, native plants, raingardens, St. Croix Valley, Valley Branch Watershed District, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Some of the gardens feature landscaping with Minnesota native plants, but there are also shade gardens, veggie gardens, and even a garden with a model train.

Native Plants Keep Bees Buzzing

By: angiehongmn June 3, 2014

Wildlife, Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, honey bees, native plants, pollinators, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

Beekeepers are losing 30-50% of their hives each year as the colonies collapse due to disease, lack of habitat, and pesticide applications.

Walking on Water

By: angiehongmn April 2, 2014

Partners and Updates, Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, St. Croix River, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

In the coming weeks, there are a flurry of opportunities for people to embrace the coming spring and the changes it will bring to our yards and our surrounding watershed.

Enough with the Snow, Let’s Get Gardening!

By: angiehongmn February 24, 2014

Keeping water clean, Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, native plants, raingardens, Washington Conservation District, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

Next week, the Washington Conservation District (WCD) and local Watershed Districts will begin offering free landscape design workshops to help winter-weary Minnesotans plan raingardens and native plantings that help to create habitat and protect water resources.

California Dreaming on a Winter Day

By: angiehongmn February 13, 2013

Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, raingardensLeave a Comment

Though I know that roughly three months stand between me and my first chance at planting, it helps to start dreaming about gardens now while there is still time for planning.

Spotting raingardens around Stillwater

By: angiehongmn November 20, 2012

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, Brown's Creek Watershed District, middle st. croix watershed management organization, raingardensLeave a Comment

Minnesotans have built an astounding number of clean water raingardens in the past six years, including well over 100 in Stillwater alone.

Local Churches find Multiple Benefits in Stewardship Projects

By: angiehongmn October 25, 2011

Keeping water clean, Local AchievementsBlue Thumb, middle st. croix watershed management organization, raingardens, rice creek watershed district, south washington watershed district, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Locally, more and more places of worship are using environmental stewardship projects as a way to bring members together, add beauty to their church grounds, and demonstrate caretaking for God’s creation.