gardening – East Metro Water

So long sweet summer! Prepping lawns and gardens for the winter

By: angiehongmn October 2, 2018October 2, 2018

Buckthorn, Yards and Landscapingbees, buckthorn, fall, featured, gardening, lawn care, lawns, leaves, vegetable gardensLeave a Comment

By now, you’ve probably picked the last of the tomatoes, peppers and eggplants growing in your vegetable gardens. The predicted frost never quite made it to my house last weekend, but I know it’s only a matter of time before the winter temps will settle in for good. As you begin to prepare your lawn…

Lessons from a garden

By: angiehongmn June 18, 2018

Keeping water clean, Yards and Landscapingenvironment, featured, gardening, habitat restoration, St. Croix RiverLeave a Comment

Sometimes you think you have a really good idea, like planting vegetable gardens at your office. Full of enthusiasm, you put your family to work and spend an entire day tearing out sod, piecing together scrap lumber, and hauling in dirt. It is hard work but you feel proud. Then it is the next year,…

Planting a Monarch Mile, or Two

By: angiehongmn April 9, 2018May 4, 2018

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gardening, Great River Greening, pollinators, south washington watershed district, volunteering, WoodburyLeave a Comment

In Washington County, local partners have added nearly 20 acres of new pollinator plantings in the past two years, with 25 additional acres coming this year.

Stillwater Partners Launch Adopt-a-Raingarden Program

By: angiehongmn March 29, 2018May 4, 2018

Keeping water clean, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gardening, raingardens, Stillwater, volunteeringLeave a Comment

The Stillwater Adopt-a-Raingarden program will launch this spring with a city-wide Raingarden Clean-up event on Saturday, May 5, 10am-noon. During a follow-up event on Thursday, June 7, 6:30-8pm, teams will pull weeds as well.

A Whisper of Spring in the Air

By: angiehongmn February 16, 2017

Yards and Landscapinggardening, landscaping workshops, seed starting, tree pruning, treesLeave a Comment

The East Metro Water Resource Education Program will begin holding landscaping workshops in April and May (North St. Paul – April 6, St. Paul Park – April 11, Oakdale – April 18, Hugo – April 27, Forest Lake – May 2).

What’s hopping in your yard?

By: angiehongmn June 1, 2016

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbuffers, frogs, gardening, Wetlands, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

In your yard, you can create a healthy home for frogs and toads by leaving some of the grass unmowed near wetlands, lakes and woods; planting gardens with native plants; and using little or no chemicals on your lawn and gardens.

Spring Dreaming

By: angiehongmn March 21, 2016

Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, gardening, native plants, pollinators, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

On Saturday, March 26, Master Gardeners in Washington County will hold a spring gardening program at Stillwater Area High School, 8am-noon. During this free workshop, participants will learn about sustainable gardening, landscape design, and landscaping with native plants.

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.

Downsizing to a small backyard

By: angiehongmn August 4, 2015

Yards and Landscapingcommunity event, gardening, Oakdale, raingardens, ramsey washington metro watershed district, Valley Branch Watershed District, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, 6:30-8pm, Marge and Steve Sagstetter will invite neighbors and interested community members to join them for an educational event in their backyard.