gardening – Page 2 – East Metro Water

Resource Highlight: Blue Thumb – Planting for Clean Water

By: angiehongmn February 15, 2024February 14, 2024

Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, featured, gardening, native plants, raingardens, shorelinesLeave a Comment

There is a growing (pun intended?) movement across Minnesota as more and more people begin to think of their yards, not just as a place to relax and recreate, but also as a living landscape that can help to support wildlife and keep water clean. One group of people helping to fuel this movement is the Blue Thumb – Planting for Clean Water partnership, which was formed in 2007.

Learn about upcoming workshop, native plant retailers, garden templates, and other resources to help you go blue & green!

Sowing Native Seeds in Winter

By: angiehongmn January 25, 2024January 23, 2024

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gardening, native plants, winter seed sowingLeave a Comment

Though it may not seem intuitive, winter is actually a great time to begin sowing seeds for native perennial grasses and flowers. Learn how and get inspired to incorporate a new native plant into your gardens this spring!

A final push for pollinators before the snow begins to fall

By: angiehongmn October 26, 2023

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gardening, Minnesota, native plants, pollinators1 Comment

Minnesotans can apply for Lawns to Legumes cost-share funding between now and November 30
at http://www.Bluethumb.org. The grants are up to $400 and can be put toward pollinator planting projects such as pocket gardens, bee lawns, and flowering native trees.

When gardening with native plants, be prepared for change

By: angiehongmn July 28, 2023July 25, 2023

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gardening, native plants2 Comments

If you’re willing to embrace the change inherent in a mostly native garden, you’ll be rewarded with a landscape that is constantly evolving, vibrant, and full of life. It’s almost like getting a new set of gardens every month!

Native Gardens for Sun and Shade

By: angiehongmn May 18, 2023May 16, 2023

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gardening, gardens, native plants, pollinatorsLeave a Comment

This week, I’m sharing two of my favorite “recipes” for gardens that are sure to attract butterflies and bees.

Anti Being “Anti No Mow May”

By: angiehongmn May 9, 2023

Yards and Landscapingbee lawns, featured, gardening, lawns, native plants, No Mow May5 Comments

There seems to be an “anti” No Mow May movement underway and I fear we are missing a golden opportunity to ride the wave of public enthusiasm and begin breaking the green grass chains that bind.

Numbers for the New Year

By: angiehongmn December 29, 2022December 20, 2022

Local Achievements, Yards and Landscapingconservation, featured, gardening, Homegrown National Park, native plants, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Since 2009, Washington County landowners have completed 5325 conservation projects ranging in scale from tiny front-yard pollinator gardens to large-scale conversions of cropland to native prairie.

Undies in the Garden

By: angiehongmn September 30, 2022September 29, 2022

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gardening, soil healthLeave a Comment

I feel embarrassed to admit how excited and nervous I was to dig up the underwear in my yard and see how much they had decomposed.

Going native? Fall is a great time to plant

By: angiehongmn September 1, 2022November 30, 2022

Yards and Landscapingfall, featured, gardening, native plants, prairie2 Comments

You can plant native plants from small packs or pots between September and mid-October or spread seed for bee-lawn and native plantings in early November to mid-December.