gardening – Page 3 – East Metro Water

Creating Water and Wildlife-Friendly Gardens with Native Plants

By: angiehongmn July 7, 2022August 19, 2022

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gardening, native plants, treesLeave a Comment

In our developed areas, however, yards and gardens can help to form critical habitat connections for birds, bees, fox, and even mustachioed rabbits.

Help save monarch butterflies

By: angiehongmn April 14, 2022April 13, 2022

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbutterflies, featured, gardening, milkweed, monarchs, native plants, pollinatorsLeave a Comment

USFWS estimates that there is a 96-100% probability that western monarch populations will collapse within 50 years and an 80% probability that eastern monarchs will as well. But, people can prevent that from happening by planting more milkweed.

Wildlife-friendly fall gardens

By: angiehongmn September 23, 2021September 21, 2021

Yards and Landscapingbees, birds, fall, featured, gardening, leavesLeave a Comment

In the coming weeks, there are several steps you can take to prep your yard and gardens for winter and continue to support pollinators, birds and other wildlife.

Create pockets of habitat with native plants

By: angiehongmn June 3, 2021June 3, 2021

Yards and Landscapingbirds, featured, gardening, native plants, plant grants, pollinators, sustainable landscaping, WildlifeLeave a Comment

Minnesotans can help to restore habitat for wildlife by planting native flowers, shrubs and trees in our yards to create pocket oases and connected corridors near larger parks and natural areas.

Let the gardening begin!

By: angiehongmn April 15, 2021April 14, 2021

Keeping water clean, Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, featured, gardening, landscaping, native plants, raingardens, shoreline plantingsLeave a Comment

Thanks to a relatively early start to spring this year, many people are already beginning to dream about gardens and planting projects. Here is a run-down of upcoming workshops and other support for eco-friendly gardening projects.

Online classes for gardeners and nature enthusiasts

By: angiehongmn January 21, 2021January 19, 2021

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gardening, nature drawing, nature photography, online classes, pollinators, prairie, prairie restoration, trees, wolves1 Comment

Explore new interests, build skills, begin planning for a summer landscaping project at your home, or simply enjoy a few hours of escape from the doldrums of winter.

Fall yard care reminders and tips

By: angiehongmn September 28, 2020

Yards and Landscapingfall, featured, gardening, lawns, leaves, pollinatorsLeave a Comment

Harvest the last of your tomatoes and herbs now before they’re killed by an overnight freeze. Wait to cut down old stems and seed heads until the late spring. Instead of raking leaves, mow your lawn a few times to mulch up the leaves and return nutrients to the soil. If you live on a lake, be sure that you hire a DNR certified contractor to remove your dock this fall.

A walk in the woods, a planted seed, new skills to learn

By: angiehongmn March 17, 2020

Outdoor Adventures, Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, featured, gardening, landscaping workshops, native landscaping, pollinators, veggie gardensLeave a Comment

We went to the woods on Sunday afternoon to enjoy fresh air, warm sun reaching through frostbitten air, and no other humans in sight. For the dog, it was just like any other day. She had no idea that the world was turning upside down as she galloped across the blackened prairie, still charred from…

The hills [will soon be] alive with the sound of music

By: angiehongmn February 27, 2020

Keeping water clean, Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbirds, featured, gardening, Habitat, landscaping, native plants, planting for clean water, pollinatorsLeave a Comment

It is never a secret when my son and I go for a walk. You can hear us coming from at least a block away. I’m usually singing because I consider myself to be either Julie Andrews or June Carter, depending on the day. Charlie is tripping along behind me in oversized boots replacing all…

Give me a home where the butterflies roam

By: angiehongmn July 17, 2019July 17, 2019

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbees, Blue Thumb, environment, featured, gardening, monarchs, native landscaping, Pollinator Friendly Alliance, pollinators, prairieLeave a Comment

On May 11, 1858, the United States of America welcomed its 32nd state to the union – 18 million acres of prairie, 21 million acres of wetlands, 31.5 million acres of forests, and 11,842 lakes, now lovingly known as Minnesota. Over the years, Minnesota has grown and prospered. Settlers drained wetlands to make way for…