native plants – East Metro Water

Putting Down Roots in the Prairie

By: angiehongmn August 7, 2018

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbirds, featured, leadplant, monarchs, native plants, prairie, soil and water conservationLeave a Comment

The roots of the leadplant chart a course toward the center of the earth. Thirsty and longing for stability, they branch, spread and burrow further and further into the soil. Encountering a rock or a flat pan of clay, they will pause, turn, and then continue their travels laterally. In sandy soils, where rainwater is…

Wild Bees, Rare Plants, and Native Gardens

By: angiehongmn March 13, 2018

Yards and Landscapingbees, native plants, pollinators1 Comment

The St. Croix Oak Savanna Chapter of Wild Ones just released a calendar of spring events that calls to frozen Minnesotans like water in a desert.

Protecting Pollinators – What’s the Latest Buzz?

By: angiehongmn September 28, 2017

Uncategorized, Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbees, honeybees, monarchs, native plants, pollinatorsLeave a Comment

There are 250 native bee species in Minnesota and 140 species of butterflies.

Condos and Townhomes Are Going Green

By: angiehongmn December 1, 2016

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Yards and Landscapingcondos, native plants, ramsey washington metro watershed district, WoodburyLeave a Comment

Working with board members from the association, landscape designer Tara Kline put together a design that replaced around 3,325 square feet of turf with native plants. The swale features “thirsty” shrubs like dogwood that soak up lots of water, as well as plants like cup plant, joe pyweed, blue flag iris, and sedges that provide both beauty and habitat.

Join the PolliNATION

By: angiehongmn August 23, 2016

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbees, birds, Blue Thumb, clean water, monarchs, native plants, pollinators, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Since your own lawn is small, you might be surprised to learn that turf grass covers more acres of land in the U.S. than the eight largest agricultural crops combined. Imagine what a difference it would make if all of us converted ¼ of our lawn to native plantings that provide habitat for pollinators, birds and wildlife.

Maintaining Your New Native Planting

By: angiehongmn July 14, 2016

Yards and Landscapingnative plants, pollinators, prairie, prairie gardensLeave a Comment

Planting in groups versus scattering the plants throughout your garden also makes it easier to keep track of them in early years.

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.

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.