native plants – East Metro Water

Nurturing the Wild

By: angiehongmn January 23, 2020January 22, 2020

Outdoor Adventures, Yards and LandscapingCharlie Mackesy, featured, native landscaping, native plants, snowshoeing, St. Croix River, Wild Ones Design With Nature Conference, wildernessLeave a Comment

Design with Nature Conference: Sat., Feb. 29 in St. Paul “What is that over there?” “It’s the wild,” said the mole. “Don’t fear it.” “Imagine how we would be if we were less afraid.” – Charlie Mackesy, The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse A friend gave us a new book for Christmas…

Marine residents rally to restore neighborhood stream

By: angiehongmn August 29, 2019August 29, 2019

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, Marine on St. Croix, native plants, shoreline plantings, steam restorationLeave a Comment

It was the weekend after 4th of July and five neighbors in Marine on St. Croix were ready to work. Armed with 1500 native plants, 2000 popsicle sticks, and a cheerful group of friends, family and children, the group tromped into the soggy wild behind their homes and began working to restore a small stream…

New funding coming soon for bee-friendly yards

By: angiehongmn June 20, 2019June 5, 2019

Keeping water clean, Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbee lawns, bees, featured, lawns to legumes, native plants, pollinators, rusty patched bumble beeLeave a Comment

Cheryl Seeman is a Master Gardener and bee-lover who lives on Crooked Lake in Andover. “They call me the Queen Bee,” says Seeman with a laugh, as she leads visitors through her verdant yard and gardens. The lawn is dotted with white clover and dandelion blooms. A wide rain garden borders a curbside city storm…

Ready, set, GARDEN!

By: angiehongmn May 1, 2019April 30, 2019

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gardening, native plants, plant sales, raingardens, volunteeringLeave a Comment

Do you ever wonder how plants can grow so quickly and yet without making a noise? Spring somehow always catches me by surprise even though I’ve spent months waiting and yearning for its arrival. Day after winter day, the world is bleak and gray, and then one morning I step outside and find tulips and…

Jump into spring with a Planting for Clean Water or Wetlands workshop

By: angiehongmn February 27, 2019February 26, 2019

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gardening, landscaping workshops, native plants, raingardens, shoreline plantings, WetlandsLeave a Comment

Workshops to be held in Wyoming, Hugo, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, and Cottage Grove After buying a home on Bone Lake a few years ago, Tom Furey downloaded the Score Your Shore tool from the Minnesota DNR website and set to work to learn more about his new property. From conversations with the Comfort Lake –…

Designing with nature, braiding science with beauty

By: angiehongmn January 15, 2019January 15, 2019

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, landscaping, native landscaping, native plants, Wild Ones Design With Nature Conference1 Comment

I was asked, “So, why do you want to study botany?” And I answered, “Because goldenrod and asters are so beautiful together, and I want to know why. I want to know why these stand together. Why do they grow together and look so beautiful when they could grow apart?” “That’s not science,” he said.…

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…