native plants – East Metro Water

Give me a home where the bees and butterflies roam

By: angiehongmn November 26, 2021November 23, 2021

Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, featured, lawns to legumes, native plants, prairie, prairie restoration, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

A native plant revival is underway and Lawns to Legumes grants are here to help.

Wetland in your yard?

By: angiehongmn November 4, 2021November 2, 2021

Keeping water clean, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, native plants, Valley Branch Watershed District, Washington Conservation District, WetlandsLeave a Comment

Wetlands protect nearby homes from flooding and help to reduce shoreline erosion along the edges of rivers and lakes. If you have a wetland on or near your property, however, you may need to make some changes in your landscaping and seasonal yard care.

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.

A flower’s fleeting charm

By: angiehongmn April 8, 2021

Outdoor AdventuresEarth Day, featured, native plants, spring, spring ephemerals, spring wildflowers, woodland wildflowers1 Comment

Of all the flowers that exist, spring ephemerals are the ones that I hold dearest in my heart.

Two miles, three raingardens, and 100 feet of native buffer: Charting Perro Creek’s journey to cleaner water and better health

By: angiehongmn March 18, 2021March 16, 2021

Keeping water clean, Partners and UpdatesBayport, buffers, featured, middle st. croix watershed management organization, native plants, Perro Creek, raingardens, streamsLeave a Comment

Local partners including City of Bayport, the Middle St. Croix Watershed Management Organization (MSCWMO), and even area Girl Scouts have worked to reduce erosion and improve water quality in Perro Creek through a series of projects including raingardens and native buffer plantings.

Cleaner water ahead at Carver Lake Park in Woodbury

By: angiehongmn March 11, 2021March 10, 2021

Keeping water clean, Local Achievementsalgae blooms, Carver Lake, featured, native plants, raingardens, ramsey washington metro watershed district, stormwater runoff, Washington Conservation District, WoodburyLeave a Comment

This summer, visitors to Carver Lake Park will discover a newly renovated parking lot, complete with a 5220 sq ft raingarden and 8000 sq ft of native plantings designed to filter and treat polluted runoff, as well as create habitat for birds and pollinators. The raingarden will capture 0.7lb of phosphorus, which is enough to prevent 350 pounds of algae from growing in the lake.

A crack in the rock & a beach in the forest

By: angiehongmn August 14, 2020August 13, 2020

Groundwater, Outdoor Adventuresfeatured, groundwater, hiking with kids, native plants, nature, Scientific and Natural Areas, streamsLeave a Comment

Crystal Spring Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) in Scandia was established just four years ago. It contains a crystalline spring that pours out of the side of a rock wall, deep in an emerald chasm.

Friends of Sunfish Lake Park lands $139,000 grant to manage buckthorn

By: angiehongmn June 18, 2020June 16, 2020

Buckthorn, Partners and Updatesbuckthorn, featured, Lake Elmo, Minnesota DNR, native plants, Outdoor Heritage Fund, Sunfish Lake Park, wildlife habitat, woodland wildflowers, woodlandsLeave a Comment

This summer, Friends of Sunfish Lake Park secured a $139,000 grant from the Minnesota Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program to remove buckthorn and restore native plants in 40 acres of the park. The City of Lake Elmo will contribute $10,000 to the project and volunteers will provide at least 300 hours of in-kind support as well.

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…