prairie – East Metro Water

How a billboard helped to transform weeds into prairie

By: angiehongmn November 21, 2025November 20, 2025

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, habitat restoration, Indigenous people, invasive species, native plants, prairie, round leaf bittersweetLeave a Comment

Round leaf bittersweet is an invasive woody vine, native to China, Korea, and Japan, that was introduced to North America in the mid-1860s as an ornamental shrub. The vines girdle and smother trees and out-compete our indigenous American bittersweet, making it a formidable foe in our Minnesota woodlands. In an attempt to eradicate bittersweet from their soon-to-be prairie, Wendy and Mark tried killing it off with a low-heat fire, digging up the roots, and smothering it with a large blue tarp. All efforts proved unsuccessful until now.

Restoring Hay Lake, one prairie at a time

By: angiehongmn August 26, 2024

Local Achievements, Partners and Updates, Yards and LandscapingCarnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District, farming, featured, Hay Lake, prairie, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Water monitoring data has shown a steady improvement in Hay Lake’s water quality over the past ten years as a result of planting projects completed on the land in the surrounding watershed. In 2022, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency officially “de-listed” Hay Lake, meaning it is no longer considered impaired.

Exploring the St. Croix Valley: Adventures on & off the Water

By: angiehongmn July 1, 2024July 2, 2024

Outdoor Adventures, Uncategorizedcamping, canoeing, featured, forests, hiking, Minnesota, prairie, St. Croix River, WisconsinLeave a Comment

In February of 2022, I took a week off of work, loaded up the dog, a pair of snowshoes, and copious amounts of coffee, chocolate, and wine, then headed up north to Pine County, Minnesota. My goal was to see if I could maybe, sort-of write a book. Now, two years later, this little book of mine finally makes its grand debut to the rest of the world!

The official launch party is next week (YES! You are invited!) and I’ll also be doing speaking events in Marine on St. Croix (July 9) and Lake Elmo (July 13). I’d love to see you in real life!

Three ways to help pollinators this spring

By: angiehongmn April 18, 2024April 18, 2024

Uncategorized, Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbutterflies, featured, gardening, Minnesota, native plants, pollinators, prairieLeave a Comment

The single most important thing you can do to protect pollinators is to plant and preserve native habitat on your land and in your community. Washington Conservation District and Blue Thumb – Planting for Clean Water have resources to help you get started.

Pollinator Friendly Alliance, Washington County Parks, Washington Conservation District, and Wild Ones – St. Croix Oak Savanna are also seeking volunteers to help plant more than 1000 native plants at Lake Elmo Park reserve on Saturday, May 4 at 11am. Visit http://www.pollinatorfriendly.org to learn more and register.

Burn Baby, Burn

By: angiehongmn March 14, 2024March 12, 2024

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, habitat restoration, prairie, prescribed fire, wet meadow, Wetlands3 Comments

Prairie, oak savanna, pine barrens, and wet meadows all have something in common – they like to burn, baby burn.
This week’s East Metro Water blog explores the unique habitat found in wet meadows. If you’re interested in learning more about prescribed fire, visit the open house at Lake Elmo Park Reserve on Tuesday, April 2, 4-7pm. Yes! There will be fire!

Tending to the grove

By: angiehongmn July 21, 2023July 18, 2023

Uncategorizedfeatured, oak savanna, prairie, trees, volunteersLeave a Comment

At a church in Woodbury, two bur oak trees have stood tall for more than 250 years. They’ve watched the land transition from prairie to farmland to busy suburbia and play so central a role in the story of the congregation that the people decided to call this place The Grove.

Prairie rising

By: angiehongmn April 28, 2023May 1, 2023

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, native plants, prairie, volunteeringLeave a Comment

Cheer for bison returning to the prairie at Belwin Conservancy and Spring Lake Park, volunteer for one of three native planting projects in May, or enjoy an “Evening in the Prairie” to learn more about this special ecosystem.

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.

Help create the new Glacial Valley Park in Woodbury-Cottage Grove

By: angiehongmn April 8, 2022April 7, 2022

Partners and UpdatesCottage Grove, featured, oak savanna, prairie, south washington watershed district, WoodburyLeave a Comment

South Washington Watershed District’s conservation corridor is the result of two decades of work to create habitat connections and protect land-locked portions of Woodbury and Cottage Grove from flooding.