prairie – East Metro Water

Gophers and muskrats, oh why?

By: angiehongmn July 30, 2020July 28, 2020

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gophers, muskrats, native landscaping, prairie, shoreline plantings, Wildlife, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

In a native planting or restored prairie, however, gophers should be considered a friend. Yes, the prairie will be bumpy instead of flat, but nature tends to be that way.

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…

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…

Training the next generation to be “Keepers of the Trees”

By: angiehongmn June 11, 2018June 11, 2018

Partners and Updates, Water Conservation, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, Master Water Stewards, prairie, south washington watershed district, Tree Trust, trees, WoodburyLeave a Comment

The sun shines on a May morning and 23 tiny children gather round, faces up-turned, smiling and eager to begin the day. Kim Lawler, a team leader with Tree Trust, and Joan Nichols, a Master Water Steward in-training, stand before the children with a young white oak that the students will soon plant in a…

Bringing Nature Home

By: angiehongmn January 19, 2018

Uncategorized, Yards and Landscapinghabitat restoration, prairie, Washington Conservation District, Wild Ones Design With Nature Conference, WoodburyLeave a Comment

The Rambosek’s bought their home in 1980 when most of Woodbury was still corn fields and open space. Today, their prairie is an oasis of color and life.

Creating a Legacy of Landscape Restoration in Washington County – Guided Prairie Tour Near Withrow, Aug. 16

By: angiehongmn August 9, 2017

Yards and Landscapinghabitat restoration, prairie, Washington Conservation District, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

When Jyneen Thatcher decided to make a mid-life career change, she wasn’t quite sure where her new path would lead her. She enrolled in the landscape architecture program at the University of Minnesota, with an interest in natural resources restoration. “Most of the other students in the program were designing artistic features for urban landscapes,”…

Students Plant 10 Acres of Prairie at St. Croix Prep

By: angiehongmn November 28, 2016

Keeping water clean, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingmiddle st. croix watershed management organization, prairie, St. Croix Prep, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Already, the teachers are coming up with creating ways to teach about biology, ecology, math, technology and art in the prairie.

Two Llamas and a Prairie

By: angiehongmn October 12, 2016

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, Yards and Landscapingconservation, prairie, small farms, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

“For our 25th anniversary – the silver anniversary – we got a doe with silver ears and two baby goats.” Becky Vierling smiles as she talks about the small farm in Denmark Township that she and her husband Philip bought in 2003. When the Vierlings took on a more than 100-year old farm house with…

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.

Giants of the prairie

By: angiehongmn June 8, 2016

Wildlife, Yards and LandscapingBelwin Conservancy, bison, prairie, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

On Saturday, June 11, the ground in the Belwin prairie will again shake as a truck pulls up, opens its doors and releases a herd of bison with thundering hooves.