Events

Becky Rice, our speaker, is from Blue Thumb.  Blue Thumb is the education program of the nonprofit Metro Blooms, and a partnership of local government, landscape contractors, and native plant nurseries who are committed to the promotion of native plantings, raingardens, and shoreline plantings.

The Lawns to Legumes Pilot Program started in 2019 and has focused on building a movement to protect pollinators in Minnesota. It is the first statewide program in the nation to allow any resident with an area to plant to apply for funding and technical assistance to support pollinator populations.  The program emphasizes the establishment of habitat for the Rusty Patched Bumblebee (a federally endangered species and Minnesota’s State Bee) and other at-risk pollinators.

The presentation:  All Minnesota residents are eligible to apply for a cost reimbursement grant of $350 to plant natives in their yard. Pocket plantings, pollinator meadows, shoreline plantings, trees and shrubs, and raingardens, are encouraged. We'll look at some of the before and after shots of projects installed, recommended plant palettes, design templates and other DIY resources for coaches and gardeners.   These design tips and resources work for L2L, our Member-Sponsored Native Gardens or any other native landscape planting

This will either be a zoom call or in person, depending on the speaker's ability to get here that day.  He'd prefer to do it in person.

Joe Walewski is an author of books on ferns and is an educator at Wolf Ridge Environmental Center and expert on our native ferns.

Breanna, a Master Naturalist, Master Naturalist instructor, and former Director of River Bend Nature Center, is passionate about helping people of all ages interact and connect with our natural world. Come and learn about opportunities to work with people of all ages while enjoying native plants and nature.

Annual Anniversary of the Chapter Dinner - for members (and +1)

May 13- 7pm (Saturday)- Sakata State Park Ephemeral Tour (date may change)

Native Plant Sale

John Arthur, a member of Wild Ones and the MN Dragonfly society, will start the workshop with a presentation at the Emmaus church.  After that we will proceed to the Carleton Arboretum to have a chance to find dragonflies and learn more about them in their natural habitats.

This event is open to all, but priority will be given to Wild Ones, Cannon Valley Master Naturalists and members of the MN Dragonfly society.

Spring Lake Park Reserve is a beautiful Dakota County Park along the Mississippi River. They are reintroducing pure native bison and have restored prairies we will tour and learn about from their naturalists.

Tour of Judith Bechtum's restored prairie.

We toured the restored prairies of Red Wing's Memorial Park.  The tour was led by Red Wing Park Naturalist Maddie.  Nice hike, beautiful weather and views.  Good chance to see many native species.

Join Wild Ones Honorary Director Heather Holm as she explores the nesting habitats, life cycles, pollen collection, brood rearing, and general characteristics of some of the most common native bees in eastern North America, while highlighting the pollination of native plants and the mutualism between native plants and native bees.

When creating and managing thriving habitats for native bees, many factors such as seasonal phenology, nesting strategies, and flower preferences must be considered—and with approximately 3,600 species in North America (north of Mexico), there are many unique aspects to keep in mind when managing successful landscapes for bees. 

Presentation of Ducks and Duck Decoys by Gary Bullemer.  Gary showed his skills at carving duck decoys, explained his techniques, how he learned, and materials and resources used while talking about some of our local ducks.

Annual Chapter Meeting, appetizers, seed sharing event, and presentation at 7pm - Starting a Prairie Regeneration Project - Jake Froyum - Forester 

Join us for an enlightening webinar featuring authors, Neil Diboll and Hilary Cox, as they present their latest book, "The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants." This comprehensive compendium is a treasure trove of knowledge for gardeners looking to incorporate native prairie plants into their landscapes. Neil and Hilary will delve into the making and application of this essential guide, sharing rich historical and ecological insights about prairie ecosystems, all while showcasing stunning images of prairie flora. 

Annual Chapter Luncheon