Minnesota’s native flora is more than just looks—its plants showcase fascinating chemistry you’ve never considered! Individual plant species deploy specific chemicals that are essential to how they function in our ecosystems. From fending off hungry herbivores to wooing pollinators and outsmarting competitors, these plants demonstrate ingenuity that even rivals our use of chemicals to fight…

We are thrilled to share the progress and success of the Grand Avenue Rain Garden Project, made possible through the collaboration between our Natural Shore Team and the Minneapolis Department of Public Works, Surface Waters, and Sewers. This green stormwater management initiative is working to reduce stormwater volume, improve water quality, provide essential habitat for…

Ready to take on the most rewarding garden challenge ever? Imagine gradually planting beautiful, low maintenance native species to replace ornamentals. Transform your landscape into a haven for pollinators and wildlife, while reducing chemicals, water use, and maintenance. Minnesota’s native plants, from vibrant coneflowers to hardy prairie grasses, thrive in our climate and offer year-round…

Many people recognize the benefits of native plants but aren’t sure if they’re right for their space. The power of leveraging native plants is that there’s a perfect plant species for every unique situation! Evolved to thrive in Minnesota ecosystems, native plants help achieve various project objectives with specific plant communities. Here are a few…

In the Metro area this fall, the weather has been pretty wacky with consistently warm temperatures and even a record breaking day in the 80s. However, inevitably, we will start getting arctic blasts moving down from Canada which will trigger a whole host of plant and animal responses. After the first few frosts our native…

Here at Natural Shore, we maintain over 500 ecological restoration sites around the metro area, so we often run into people that love natural areas and equally enjoy produce, vegetable, and food type gardens. We sometimes get asked if native plants and vegetable gardens can commingle, and the answer is always a resounding yes! Native…

In Minnesota, the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” is not just a tagline but a way of life. With approximately 90,000 miles of lakeshores shaping our geography, the delicate balance between land and water creates some of the most important habitat in our state. Preserving the integrity of our vast natural shorelines and reducing erosion is…

In Loring Park, 2006, Jumping worms (Amynthas spp.) were first discovered in MN. Since then, they have moved through central and southern Minnesota landscapes at an alarming rate. One reason for this is that jumping worms reach sexual maturity fast, allowing them to reproduce at a much higher rate than other worm species. They also process…

Each year, an increasing number of people are opting to change their turf lawn to prairie, and for good reason. Consider this: the total area of turf lawn in the US is estimated at 60-65 million acres, more than all the US corn fields combined.  In Minnesota, estimates suggest that turf grass covers 15% of…

Minnesota is home to over 10,000 lakes, and each one of them is a treasure worth protecting. A key component to preserving and improving lake quality is understanding how to restore lakeshores with native plants. High-quality shoreline restorations are an economical tool to reduce erosion, create resilient habitats, add natural beauty to the landscape, and…

Every ecological restoration project presents its own set of unique goals and challenges. For this west metro landowner, soggy and sick turf grass made up a good portion of their backyard. The main project goal here was to take advantage of excess water drainage from a natural wetland and create an amazing backyard restoration and…