June 28, 2019 Greenhouse Update: Growing for Wildlife Working in the greenhouse, growing native plants for wildlife habitat is a pleasure in so many ways, as well as a great learning experience. I feel so fortunate to spend time in the greenhouse each season, especially late summer evenings when all is quiet and the butterflies and bees happily go about their business. I… Read More
May 30, 2019 Ecological Restoration: Step-by-Step Guide This time of year, with spring finally in the air, our phones blow up with enthusiastic people looking for native plants and wanting help with restoration and maintenance projects. Many times, folks know what they want – amazing natural shores, incredible prairies, and picturesque woodlands – but they often don’t really know what it takes… Read More
April 23, 2019 Minimizing the use of herbicides in ecological restorations Well, being hearty veterans of Minnesota’s volatile springs, we just have to laugh at our last April winter blast. Regardless, we are going to say it: Spring is here and our incredible natural areas will soon be turning green and starting to flourish. It goes without saying, our maintenance crews are eager and ready to… Read More
March 24, 2019 Springing into Action From a brutal polar vortex in November to a whiteout blizzard in April, winters in Minnesota seem to be more unpredictable than ever. This winter has been no different, testing our ice road driving and shoveling abilities with record February snowfall in the Twin Cities. It may not seem like spring is right around the… Read More
February 24, 2019 Are Muskrats Friends or Foes? Living with the Misbehaved and Maligned Muskrat Seasoned weekend warriors just know that a lawn or garden project will most often come along with unexpected challenges. A shoreline restoration project is no different. In both cases, we create environments with certain desired characteristics. Whether it’s a vegetable garden with minimal weed cover, a lawn free… Read More
April 3, 2014 Neonicotinoids: What they are and why they’re bad It’s in the newspaper and on TV. Another link to why bee populations are in decline. Neonicotinoids are being talked about a lot today, but why? What are they? And, what is the impact of neonicotinoid pesticides on pollinators? What are Neonicotinoids? Also called neonics, they are a group of pesticides that are chemically similar… Read More
March 7, 2014 How to be a Knowledgeable Plant Shopper Before you know it, the snow will be melting and garden enthusiasts will be scurrying to get their gardens in full swing. The big box retailers all the way down to mom and pop nurseries are selling “prairie in a can” with a promise of truly amazing shows of color in a very short amount… Read More
February 4, 2014 Native Restoration Cost-Share Programs Natural Shore has worked with many grant programs and agencies on a number of large and small restoration projects. We have compiled a list of many of the native restoration cost-share programs and grants found in the Metro area. There are even more opportunities available! Check with your local governments to see what is… Read More
January 13, 2014 Rain Garden Success is a Team Effort Natural Shore’s experienced rain garden maintenance staff has teamed up with Metro Cities and private home owners to make sure their rain gardens remain beautiful as well as stay functional and efficient. To the casual observer these picturesque gardens might look like just another lovely patch of flowers, when in reality they are a functioning… Read More
