Before retiring in 2017, Nancy Schumacher spent more than 30 years growing and selling plants at farmers’ markets, special events, and annual sales at her home. Over the years, products included traditional perennials, native species and herbs with the latter years dedicated almost exclusively to natives. She holds a degree in soil science from the University of Minnesota. Prior to her life as a grower, Nancy was a soil mapper in Stearns County. She also spent several years, both in research and consulting, on organic waste management. Her current focus is on rehabilitating the 50 acres that she and her husband own. They have established a conservation easement on the property and are working with Dakota County to return it to a more natural state.
Bare Root Clinic and Workshop | May 6th-June 11th
We invite you to register and attend one of our upcoming Bare Root Study and Demonstration Clinics. All events will be at the home of instructor unless otherwise noted.*
Participants are asked to bring one to three plants from your garden to practice on*. Remove only excess soil, transport plants in a large container, such as a 5 gallon pail or storage tub. We'll finish removing the soil from roots as part of the workshop. Any plants you bring must be completely contained when you arrive so as not to spill any soil. If you think you may have live worms, use a container with a tight lid.
You will receive additional instructions and address via email from juliakay@winternet.com. Each clinic is limited to 5 persons, protocols for masks and social distancing will be adhered to. Date will be cancelled in the event of severe weather or if fewer than 3 persons have registered. A text or voice mail message may be sent if cancellation is on short notice.
*May 16 clinic will be at a different location and will have separate instructions, check back later for more details and to register.
In case you missed our March and April mini-series programs on Jumping Worms, you can watch them on our YouTube Channel here.
Julia Vanatta - Jumping Worms: Protecting Our Garden Spaces | Monthly Presentation April 2021
Ryan Hueffmeier - Jumping Worms, the Latest Threat... | Monthly Presentation March 2021
And check back soon for more information on Summer Garden Tours, beginning with...
George and Bernice Watson's Native Plant Gardens, Lakeville
Wednesday, May 26th from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
and
Saturday, May 29th from 10:00 am-3:00 pm
Please pre register HERE to help us plan for your visit. George will lead one guided tour on Wednesday evening and hourly guided tours on Saturday. Guests are welcome to tour the garden on their own as well.
When the Watsons moved into this home in August of 1987, it was a bare lot. They have added over 40 trees to the canopy and subcanopy in the last 34 years. Progressing from the front yard back, the percentage of natives in a garden increases as more recent additions are in the back, which includes a dry stream bed and three ponds. The rear of the property adjoins the Foxborough Conservation Area.
In addition to trips to Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota and local prairie garden tours, they also looked to undisturbed native areas in the neighborhood for inspiration. After taking an inventory of the areas they determined, per the Field Guide to the Native Plant Communities of Minnesota The Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province, that their home is in the MHs38b plot definitions. Using that as their plant list, George and Bernice have started integrating those plants into their gardens, replicating native plant settings to enhance the beautiful native wildflower landscape.
Our 15th Annual Native Plant Sale offers 7 collections and a variety of habitat garden favorites in 3 convenient sizes available for pre-order. All plants available for pre-order are grown by a local Minnesota native plant nursery without the use of neonics. A portion of each sale is a donation to our Wild Ones Twin Cities chapter, supporting our free education programs and tours.
For your convenience, we've made a PLANT SALE WORKSHEET you can download and print to plan your order. All flat and plant reservations will be accepted in the order they are received. It's possible some items will sell out so place your order as soon as possible.
Eventbrite will charge a small processing fee and credit card fee (per item) but you will not be required to pay any sales tax, a fundraising exemption offered non-profits by the State of Minnesota. If paying by check, you will only pay the Eventbrite processing fee, and will receive instructions on where to mail payment once your order is completed.
Approximately one week before the plant sale pick-up weekend, you will receive a reminder email with a one-time coupon good only on the day of pick-up for 10% discount on additional plant purchases and other merchandise, a great incentive. You must pre-order plants through the Wild Ones Twin Cities Native Plant Sale in order to receive this discount coupon. Please pick-up your pre-ordered plants and bring them to your car before purchasing additional plants or merchandise with your discount.
PICK-UP: from 9am-4pm on
Friday, June 4th | Saturday, June 5th | Sunday, June 6th
Get acquainted with the Nokomis Naturescape native plant demonstration gardens. A group of volunteers have maintained these gardens for 22 years. An opportunity for newcomers to learn about habitat gardening hands-on. Our gardening task will be clipping back the hollow/pithy type stems of last years plants so they can serve as homes for cavity nesting bees (see stems in poster photo). Bring clippers (or any snipping tool) you can plus gardening gloves. We’ll do a slow-gardening approach to clean-up chores with beneficial insects and bird habitat in mind.
The Nokomis Naturescape Gardeneers have a new program in 2021:
Native Plant Gardening Learn-Along
This is a mentoring opportunity where people newer to native plant habitat gardening can learn-alongside an experienced gardener (most Wild Ones Twin Cities members) with a couple of others. We’ll do the gardening chores that present themselves that week plus learn more about the plants and animal visitors (usually very small) we encounter. Learn-along the growing season topics will be presented at the beginning of each session. These 15-30 minutes presentations will then be followed by hands-on gardening time
(13) Sessions: Live every Tuesday, June 1 - August 24, 2021, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Central Time
A Collaboration with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota State Horticultural Society, and Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association, and endorsed by Wild Ones Twin Cities.
Discount registration for the Minnesota Plants Summer Webinar Series
Join local horticultural experts live every Tuesday 7-8 p.m., June 1 - August 24 to learn to appreciate plants in their peak season, tackle pests and problems with expertise, identify new plants on your hikes, and much more! Each webinar will include a 30-45 minute presentation with time for questions along the way. Wild Ones Twin Cities members, volunteers and staff may register at the discounted member rate of $30 (regularly $40). The fee includes series access to all 13 webinars live & recorded, so you can watch at a time that is convenient to you! Find schedule, details, and register at z.umn.edu/MNPlantsSummer
To register with the discount: Click to register online for the Minnesota Plants Webinar Series. There is no need to "sign in," simply select the member rate and proceed to check out as a guest (Arboretum members may choose to sign in with their Arboretum member login if they prefer, and receive the same discounted rate). If you want to register with assistance from an Arboretum registrar, you may contact the Arboretum Education office at 612-301-1210 or ArbEdu@umn.edu.
In addition to trips to Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota and local prairie garden tours, they also looked to undisturbed native areas in the neighborhood for inspiration. After taking an inventory of the areas they determined, per the Field Guide to the Native Plant Communities of Minnesota The Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province, that their home is in the MHs38b plot definitions. Using that as their plant list, George and Bernice have started integrating those plants into their gardens, replicating native plant settings to enhance the beautiful native wildflower landscape.
