|
NEWSLETTER / MAY 2023
 Children and parents practice casting techniques at a learn-to-fish event with Baztec Fishing & Outdoors, sponsored by the MWMO, on May 13, 2023, at Boom Island Park. The MWMO is sponsoring a series of birding, fishing and paddling events targeting communities that have traditionally lacked access to outdoor recreation as part of the MWMO’s ongoing “Meet the Mississippi” outreach campaign.
Spring Maintenance for Native Plant Gardens
 If you have a raingarden or native plant landscaping at home, now is the time to prime your yard for a healthy growing season.
Of course, the beauty of native plants is that they require minimal maintenance. Here are four simple steps to keep your native perennials healthy and thriving:
-
Weeding and Mulching: Remove any invasive species or weeds that might compete with your native plants for resources. Apply a layer of double-shredded hardwood mulch around the plants to suppress future weed growth and retain soil moisture.
-
Pruning and Deadheading (Optional): Trim back any dead or damaged stems, branches, or flowers. Deadheading, the removal of spent blooms, encourages further flowering and enhances the overall appearance of your garden.
-
Watering (During Establishment Phase Only): During the first year after planting, make sure your plants receive approximately 1 inch of water per week. After that, they shouldn’t require any supplemental except during an extended drought.
-
Dividing and Transplanting (Optional): Over time, some native perennials may become overcrowded or outgrow their space. Dividing them every few years helps rejuvenate the plants and maintain their vigor. Spring is an ideal time for such tasks.
Check out our updated blog post and accompanying how-to video on the basics of maintaining native plants.
Greenery Arrives at Juxtaposition Arts’ New, Expanded Campus
 Juxtaposition Arts’ revamped North Minneapolis campus now sports a brand-new, habitat-rich landscape, thanks in part to an MWMO grant.
Staff from the Tree Trust led a group of volunteers in planting hundreds of native trees, shrubs and plants at the nonprofit’s newly rebuilt building and grounds on May 23. JXTA’s expansion project is nearly complete, with a public open house event scheduled for June 2.
The vegetation is complemented by underground stormwater systems, including a cistern and a tree vault system that captures and treats runoff from the parking lot.
Learn More >
Children’s Dental Services Parking Lot Soaks Up Stormwater, Looks Cool
 Construction of a permeable paver parking lot is complete at Children's Dental Services' (CDS) Broadway Street NE location. A pair of MWMO Stewardship Fund Grants helped CDS install an impressive parking area that will allow runoff from the building's roof and parking area to soak into the ground.
Permeable pavers are a unique way to manage stormwater sustainably without losing parking spaces or other hardscape areas. They’re especially useful on small properties where raingardens or other vegetated stormwater infrastructure isn’t feasible.
This work compliments past efforts by CDS to provide water and habitat-friendly spaces at both locations in Northeast Minneapolis. There are future plans for additional native plantings, too.
See More Photos >
The 'No-Mow May' Controversy, Explained
 You’ve probably heard of “No-Mow May,” the campaign that advocates not mowing your lawn for the month of May to allow flowering weeds to bloom to provide food for pollinators.
The MWMO supports No-Mow May as a low-effort way to support pollinators. Our philosophy is this: If you can plant actual native wildflowers in your yard, that’s ideal; but if dandelions are the best you can do, that’s better than nothing.
But as No-Mow May has grown in popularity, so has the backlash. Questions from skeptics abound: Isn’t it bad to let weeds spread unchecked? Won’t it damage your lawn? And shouldn’t we focus on promoting native plants and bee lawns instead?
The short answers to many of these questions rest on common sense. If you let your turfgrass grow to 12 inches high, trimming it back down without damaging it will be tricky. And once your dandelions start going to seed, you might as well pull or cut them, since they’re not feeding pollinators anymore.
Local enviro-influencer Angie Hong debunked some of the myths around the subject in a series of TikTok videos (part 1, part 2 and part 3). She also posted a defense of No-Mow May on her blog, with some additional thoughts.
The bottom line: There is no one-size-fits-all solution for yard care. Doing it properly means paying close attention and adapting to changing circumstances rather than following a preordained set of rules.
Staff Updates
MWMO Bids Farewell to Brian Jastram
Monitoring and Instrumentation Specialist Brian Jastram left the MWMO this month after 18 years of work on the MWMO’s water quality monitoring team.
Brian personally designed and installed many of the monitoring systems the MWMO uses. During his time at the MWMO, he saw the organization grow from a skeleton crew of four to a full staff of 16.
Brian is now a senior water scientist at Rock Leaf Water Environmental. We wish him the best of luck in his new job!
|
MWMO Welcomes Isabella Radler
In April, the MWMO welcomed Intern Isabella Radler to our monitoring team.
Bella brings two years of prior experience in the environmental consulting industry, where she prepared various environmental reports and permit documents, completed field work and corresponding reports, and worked on various Geographic Information Systems (GIS) projects.
Bella is interning at MWMO to learn about hydrology and water quality monitoring. She often picks up trash around her neighborhood once a week to help keep Minnesota lakes and rivers clean.
Welcome, Bella!
|
Share the River Nordeast
 You are invited once again to join us for an evening of community, canoeing and cookies! Share the River Nordeast is back.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 22. Stop by anytime between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for a free introductory canoe ride on the Mississippi River, then grab a free cookie and enjoy a variety of fun and educational activities at our Stormwater Park and Learning Center.
This family-friendly event is great for kids and adults of all ages. (Please note that you must weigh at least 30 lbs. in order to fit the provided life jackets.)
Learn More >
Invasive Plant Removal at Sheridan Memorial Park
Help remove invasive plant species from Sheridan Memorial Park in Northeast Minneapolis on Wednesday, June 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization.
Friends of the Mississippi River will brief volunteers on plant identification and removal and provide an overview of restoration plans for the park. Gloves, bags, tools, snacks and water will be provided.
Registration is required and space is limited.
Learn More & Sign Up >
Weaving Water at Solace at the Palace
Join the Longfellow Community Council for a day of community resilience and recovery through art — Sunday, June 11, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Become part of Weaving Water, a tactile public art project that connects us to the Mississippi River by MWMO Artist in Residence Sarah Nassif. All ages and abilities welcome! No experience needed.
Learn More >
|
