 Thank you to all our incredible volunteers, partnering organizations and Natural Resources staff who made this successful year possible. Looking for numbers? Here is a rundown of our 2017 accomplishments:
- Managed 43 projects with over 800 community volunteers.
- Provided projects and direction for more than 110 Right Track youth.
- Planted over 2,600 trees and shrubs, and more than 10,000 native grasses and flowers throughout Saint Paul’s natural areas.
- Sowed over 20 pounds of native grass and forb seed, and nearly 5,000 hardwood seeds across 20 acres of parkland.
- Restored over 3.5 acres of native prairie at Indian Mounds Regional Park and Como Regional Park.
- Managed over 30 acres of buckthorn-infested woodland through new grazing initiatives.
2018 Preview
Indian Mounds Regional Park – Goats will return in full force this spring to resume their unrelenting battle with the buckthorn. Fire will also be returned to the fire-dependent oak woodland through a series of controlled burns (don’t worry, there will be no flaming goats on our watch! A singed goat is a sad goat).
Crosby Farm Regional Park – Saint Paul Natural Resources will begin a whopping 210-acre floodplain forest enhancement in this beautiful and historic floodplain park. A patchwork of giant silver maple, ash and cottonwood, Crosby Farm is an important stop for migratory birds undergoing their annual journey up and down the expansive Mississippi Flyway. The project will seek to increase the diversity and resilience of the floodplain forest plant community, ensuring that Crosby Farm remains a stable and reliable refuge for our region’s wildlife.
Cherokee Regional Park – Starting this spring, Saint Paul Natural Resources will begin a 61-acre native woodland habitat enhancement and 2-acre prairie restoration at one of Saint Paul’s most pristine bluffland parks. Fire will be returned to the landscape, restoring an important ecological function to the remnant fire-dependent plant community.
 Pig’s Eye Regional Park – Saint Paul Natural Resources will partner with Mississippi Park Connection this spring to plant 2,800 trees at Pig’s Eye Regional Park. This massive park – over 400 acres of land around a 500-acre lake – happens to be Saint Paul’s largest. It may also be the most concealed.
Like other recent floodplain forest enhancements, this project aims to augment the resilience of the ecosystem in the face of climate change and to improve the overall habitat and recreational value of the site.
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 The 13th annual Blooming Saint Paul Awards ceremony will be held on January 22nd, 2018 at the Como Lakeside Pavilion. The invitation-only event is sponsored by the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, Capital Region Watershed District, Egg|Plant Urban Farm Supply, Bluhm Brothers Landscaping, Minnesota State Horticultural Society and Public Art Saint Paul.
The ceremony will be hosted by Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, the Saint Paul Garden Club, the Ramsey County Master Gardener program and catering provided by Kane’s Catering. Guest speakers at this years’ ceremony will be garden photographer, Michelle Reidel and Pollinate Minnesota’s, Erin Rupp. The gardens were judged this summer by twenty five Ramsey County Master Gardeners. Award categories include: Residential: Ornamental Garden, Residential: Environmental Garden, Business/Institutional, Egg | Plant Edible Garden, Public Art, Garden Steward and Gardening Advocate. Winners are announced at the ceremony and published in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, on the Blooming Saint Paul’s webpage, and the Saint Paul Natural Resources Facebook page the following week. Keep a look out for the winners!
For more information on how to nominate gardens, please go to: www.stpaul.gov/naturalresources
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 We had another successful year filled with new volunteers and new projects. We piloted the Bruce Vento EcoSteward program with great success. Due to this success, we will be expanding the dates offered next year!
We greatly appreciate all the work you have put in not only in 2017 but years past. Your work to educate and beautify the parks and gardens can been seen throughout the entire City of Saint Paul. We thank you for all your work and we look forward to working with you again in 2018!
 If you have a case of cabin fever and need to break free from your digital devices, consider a visit to Saint Paul’s Horton Park, located in the heart of the Hamline Midway neighborhood.
Originally founded in 1895, the three-acre park was redesigned as a mini arboretum in 1978. Since then the trees have matured, native oak savanna, shade, and prairie gardens have been established, and new trees continue to be planted.
Currently, there are over 60 tree species to discover including native, non-native, and hybrid species, some of which have fiberglass posts with tree identification information.
A brisk walk through the park will provide a glimpse of mature coniferous trees such as white pine and Douglas fir; deciduous shade trees such as bicolor oak and Kentucky coffeetree; and ornamental and fruit trees such as Northstar cherry and Snowbird hawthorne.
Although touring the tropical trees inside Como Park’s Conservatory may be more appealing during this time of year, consider visiting Horton Park’s arboretum and help sustain the urban forest by planting a tree in the spring.
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 Parks and Recreation works hard to be good stewards of our public art collection. Our City has many historic sculptures and art pieces throughout the parks – but perhaps none more beloved than the Schiffman Fountain which was installed in Como Park back in 1898.
Recently, Parks and Recreation received a combined grant of $40,000 from the Berglund and Cedarwood Foundations to conduct a complete restoration of the sculpture. The current plan is to remove the sculpture this winter and transport it to the studio of conservator Kristin Cheronis, where the restoration will begin later this winter. If all goes well, the statue should be back in place about a year from now.
While the sculpture is being restored, Parks and Recreation will explore options to renovate the pool and multi-colored light system so the entire feature will be in great condition for years to come.
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 The Environmental Education team is excited to launch our newest program, Saint Paul Family Nature Clubs! A Family Nature Club is a group of people with an interest in connecting children with nature and building stronger, healthier communities. The benefits of spending time outdoors are many. Studies have shown that outdoor recreation can reduce levels of stress, anger, and aggression, as well as improve relationship skills and academic performance in children. Not only is outdoor play good for children, it helps build happier and healthier families and communities.
Saint Paul Family Nature Clubs will meet regularly to explore outdoor areas of the city, encourage children to engage in unstructured nature play, and have the opportunity to socialize with other families.
If you are interested in joining or leading a Family Nature Club, join us on Saturday, January 13th at Crosby Farm Regional Park from 1:00-2:30 p.m. for our Meet & Greet! We’ll introduce the program, explore the park with other families, and you can learn more about how to get involved. We will lead a short hike through the park and have a bonfire for roasting marshmallows. This event is free and open to all ages! For more information, visit our Meetup page at: meetup.com/Saint-Paul-Family-Nature-Clubs |
