City of St. Paul sent this bulletin at 02/22/2013 02:15 PM CST
Blooming Saint Paul Newsletter
2012 Blooming Saint Paul Awards
The eighth annual Blooming Saint Paul Awards ceremony was held on January 28th at the University of St. Thomas.Director of Parks and Recreation, Mike Hahm, emceed the event with Arts and Gardens Coordinator, Mark Granlund.A total of twenty awards were handed out celebrating gardens in the public realm, landmark trees and public art volunteers.Partnering organizations; Saint Paul Garden Club and Ramsey County Master Gardeners, had short presentations thanking the judges and explaining a bit of the history and process of the Blooming Saint Paul Awards program.The guest speaker for the evening was garden writer and photographer Eric Johnson who gave a wonderfully humorous talk titled: Full Frontal Gardening.Zach Jorgenson presented the Landmark Tree program of the Saint Paul Forestry section, handing out certificates to people who nominated spectacular trees in Saint Paul.The Public Art Saint Paul Volunteer Award was handed out to two volunteers who help promote, maintain or create public art in Saint Paul.The following is a list of the 2012 Blooming Saint Paul Award winners.
A big thank you to the Pioneer Press for sponsoring the ceremony and to everyone for making Saint Paul beautiful!
2013 Hanging Basket Sponsorship Program
In 2013 there will be 542 hanging baskets gracing the streets of Saint Paul. That is 75 more than in 2012!The hanging basket program began in 1998 with both the Rice Park Association and the Capital City Partnership purchasing baskets for the downtown area.In 2003, these basket programs were combined under the Blooming Saint Paul banner.Since then, the hanging basket program has expanded to include several commercial corridors, including Ford Parkway, Rice Street and West 7th.There are twenty three organizations/groups who will sponsor the baskets in 2013.The main expansion this year is in the Lowertown area, with the Golden Rule Building and the Great Northern Lofts getting on board.
The baskets are grown each year by Gertens.The design is coordinated between Blooming Saint Paul staff and the growers at Gertens.The designs are adjusted each year to address any concerns from the previous year.In 2013, SunPatiens TM will be tested.These are the first impatien plants that can thrive in full sun and heat.A watering staff waters and maintains the baskets seven days a week for approximately seventeen weeks.
Blooming Saint Paul Day
In an ongoing effort to promote volunteerism and the beautification of Saint Paul, the Parks and Recreation Department has decided to host a new event titled Blooming Saint Paul Day. The purpose of this event is to recruit new and current volunteers to assist in cleaning and preparing various garden locations for the summer months.
Tasks include:
·weeding
·removing dead vegetation
·mulching
·installing new plant material
·and more!
When: Saturday,May 18th from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Next time you reach for the snow shovel and salt bucket, remember to look through your seed stash for those that require or can survive the cold. Many seeds need (or can endure) a minimum of two months of cold and moisture before germination. This allows an economical way to grow perennials, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees from seed.
Choosing seeds for natural cold stratification
Most seed packets and seed catalogs specify when seeds need “cold stratification”. They will usually advise the refrigeration of seeds in a moist medium. Most native perennials or wildflowers are good candidates.
How to sow directly in the garden
Sprinkle seeds on top of the snow or bare frozen or unfrozen ground. Cover them with light, open mulch like straw, pine straw, or evergreen boughs for protection. Moisture and fluctuating temperatures soften seedcoats and cause the soil to freeze and thaw which creates openings for tiny roots to eventually gain entrance.
How to sow in pots outside
Prepare nursery pots with good, moistened potting mix. Cover medium to large seeds with one-quarter to one-half inch of soil and press. For tiny seeds, sprinkle on top of the soil and press lightly. Place the pots where snow, sleet, or rain can fall. Protect them from animals or heavy spring rain with light mulch, or by enclosing in mesh or a perforated plastic bag.
When spring arrives
Remove any weed seedlings and thin any dense, sprouted areas.Transplant when temperatures and rainfall are favorable. Some woody plant seeds may stay dormant through two winters.
More information on cold loving seeds, including the use of a refrigerator can be found at http://www.prairiemoon.com
Community Garden Spring Resource Fair
It’s hard to believe it, but the 9th Annual Community Garden Spring Resource Fair is just around the corner! Join Gardening Matters and gardeners from across the Twin Cities Saturday March 9, 2013 from Noon-5:00pm at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. LaDonna Redmond, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, will kick off the day with the keynote address: "Reconstructing Our Relationship with Land,” with a local panel to follow. Be a part of the Good Food Movement conversation and get connected to the resources to make this year’s growing season a success! $10 suggested donation. Find the complete schedule and pre-register at www.gardeningmatters.org.
Discover the Best Gardening Tool You’ll Ever Use
Join the Minnesota State Horticultural Society and get all of these great benefits!
Northern Gardener Magazine, the only magazine about gardening in our climate.
Receive 2 free tickets to: Minnesota Home & Patio Show or Minneapolis Spring Home & Garden Show
Discounts with MSHS on:
• Classes
• Tours
• Merchandise
• Special Events
Enjoy the largest gardening lending library in the state with over 2,000 titles.
New Members receive a $25.00 merchandise credit with White Flower Farm mail order
Save $5.00 on certain level memberships if you are a volunteer with the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department.
