 Blooming Saint Paul Awards
2013 was a busy year for the Blooming Saint Paul Awards with a 182 nominations, up 20% from 2012. Every year for the last nine years, the Saint Paul Pioneer Press has been our sole sponsor for the awards program. This past year we saw the addition of three other sponsors: Capital Region Watershed District, Kern Landscaping and Egg|Plant Urban Farming Store. One of our favorite days of the year is the orientation day for the Ramsey County Master Gardeners who are the judges for the program. In early July we gathered, trained on garden judging, and handed out garden lists for judging. The judges had two weeks to complete their judging activities and turn in their packets. In the event of several nominations tying for the top spot, which always happens in the residential category, we send out a second small group of judges to put them in order. It takes a lot of dedication and time to pull this program together. But it is fun! This year’s ceremony will be held at the University of St. Thomas on Monday, January 27th. There will be food, a guest speaker and awards will be handed out.
 Blooming Saint Paul Day
Can you say, “Rain out?” That was the experience of the official hours of the first annual Blooming Saint Paul Day. Yet, some real hardy people came out and picked up flowers for their gardens and later, after it stopped raining, planted and mulched. We hope to build on our meager beginnings this last year and continue to grow Blooming Saint Paul Day into a great opportunity for Saint Paul public gardeners to receive some help, some mulch and some flowers to make Saint Paul beautiful! In 2014, Blooming Saint Paul Day will be held on Saturday, May 17. More information to come.
Please welcome Ryanna Jackson, Parks Volunteer Coordinator
Ryanna is a University of Saint Thomas graduate from Winona, Minnesota, previously employed at Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys assisting with both marketing and grant writing.
Ryanna works directly with Saint Paul residents, companies, communities, neighborhood groups and organizations that volunteer in our parks.
Tracking volunteer hours is essential to ensure the continued integrity and support of the Volunteer Program. Please contact Ryanna to report any hours accumulated this year.
Volunteer with us! Contact Ryanna.Jackson@ci.stpaul.mn.us
 Making Memories
The gardens in the city of Saint Paul are lucky to have some of the most talented and dedicated volunteers. Debby Smith, a long-time Garden Steward volunteer, manages not one, but three, gardens around Lake Como.
Debby started volunteering around Lake Como in 2009, managing the East Gateway Gardens at the intersection of Gateway Dr. and East Como Blvd., where you are likely to see tulips and daffodils each spring. Over the last four years, Debby has added the Round Garden near the Lexington Pkwy. bridge and, most recently, the North Como Garden to her care—which boasted morning glories this year, reaching all the way to the top of their post.
Between planting, weeding, watering, and mulching, Debby notes how often she gets to share her love of gardening with passersby who ask about the plants and her work. Debby remarks that gardens are important because “they connect you to different times of your life, different memories.”
In addition to gardening, Debby also devotes her time to helping care for her grandson and volunteering with Simpson Housing.
Gardening Shorts
Creating Winter Arrangements
Create an eye catching display with a potted assortment of winter greenery for your front porch, back deck or window boxes. At home outdoors, these arrangements come alive after a sprinkle of snow, especially with the addition of twinkling, holiday lights.
Basic ingredients can be found in most garden centers or your own backyard. Sizes of the boughs will depend on the size of your pot. Here is a basic list for a twelve inch pot:
o 5 Spruce tops or other stiff, upright evergreen boughs, in varying heights of 12 to 36 inches long
o 10 Pine, cedar or other soft boughs 12 to 24 inches long
o Any number of colorful or interesting tree or shrub branches, seed heads, cones or pods like: white aspen, birch, yellow or red twigged dog wood, pinecones, berries, grain seed or lotus pods
Start by placing and pushing the largest size spruce top into the soil in the center of the pot. Try to place this center stem as straight as you can.
Add the remaining upright stems around the center stem. Push the stems into the soil a minimum of six inches deep to protect your arrangement from wind and heavy snow.
Next, add cedar, pine or other soft evergreen boughs so that they drape over the top and sides of the pot and cover any exposed soil.
Finally, add decorative twigs, branches or other ornamental finds into the arrangement. For a bit of pizzazz, ribbon, plastic ornaments or solar powered holiday lights are easy to install and come in a variety of colors, types and sizes.
A Koebler
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 In 2013
the Arts and Gardening Department shared an office with Kelsea Dombrovski, a second year Green Corps Member
Kelsea worked on farm to table distribution improvement ideas. Tasks included interviewing local farmers and growers, participating in workshops and attending meetings with food distributers and the Mayor’s Office.
A native of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, Kelsea is a 2012 Carlton University graduate with a degree in Environmental Studies.
Minnesota GreenCorps is a statewide initiative to preserve and protect the environment, while training a new generation of environmental professionals.
Kelsea recently acquired a position at Minnesota Valley Outreach in Stillwater, Minnesota. Minnesota Valley Outreach is a nonprofit that provides food, clothing, and emergency financial assistance for heat, housing, and other crucial needs, to eligible St. Croix Valley residents.
A Koebler
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