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February Article
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Cost Share Programs: Helping your restoration become a reality!
Many homeowners recognize numerous benefits of native plants and would love to install a shoreline, prairie, or raingarden on their property. Unfortunately often times other financial needs take priority. What people may not know is that local government organizations like Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Watershed Districts, Lake Associations, or even your own City government will help you pay for these property improvement projects. Some of these programs have been in place for years, making them stream-lined and straight-forward.
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| This project was installed using cost share funds in St. Bonifacius. |
Cost share programs have a wide range of monetary amounts which can be used towards a variety of restoration projects. They can range from simply the purchase of plants and materials you install yourself, to a complex project Natural Shore can design, install, and maintain. So don't wait to start the process of bringing beautiful natives into your landscape; research and apply for a cost share grant today! Click here for more information on specific grants on our blog. Remember, there are many different programs available but funds are limited so do not wait to apply. Have questions? We can help! Call or email us and we will help you get started on applying for cost share programs and grants in your area.
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| This shoreline project was partly funded by a cost share program in Plymouth! |
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Native Plant of the Month
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Spiderwort
Tradescantia virginiana
Moisture: Moist or Dry
Exposure: Full or Partial Sun
Bloom: May-July
Color: Blue or Purple
Height: 1-3 ft.
An erect, clump-forming plant growing from thick, fleshy roots. Spiderwort is a low maintenance perennial with grass-like leaves, clasping the stems and forming a sheath with long hairs at margins of sheath. Attractive clusters of flowers with 3 rounded blue to purple petals contrasting the yellow anthers. The flowers last 1 day, opening in the morning and closing by afternoon. Sepals have smooth hairs on the exterior. Plants can be pruned back to encourage new growth and a chance to rebloom. Grows in full sun to part shade in well-drained but moist soils. Tolerates poor soil. Found in moist woods and prairies. Pollination by bees. Plant used for food and medicine by Native Americans. Other common names are widow's tears, dayflower, and spider-lily.
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Invasive Plant of the Month
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Spotted Knapweed
Centaurea maculosa
Exposure: Partial Shade/ Full Sun
Moisture: Dry
Height: 2-3 feet
Blooms: July-September
Description: A biennial from Europe and Asia, Spotted Knapweed is on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Prohibited Noxious Weed List. The first year it grows a rosette of grey, lance-shaped lobed leaves. The second year it expands into a larger, more woody stalk of light purple flowers. It spreads by seed with each plant being able to produce up to 20,000 seeds! Spotted Knapweed can release a chemical that discourages the growth of desirable vegetation, lowering plant diversity in areas where it infests. Management strategies include early detection of infestations, mowing, hand-pulling, and select herbicide treatments. Biological controls also exist including Seedhead weevils, root-boring weevils, and seedhead flies.
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Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
Range: Canada, United States, parts of Central America
Habitat: open areas like parks, gardens, fields, and edges of woodlands.
Identification: Top of wings are black with orangish-red stripes and white bands and spots near tips of wings. On the underside of the wings the upper wing has a blue eyespot and the lower wing is colored like tree bark. Caterpillar is all black with short black spikes running down its back. The Red Admiral caterpillar hosts on native nettle species.
Pollination: The Red Admiral will nectar on Coneflower species, milkweed species, and aster species, Liatris Species, and Joe Pye Weed.
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Visit our booth at Wild Ones Design with Nature Conference! At the Plymouth Creek Center February 22nd from 8:30am-4:00pm
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Our Retail Nursery will open in May!
Click and visit our website for current
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Natural Shore is now hosting FREE field trips for Garden Clubs with 10 or more members. Come join our Native Plant Specialist Shirley Mah Kooyman for a 1 hour lecture and tour of our retail nursery in Maple Plain! Your club will get an up close experience learning more about Minnesota Natives!
Choose from one of the following lectures:
- Minnesota's Native Plants: A Sampling for Your Garden
- Landscaping with Native Plants
- Top 30 Native Plants for your Garden
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