Hello Metro,

It's almost fall planting season! We're excited to guide you through the process of planting native for pollinators. This email contains:

• Last month's webinar recordings

• Survey to request a volunteer coach (deadline is this Friday!)

• Access to our online community forum, The Hive

• Tips for fall planting

• Important links and resources for completing a successful project

We will be sending you email newsletters every 2-4 weeks through the fall with program reminders and announcements.

Watch L2L Webinar Recordings

Lawns to Legumes Kick-Off Webinar

Get an introduction and welcome to the Lawns to Legumes program! We cover everything you need to know about program requirements and how to install a successful project.

Lawns to Legumes Q+A Session

In this follow-up to the L2L Kick-Off Webinar, we answer program-related questions from the Kick-Off Webinar.

Pollinator Plantings Project Webinar

Metro Blooms Design+Build landscape designers Jennifer Ehlert and Rich Harrison will cover the fundamentals of completing a pocket planting, pollinator-friendly tree planting, and pollinator meadow. 

Pollinator Lawns Project Webinar

James Wolfin from Twin City Seed walks through the steps to convert a turfgrass lawn into a flowering bee lawn.

Request a Coach by August 2nd

Need some extra help planning your pollinator habitat project? Fill out our coaching survey by Friday, August 2nd to be matched with a volunteer coach. Coaches are able to spend a couple hours of their time to advise you on project plans and conduct a virtual site visit. We cannot guarantee everyone can be matched with a coach, so we encourage new gardeners to utilize this opportunity.

Learn more and request a coach by filling out the Coaching Survey.

Join The Hive

Connect with fellow grantees and coaches on our online community forum, The Hive! This is a place for you to ask questions for coaches and staff, get program updates, and get to know other Lawns to Legumes participants. The Hive is also connected directly to our Resilient Yards Online Learning Series, so you can access it all in one place.

There are tons of benefits to planting in fall. Cooler temperatures mean less watering and less weed pressure. Soils are still warm, encouraging root growth before plants go into winter dormancy. And many native plant nurseries refresh their plant stock for the fall planting season!

In our latest blog post, we asked Blue Thumb Partners to share how they prep for a successful fall planting experience.

Ready to start planning your project? Here's where to go:

• Our Grantee Guide page has links to everything you need! Start here.

• What project expenses are reimbursable? Find details on our Eligible Expenses Guide.

• Our Resources page has plant lists, design templates, and more!

• Our Plan a Project page is a step-by-step guide to completing a pollinator project.



• Our Native Nurseries and Retailers list is a great place to start when searching for where to buy native plants, but is by no means an exhaustive list.

• BWSR's Lawns to Legumes Planting for Pollinators Design Guide is helpful when you are planning your design and picking plants.

Lawns to Legumes Garden Tour Day

Curious about what your garden will look like as it matures? Join us Saturday, August 3rd from 9am-12pm for the first Lawns to Legumes Garden Tour Day!

Lawns to Legumes coaches, previous participants, and other DIY wildlife gardeners will be hosting neighborhood native garden tours across Minnesota.

Learn from and connect with folks who are planting for pollinators in your area! Explore the map on the Garden Tour Day webpage to find a garden tour near you.

Let's Connect

Have questions about your grant? Email the L2L Helpline at l2lhelp@bluethumb.org.

Follow Blue Thumb on Facebook or Instagram for seasonal tips on planting for pollinators and clean water.

Thank you for bee-ing a part of the change!

-The L2L Team

www.bluethumb.org

social: @bluethumbmn

Blue Thumb–Planting for Clean Water manages individual support grants for Lawns to Legumes, a Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources program. Blue Thumb is a partnership of local government, landscape contractors, native plant nurseries and other entities committed to the promotion of native plantings, rain gardens, and shoreline plantings. It is the education program of Metro Blooms, a 501c3 non-profit organization.