Who's Using My Restoration?
People now want native plants: but are these micro-restorations worth it? 
Wait, yes, sit down and prepare to be encouraged. We actually have a bright shining light on the environmental landscape. Last year, an American Society of Landscape Architects’ survey found that city people want native plants (83%) and sustainable residential landscapes (80%). This is a really delightful sign that the general population may truly be ready to do away with biologically depauperate and chemically dependent turf lawns and start to introduce native plant communities. Some may wonder if it really matters, and can small micro-patches of native plants really make a difference? Well, we will let you decide. Below are some select field notes and observations made over the summer by our highly skilled maintenance crew led by Tracy Lawler. 

Pollinator/Insect of the Month
Green Sweat Bees
( Agapostemon spp. )

Green Sweat Bees are easy to notice among the native flowers, they look like green jewels flying through the air. They are a smaller bee, with a green head and thorax, and lighter colored, striped abdomen. These are solitary, ground nesting bees that emerge in late May and last through the season into early fall. They mostly feed on flowers that are easy to access, because their tongues are shorter. They feed on many different native plants throughout the growing season including spiderwort, vervain species, aster species, coneflower species, and many more!
Retail Nursery News

Our Retail Nursery is closed for the season, thank you to everyone who visited our retail nursery this year!

Call or email our Greenhouse Manager Jill to place orders for next year.

Jill@naturalshore.com
612-807-0331

For more information:
Non-native Species of the Month- Flowering Rush ( Butomus umbellatus)

Flowering Rush is a new invasive species to Minnesota from Asia and Europe. It is a perennial species that prefers saturated soils up to 6 feet deep, found along shorelines, wetlands, and ditches. It grows up to 4 feet tall and blooms from June to August. Their pink flowers are found in a cluster on top of a stem that reaches higher than the plant's leaves. The leaves are long and narrow and emerge out of the water. They also twist into a corkscrew shape, making identification easier when the plant isn't blooming. This plant forms dense stands in wetlands, choking out native species and causing habitat degradation. If found, all plant parts should be removed and disposed of.


Native Plant of the Month-
Marsh Marigold
( Caltha palustris )

Marsh Marigold has bright yellow, large buttercup-like flowers with rounded to kidney-shaped basal leaves. Their leaves are also thick, with a waxy texture and grow along their hollow stems. This wetland plant thrives in partial shade along stream banks, marshes, fens, ditches, and wet woodlands. Many different species of bees visit the flowers for nectar and pollen. It is an important species for early emerging pollinators because it blooms from April to May. The plant was used by Native Americans for medicine. Another common name is cowslip.
Five Plants For...Winter Habitat
Want to help some of our furry or feathered friends out during the harsh winter months? Plant these native plants that provide food and shelter to wildlife.
Mystery Plant of the Month
This month's Mystery Plant is found in prairies and is a pollinator favorite. Birds also love it this time of year for its tasty seeds!
Do you have a guess?

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