Out with the Ornamentals, In with the Natives! |
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Welcome to summer! The growing season has been set in motion, and it is a great time to evaluate what is growing on our landscapes-both public and privately owned. In many of these areas, we will find that plants from across the world have been used for aesthetics. Exotic ornamental plants are planted exclusively for added “beauty” to the landscape. What if we utilized plants that serve a higher, ecological purpose while also showcasing their intrinsic charm?
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90% of plant-eating insects use native plants to grow and survive. Without their native host plants, many butterflies and other insects cannot survive. Birds and other wildlife use caterpillars and other insects to feed their young. Over the last few years, we have seen major declines in both insect and bird populations due to a variety of factors, especially habitat loss and fragmentation. Rebuilding habitat with native plants is crucial in providing food for caterpillars, which in turn provide food for baby birds; making native plants the foundation of our food webs. |
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Serviceberry
(Amelanchier spp.)
# of Larval species- 119
Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) serves as a host plant for 119 species of insects, including the red spotted purple and tiger swallowtail butterflies. This shrub flowers from April to May and is a great addition to home landscaping. Dark blue berries mature in June, hence the name “juneberry,” one of its other common names. The berries are similar in flavor to blueberries and are very popular with birds as well as humans. They make excellent pies and jellies.
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Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
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Red Spotted Purple Butterfly (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)
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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
(Papilio glaucus)
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Happy National Pollinator Week!
June 20th-26th is National Pollinator Week. The best thing you can do for our pollinators is to provide more habitat by planting native plants. All of our plants are grown pesticide-free, making them safe for pollinators. Stop by and find the best pollinator plants for your yard at one of our retail sales!
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2022 Retail Nursery Sale Hours
10am-4pm
June 24 & 25
July 15 & 16
August 12 & 13
For more information visit:
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Non-native Species of the Month
Wild Parsnip
(Pastinaca sativa)
Wild Parsnip is a biennial in the Carrot family that has flat clusters of yellow flowers, blooming from June into late Summer. The sap of this plant can cause chemical burns when exposed to sunlight, requiring extra precautions for people who plan on manually removing it. First found in Minnesota in the 1990s, Wild Parsnip is present in most of the state’s counties, inhabiting open areas such as roadsides and other disturbed grounds. As a biennial, it spreads by seed. Control should be focused on flowering plants to prevent re-seeding and can be accomplished by pulling plants or cutting at the base. Gloves, long sleeves and pants are essential to prevent the sap from contacting skin. Chemical control can be achieved in the rosette stage with glyphosate-apply in Spring or Fall as Wild Parsnip turns and stays green for much longer than our native plants.
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Native Plant of the Month-
Plains Oval Sedge
(Carex brevior)
Plains Oval Sedge is a versatile, upright sedge that can tolerate a wide variety of soil and water conditions. It prefers full sun and average to dry, sandy or rocky soil, but can adapt to wetter sites. Most of its growth is during the spring, a characteristic of almost all sedges. Plants grow in dense clumps and have an abundance of fibrous roots along with short, rhizomatous roots. The spikelets have a distinct round shape, and the seed heads turn an attractive golden-brown when ripe in the Fall. It is a food source for many insects and seeds are eaten by various birds. Other common names include Short-beak Sedge and Short Sedge.
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We love to read books about our natural world, and want to share our favorites with you! On the last Wednesday of each month we will feature a book discussion and review on our Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.
Here are the next three!
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Watch our May Book Review full of beautiful photography! Check out Hidden Prairie: Photographing Life in One Square Meter by Chris Helzer
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Forager Fix
White Mulberry
(Morus alba)
Our Forager Fix this month features White Mulberry, a non-native woody shrub or tree found in the lower half of Minnesota. White Mulberry (Morus alba) is identified by its highly variable lobed or unlobed leaves, reddish-orange new growth with raised pores, and elongated berries that turn deep purple with age. While we prefer to cut and treat the stump of this invader, its berries are edible and tempt the taste buds with a mild sweet flavor. If you cannot remove White Mulberry due to its location, prevent its spread and staining by using its berries in recipes or straight from branch to mouth! The berries turn fully ripe in the late summer and can be used in confections such as syrups, jams, and pie filling. If you are feeling crafty, use its flexible twigs to weave into basketry and wood crafts. White Mulberry has also been used medicinally in China, where it is native. The edible leaves are used to treat high cholesterol, support healthy blood sugar levels, and treat respiratory infections. Leave the native berries for the mammals and birds, and eat the invasives!
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Restoration Tip of the Month |
Find remnant native plant areas near your home to get a glance at what grew in your area prior to development. Make sure to add these plants to your planting lists! Soils can change due to disturbance and development but looking at remnant shorelines and prairies can give you a great idea at what will work well on your property. It can also help knit the local ecosystem back to a closer state to what it was before invasive species and urbanization. Local herbariums, libraries, and city/county records can also help when researching what the landscape was populated with before turf grass. It's like a genealogy treasure hunt for your land! |
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Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) on a remnant shoreline near Hinckley
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Happy Pollinator Week!
Native Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon spp.) on Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
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