Hello Gardeners!
These last two months have been a busy time for collecting and packaging native plant seeds. I’ve added 347 packets of native seed packets to the seed library!!
There are over 70 different varieties of native plant seeds in the seed library now!
Some of the newest varieties are:
Virgin’s Bower – a perennial vine
Yellow Giant Hyssop
Lupine
Sneezeweed
Several Blazing star varieties
Cardinal Flower
Great Blue Lobelia
Mountain Mint
Black-eyed Susan
Wild petunia
Native Turtlehead
Fireweed
Path Rush
Pearly Everlasting
Royal Catchfly
Zig-Zag Goldenrod
Showy Goldenrod
Stiff Goldenrod
Smooth Blue Aster
Sky Blue aster
Short’s Aster
Culver’s Root
And many more. Check out the list here.
So why are the vegetable, herb and flower seed drawers almost empty?
This is the time of year to collect native plant seeds and so I am concentrating on getting those seeds stocked in the seed library. Also, starting in November will be a great time to either direct sow native plant seeds or start them using the winter sowing method. I do have some vegetable, herb and flowers seeds ready for packaging, but most people don’t need them yet, so they are a lower priority now. BUT starting after the holidays, I’ll be looking for people to help package the vegetable and herb seeds as well as more donations!
If you are interested in helping to package either native plant seeds or other seeds, please send me an email at wblseedlibrary@gmail.com
There is still a real need for all types of open-pollinated seeds, such as tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, peppers and herbs! Please consider donating seeds to the seed library!!!
Soon the new seed catalogs may be popping up in your mailbox. Remember the White Bear Lake Seed Library when you place an order.
Events
January Seed Talk – Indoor Plants via Zoom
Tuesday January 10, 2023, 6:30 pm via Zoom
Do you feel like you have a ‘brown thumb’ when it comes to growing indoor plants? Or maybe you just want to grow something that blooms inside during our long winter. This Seed Talk is all about how to successfully grow both blooming and foliage house plants.
This is a Zoom meeting and you need to register on the Ramsey County library website at least 3 hours prior to the start of the Seed Talk. Register here.
Seed Talks are discussions with community members led by Horticulturist, lifelong gardener and one of the White Bear Lake Seed Library founders: Pam Larson Frink.
(Due to the poor attendance at the last in-person Seed Talk in November, I am back to Zoom Seed Talks until further notice. Hopefully more people can attend.)
Pollinator Habitat Webinars
Are you interested in creating pollinator habitat, but you don’t know where to begin? Check out this upcoming webinar series to help guide you in your pollinator plan. University of Minnesota Extension Educators are excited to bring you this webinar series on creating your own pollinator habitat. This three-part series will cover how to create a pollinator-friendly garden, bee lawn and prairie planting. Join us January 31, February 1 & 2 from 1:30-2:30 pm each afternoon for this free webinar. You must pre-register for this series at z.umn.edu/BeeSeries to receive the webinar links.
Tuesday, Jan. 31st: Pollinator-Friendly Garden Julie Weisenhorn, UMN Extension Horticulture Educator
Pollinators are responsible for the diversity of plant life & our food, & gardeners of all levels can adopt practices that help pollinators thrive. However, engaging with these important creatures through creating beneficial landscapes also helps to strengthen our sense of connection with nature (biophilia) & our understanding of the natural world while positively affecting these important insects. Join UMN Extension horticulture educator, Julie Weisenhorn, as she tells the story of pollinators from a landscape & plant selection standpoint & presents some practical options to help us make this world a better place for these valuable insects in our own gardens.
Wednesday, Feb. 1st: Bee Lawns- James Wolfin, Conservation Specialist
Bee lawns aim to integrate low-growing flowers into low-input turfgrass lawns to provide food for pollinators. They also help to conserve natural resources, as they require significantly less water, fertilizer, and mowing as compared to a traditional lawn. This presentation will examine the role of lawns in our culture, how lawns can be modified to protect pollinators & conserve natural resources, and the steps residents can take to easily install a bee lawn themselves.
Thursday, Feb. 2nd: Navigating Natives: Tools and Resources for Starting a Pocket Prairie- Sam Talbot, UMN Extension Educator, Dakota County
Native plants provide a wide range of benefits & can easily be incorporated into your backyard garden. Sam will draw from his experience restoring habitat in Dakota County Parks to discuss the benefits & challenges associated with planting natives in the landscape. He’ll highlight some of the tools and resources available, as well as opportunities to gain hands-on experience through volunteer opportunities in Dakota County. Topics will include propagation methods, plantings, & species considerations.
1:30-2:30 pm each afternoon
Winter Farmer’s Market
The White Bear Farmer’s market is over for 2022, but the Winter Farmer’s Market will be open soon. The second Saturdays in Dec and Jan local food vendors will be sharing locally grown and crafted items including meats, cheese, eggs, micro greens, and maple syrup. Many locally preserved options, like jams, jellies, sauces, sauerkraut, and kombucha will be available. Great gifting options such as soaps and specialty hand crafted goods as well.
*NEW LOCATION* Outdoors at Normandy Park Education Center
2482 County Road F East, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Contact info for the Seed Library:
Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com
Blog site: WBL Seed Library
Have a Wonderful Holiday Season!
Pam
