Hello Gardeners!
Welcome to May!
This winter sure seemed long to me and I’m very happy to no longer see snow and to gaze upon many new shoots popping out of the ground! My bloodroot and daffodils are blooming, the birds are singing and yesterday and today have glorious weather. I hope you got a chance to take a walk and smell and see the signs of spring.
I added many new varieties of lettuce, beans, a few peas, vegetables and flower seeds to the seed library the last couple weeks. The online list isn’t quite up to date as there are many new varieties to add. I hope to have it updated in a few days, but you can check out the new seeds in the seed drawers.
May the 4th Be With You!
Pam
Happy Soil, Happy Plants – Seed Talk
Wednesday, May 10th, 6:30 pm via Zoom
Do you know how much the health of your soil determines the health of your plants? This Seed Talk is about what is healthy soil and how do you improve your garden soil. Also, why healthy soil that is full of microorganisms is the best for improving vegetable yields, flowering plants and can even improve the health of our earth.
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.
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
New Library of Things for Gardeners!
The White Bear Lake library has a new option in their ‘Library of Things’ options. It contains: 1 bulb planter, 1 transplanter shovel, 1 cultivator fork, 1 trowel shovel, 1 pruner, 1 15 in. lopper,1 pruning snip, 1 weeder, 1 folding saw, 1 knee pad : mixed materials ; in box (22 in. x 15 1/2 in. x 9 1/2 in.) + contents sheet. Patrons need to be 18 or older to check this out.
Here’s a link to the kit.
No Mow May
Maybe you heard about “No Mow May’. It’s a way to help the pollinators as well as make less work for you! Flowering dandelions and clover are an important food source for many pollinators until perennials start to bloom, so leave them bloom for a few weeks. Also, by mowing less you cut down on the emissions released in the air and you save yourself time and work.
The University of Minnesota has some FREE webinars to help you.
Join Robin Trott, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, as she welcomes guest experts to talk about pollinators and habitat in May.
- Thursday, May 11, 12:00 PM – 1:05 PM: Video Watch Party “Flowering Bee Lawns: Creating Habitat to Protect and Conserve Pollinators” James Wolfin, Twin Cities Seed Company
- Friday, May 19, 12:00PM-1:00PM: “All About Pollinators”, Elise Bernstein, Environmental Educator & Pollinator Enthusiast, UMN Bee Squad
- Tuesday, May 23, 12:00PM-1:00PM: “Discover the Beauty and Uses of Native Plants”, Mary Holm, Associate Producer and Host Prairie Yard and Garden | Pioneer PBS
- Tuesday, May 30, 12:00PM-1:00PM: "Designing with Native Plants" Jillian Reiner, University of Minnesota Master Gardener and Professional Landscape Architect
- Thursday, June 1, 12:00PM-1:00PM: “Lawn Care and Maintenance”, Randy Nelson, Extension Educator, Home Hort & Ag Production Systems Clay County
Register once for access to all webinars. All webinars will be recorded. You will receive the ZOOM Link via email once you have registered. Register here.
Two handy charts for when to start seeds indoors and outdoors as well as the best time to transplant seedlings outside.
Note: The Twin Cities is in Zone 4 and the average last date of frost is May 10th.
From Johnny’s Selected Seeds (Note, you must enter last date of frost): start calculator
From the Farmer’s Almanac: start chart
Plant Sales
3rd Annual Minnesota Waldorf Plant Sale + Festival
Saturday May 20th, 10am-2pm.
Organic Heirloom Veggies & Natives.
Fill your garden with rare veggies and native plants, organic potato seeds and more!
Plant a food forest with edible ferns, berries and ramps!
https://mnwaldorf.org/plantsale/
Big River Big Woods Native Plant Sale
Big River Big Woods Chapter of Wild Ones is holding their annual Native Plant Sale. They have a wide selection of native wildflowers, ferns, grasses, sedges, shrubs and trees.
Glacial Ridge Growers and Out Back Nursery are our native plants suppliers this year. Plants are neonic free.
Individual plants are available as 6-packs and 3-packs. Trees and shrubs are available in a variety of sizes.
This year we also have pre-designed garden packs.
More information and the online order form are at https://bigriverbigwoods.org/plant-sale/.
Monday, May 1 - Order deadline:
last day to place your order.
Saturday, June 3, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Day to pick up your plant orders.
Sunday, June 4, noon to 3 p.m. - Day to pick up your plant orders.
The pick-up location
will be in White Bear Lake. The address will be included in the confirmation
email. If it doesn't show up in your inbox, be sure to check your spam or junk
folders.
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Friends School Plant Sale
Thousands of vegetable, herbs, annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, bulbs, native plants and rare plants are available at the largest plant sale in the U.S. Held on the State Fair grounds on May 12-14, 2023. This is a fund-raiser for the Friends School of Minnesota. If you have shopped this sale in previous years, please read their updated shopping procedures. All plants sold are neonic free. Visit friends-sale to get more information.
Anoka County Master Gardeners Plant Sale
Anoka County Master Gardeners are hosting their plant sale May 16-17, 2023. Details should be forthcoming on their website
Ramsey County Master Gardeners Plant Sale
Funds raised by the sale help support local youth horticulture projects and scholarships for University horticulture students. Ramsey County Master Gardeners are hosting their annual plant sale on May 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Church of the Holy Childhood, 1435 Midway Pkwy, St Paul.
The sale includes a large selection of native plants, vegetables, favorite and unique varieties of tomatoes, herbs, annual and perennial flowers, houseplants, quality garden gloves, and other great items to get your garden growing strong. Funds raised support Master Gardener community and youth education programs in Ramsey County. Cash, checks and credit cards accepted. For more information, visit www.RamseyMasterGardeners.org/plantsale.
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Native Plant Expo and Market
Market: Purchase MN native plants from multiple growers. No systemic insecticides.
Expo: Learn to select and grow native plants for pollinators, wildlife, and water quality. Visit with educators and experts from conservation and environmental organizations. Get your landscaping questions answered.
Shoreview Native Plant Expo is June 10, 2023, 9am – 1pm
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Shoreview, MN
3920 Victoria St N
Shoreview, 55126 + Google Map
Oakdale Native Plant Expo is June 3, 2023, 9am – 1 pm
5000 Hadley Ave N
Oakdale, MN 55128 United States + Google Map
Contact info for the Seed Library:
Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com
Blog site: WBL Seed Library
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