Hello Gardeners
This is one of my favorite times of the year. My perennials are starting to poke out of the ground, trees and shrubs are leafing, my daffodils and crocus are blooming and Mama rabbit reared a nest of baby bunnies IN my garden!
Over a week ago, I thought I’d remove some of the thick layer of leaves in my front garden and I was surprised to find a nest of baby bunnies! I quickly covered up the nest and hoped I didn’t disturb it so much that the Mama bunny would not come back, but I saw that she did. I checked on the nest yesterday and the babies were gone. I spotted one shy baby hopping in my yard yesterday for a few minutes before hiding under a tree.
I have a love/hate relationship with bunnies. They sure are cute, especially when they are little. And, of course, they have just as much right to be in my yard as I do, but I would prefer that they stay out of my garden as they can mow down a row of peas quicker that you can plant them. The babies haven’t decided what they like to eat yet, so they try everything green.
My preferred method of keeping bunnies away from my perennials and vegetables is a good fence, but I take down the fence around my garden by my front door during the winter as it impedes removal of snow. Mama rabbit apparently thought that would be a good place for her nest as it is a protected area. Now that she and her babies are gone, the fence is back up to keep her and her offspring away from my garden.
Another favorite of Spring is the plant sales around town. I listed some of the ones nearby further down in this email.
Three Ring Binders on Seed Table
In case you haven’t looked at the two three-ring binders on the seed library table, I’d like to bring them to your attention. One binder has flowers both annual and native plants. Each entry has a photo and growing information. The other binder has general information about saving seeds and information on how to grow common vegetables. Most of the entries in these binders were prepared by volunteers who use the seed library.
Locally Harvested Seeds
Many of the seeds, especially native plant seeds, are labelled ‘locally harvested’ or ‘locally grown’. These are great seeds as these seeds are more acclimated to our environment. Commercial seeds could have come from anywhere in the United States. For example; plants grown in Texas have significantly different growing conditions than plants grown in Minnesota. So you can understand why I encourage you to save seeds from the plants you grow. There is a caveat though. I only want seeds that are ‘easy to save’. What does that mean?
It doesn’t mean the seeds are easy to remove from the fruit or seed head of the plant. It does means seeds from the plant are less likely to have been cross-pollinated and therefore the seeds from the plant will likely have the same traits (color of flower, hardiness, height, etc.) as the original plant. Easy to save seeds are those that are either self-pollinating or do not cross-pollinate easily. This includes; tomatoes, beans, peas, lettuce and native plants. As long as the original plant of these types was not a hybrid variety, the seeds from them will be great to save.
Bring any seeds (open-pollinated) you harvested to donate to the seed library! I’d love to get some tomatoes, lettuce, beans and peas you grew in your garden!
When should I start seeds?
Some seeds need to be started indoors now, such as peppers, tomatoes and eggplant. See this guide from the University of MN extension start seeds.
Some seeds like cool weather such as lettuce, peas, cabbage and onions. Other vegetables like it warm such as tomato and pepper transplants, squash and basil. Then there are tender crops such as cucumbers and pumpkins which need to be protected from late freezes. See a guide to starting vegetable seeds outdoors outdoor vegetables.
Don’t be fooled by our warm winter—the average date of last frost is still May 10th in the Twin Cities area.
Plant Sales:
Big River, Big Woods Wild Ones Plant Sale
WHEN:
Saturday,
May 31st, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM and
Sunday, June 1st, Noon - 3:00 PM
WHERE: 3974 Fairview Ave N in Arden Hills, MN, 55112.
There will be over 50 types of wildflowers, ferns, sedges, and grasses as well
as pre-made pollinator flats. There will also be varieties of tree and shrub
seedlings supportive of pollinators and birds.
This year is first come, first serve, with 3-packs and 6-packs at discount.
Northern Holler Nursery and Gardens will again be on site, with pre-orders
possible (see their website).
Pricing for 3-packs and 6-packs
Forb/flower/grasses – 3-pack: $8, 6-pack: $15
Sedges – 3-pack: $9, 6-pack: $16
Ferns – 3-pack: $10
The list of plants available can be found on their website.
Friends School Plant Sale – May 9, 10, 11, 2025 at the State fair grounds.
They have over 2,100 varieties of plants (vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit, trees, perennials, etc.) all grown neonics free. Neonicotinoids are systemic insecticides that harm pollinators. See info about this here.
Friends School sale information can be found here
AFSA School Plant Sale – May 8-10, 2025 at AFSA High School
100 Vadnais Blvd, Vadnais Heights, MN 55127
Plant Sale Hours: Thr: May 8th 3:30 - 6:00 p.m., Fri: May 9th 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sat: May 10th 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
AFSA's plant sale is held in the greenhouse at the high school. The sale is the largest fundraiser the school holds each year. The profits from this sale go to support a variety of FFA activities at the school.
All the plants are grown by AFSA students in our greenhouse. We grow a wide variety of annuals, herbs, tomatoes, and peppers. We take - Cash, Check and Credit Cards.
More information here.
Anoka County Master Gardener sale – May 13, 2025 9am – 7 pm
Anoka County Fairgrounds 3200 Saint Francis Boulevard Northwest Anoka, MN, 55303
Join us for one of Anoka County’s best kept secrets—our annual Master Gardener Plant sale! Select from thousands of unique plants—perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables, trees/shrubs and more! All plants are of the highest quality and affordable prices that can’t be beat. There’s no better place to stock up for the coming growing season!
More information Anoka County MG
Ramsey County Master Gardener sale – May 17, 2025
Ramsey County Master Gardeners are hosting their annual plant sale on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Aldrich Arena, 1850 White Bear Ave, Maplewood.
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.
Landscape Revival – Saturday June 7, 9 am – 1 pm
Rockpoint
Church, 5825 Kelvin Ave N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
Sponsored by the St. Paul Bird Alliance
Market: Purchase MN native plants from multiple growers. No cultivars or systemic insecticides. Includes native plant growers from around the Twin Cities are surrounding areas that will have native plants in all sizes for sale. Cash or check preferred.
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.
For more information: Landscape Revival
Local Greenhouses and Nurseries
As a request from our volunteers I am adding a list of various local greenhouses or garden centers that sell plants. Many of these establishments do not use neonicotinoids on their plants that they grow. But the buyer should beware: they may sell plants that were grown previously at a different wholesaler which did use systemic pesticides. You should ask the growers at these establishments whether neonics were used on the plants you wish to purchase.
Neonicotinoids or ‘neonics’ are a systemic pesticides used on plants to kill insects. Unfortunately, these insecticides also harm pollinators as the insecticide gets into all parts of the plant including the pollen and nectar.
The only way to be sure a plant has not been treated with neonics is to buy certified organic seed and grow it yourself, or buy a certified organically grown plant.
More information here.
Goldman’s Greenhouse – East Bethel, MN
Website: Goldman's
Outback Nursery – Hastings, MN
Seller of Minnesota native trees, shrubs and perennials.
Website: Outback
Prairie Moon Nursery – Winona, MN and order online
They have hundreds of varieties of native plant seeds, plants and bare root stock.
Website: Prairiemoon
Prairie Restorations – Scandia, MN
Seller of Minnesota native plants.
Website: Prairieresto
Time for a funny:
What is a bee’s favorite flower?
A Bee-gonia.
How do two flowers greet each other?
Hey, bud, how’s it growing?
Pam
Contact info for the Seed Library:
Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com
Blog site: WBL Seed Library
