Family: Asteraceae (Aster) Scientific Name: Helenium autumnale Native perennial herb that grows on low-lying, moist prairies and other open spaces throughout the United States and Canada. Watch for: Alternate, lance-shaped to elliptic leaves. Flower clusters at the ends of branches have yellow, wedge-shaped petals with three “teeth” on the ends. Other names: Common Sneezeweed, Large-flowered… Read More →
MPLS WEST BANK– Colleen O’Dell is both a Research Assistant in Practice for Metro Blooms, as well as a Masters Student at both the U of M College of Design and the Humphrey School in Minneapolis. To entwine the worlds of academia and non-profit work, she’s researching the feasibility of an endowment that will fund… Read More →
NEW YORK– This Thanksgiving, I chose to visit the High Line, a world famous park built on top of an abandoned elevated train line above Manhattan’s West Side. The park is still under construction, with two thirds of the line already converted into park and the last third targeted for acquisition by the City of… Read More →
Family: Asteraceae (Aster) Scientific Name: Achillea millefolium Perennial herb introduced with genotypes that are both native and introduced. Common in disturbed areas and open forests in the US, spread across all Northern continents. Watch for: Lance-shaped leaves finely divided, resembling a fern. White flowers have four petals, forming a dome shape in a cluster at… Read More →
Family: Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed) Scientific Name: Asclepias tuberosa Perennial herb found on roadways, abandoned farmlands, open woodlands, and prairies. Sandy, loamy, or rocky limestone soils. Watch for: Lance-shaped alternate leaves smooth above and velvet beneath. Flowers are a showy orange, with 5 petals which together form a rounded group on the top. Usually the flash of… Read More →
Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower) Scientific Name: Liatris punctata Perennial herb of prairies and native pastures. Dry, course soils. Watch for: Purple star-shaped flowers arranged in spikelike groups at the ends of stems. Leaves dotted and narrow, up to 15 cm long, closely spaced and arching upward, with a solid smooth feel. 1/4′ to 2 3/4′ tall. Other names:… Read More →
Yesterday was the long awaited Give to the Max Day, and oh what a memorable day it was! The entire 24-hour donation window raised about $13.5 million for hundreds of Minnesota non-profits… now you don’t see that everyday do you?! Wow! All donations will be dedicated to education, health, disability services, immigration and refugee aid, family services, wildlife… Read More →
When it comes to late fall in Minnesota we’re all lucky to get a perfect warm sunny day that lands on the weekend! Last Saturday (11/12), Metro Blooms and local volunteers embraced this fortunate day with a raking project near Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis. Starting at 9 am with a crew of 12, we took… Read More →
Family: Poacaea (Grass) Scientific Name: Andropogon Gerardii Prairies (clay, black soil, sand), savannas, grassy fens (wetlands), well-managed native pastures, roadsides. The most common grass of the native tall grass prairie. Pre-colonial settlement, Big Blue Stem once covered a massive range from Maine to the Rocky Mountains, from Quebec to Mexico. Watch for: Long, hairy and… Read More →
Family: Lamiaceae (Mint) Family Scientific name: Monarda fistulosa Grows on prairie hillsides, pastures, roadsides, stream banks, and occasionally in open woods. Usually in rocky soil. Perennial herb. Watch for: Purple flower, leaves simple, opposite and lance-shaped. Fragrant, lower surfaces hairy, with square stem. Other names: Wild Bergamont, Oswego Tea (Lake Oswego, Oregon), Long-flowered Horsemint, Fern Mint. History: Beebalm… Read More →
Welcome to the new Metro Blooms blog! Here is where you’ll be able to dig into all the rain garden extras such as: News, events, affiliates, plant bios and folklore, and much more! We look forward to being blog buddies, feel free to join in the conversation! -Nick for Metro Blooms Staff
Metro Blooms Receives MCWD 2010 WATERSHED HEROES AWARD
For Minneapolis gardener, the floral is political – Aug 24, 2010
A Minneapolis couple celebrate their 50th anniversary with a unique gift to the neighborhood – rain gardens for everyone on their block.
Loving Each Other and the Environment: Bob and Deb Wolk celebrate their anniversary with raingardens for the whole block
