From Garden Recognition to Community Stewardship
Metro Blooms grew out of a volunteer-powered garden recognition program—the Minneapolis Garden Awards—first established by the City of Minneapolis’ Committee on the Urban Environment (CUE). From 1979 to 2016, hundreds of trained volunteers visited thousands of gardens each year, celebrating excellence and cultivating a strong culture of gardening across the city. Over time, the Friends of CUE became Minneapolis Blooms, and in 2008, Metro Blooms.
While the garden awards program no longer evaluates gardens, it laid the groundwork for our work with community and a belief that caring for land begins with people.
Turning Towards Clean Water and Resilient Landscapes
Beginning in 2005, we partnered with cities and watershed districts to engage residents as active stewards of local lakes and streams. We developed an innovative series of rain gardens workshops, equipping residents with the skills to create projects at home that collect stormwater and reduce polluted runoff. This education-focused approach grew into a broader commitment to sustainable yard practices. Today, through hands-on workshops and learning resources, we continue to support residents in creating resilient yards—promoting healthy soils, turf alternatives, native plants, and climate-resilient landscapes.
Neighborhood-Scale Change
In 2009, Metro Blooms launched the Neighborhood of Rain Gardens program in Minneapolis neighborhoods including Cleveland, Victory, and Powderhorn. Designed for residents who wanted rain gardens but needed additional support, the program combined technical assistance, reduced costs, and crew support.
Neighborhood of Rain Gardens works to shift landscaping norms and demonstrates the collective impact of many small projects. Thousands of rain gardens and native plantings have been installed across Minneapolis and the Twin Cities metro, in partnership with cities, Conservation Corps of Minnesota, community organizations, and volunteers. We continue to operate this program today through Metro Blooms Design+Build.
Centering Environmental Justice Through Community Relations
Over the past decade, Metro Blooms has deepened its commitment to environmental justice. This work centers communities most impacted by environmental inequities and prioritizes shared leadership, long-term relationships, and community-defined benefits.
Programs like Blooming Boulevards reflect this approach. Through pollinator-friendly boulevard rain gardens, residents take part in planting and ongoing care while helping shape how the program evolves. We also partner with local youth and young adults for paid learning and work opportunities, strengthening both neighborhood connections and environmental outcomes.
Our Community Relations work also includes efforts to strengthen urban tree canopy and shared green spaces—recognizing trees and gardens as essential infrastructure that support health, climate resilience, and quality of life. Across these programs, we continue to learn alongside residents, adapting our practices to better support people, land, and water together.
Statewide Learning and Lasting Impact: Blue Thumb
In 2015, Metro Blooms began managing Blue Thumb – Planting for Clean Water®, a statewide public–private partnership that helps Minnesotans turn ideas into action for clean water and pollinators. Through workshops and online resources, Blue Thumb supports residents of all experience levels—from renters to homeowners to community stewards.
Lawns to Legumes, launched in 2019 in partnership with the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, is part of our Blue Thumb programming. Lawns to Legumes has helped thousands of Minnesotans transform lawns into pollinator habitat, building a statewide movement to plant for pollinators.
The Blue Thumb Sustainable Landcare Training (SLC) program builds pathways into green careers for young adults from communities impacted by environmental injustice. Through paid, hands-on training, participants gain job-ready skills caring for rain gardens, native plantings, and other green infrastructure—removing common barriers to entry in environmental fields and fostering a new generation of environmental stewards. Graduates of SLC can continue their growth through Career Readiness + Exploration (CRE), which supports BIPOC youth and young adults as they explore next steps in landcare and environmental careers.
Metro Blooms Design + Build
In 2021, our design and crew teams officially became Metro Blooms Design + Build, a for-profit wholly owned by the Metro Blooms non-profit. Led by landscape architects, the Design + Build team provides high-quality, sustainable design, installation, and landcare services for residential and commercial landscapes. By aligning our design, installation, and landcare services with our mission, Metro Blooms Design + Build helps bring rain gardens, native plantings, and clean water strategies to life—while generating financial support that sustains Metro Blooms’ community-based programs.
Looking Forward: A Shared Strategic Vision
In 2024–2025, Metro Blooms undertook a deep, organization-wide strategic planning process. By centering the voices of staff and Board members equally, we clarified our shared values and strengthened alignment across our three identities—Metro Blooms, Blue Thumb, and Metro Blooms Design + Build.
This work resulted in a renewed mission and vision that names what has long guided us: a commitment to environmental justice, shared leadership, and care for community through land and water. With this clarity, Metro Blooms moves forward with confidence—working toward cultural change that is held by people, not just institutions, and sowing the seeds for a more just and thriving future.
