Seminars for Urban Landscaping

I hope you will be able to attend these events.



Out Back Nursery Spring Seminar

Ecological Landscaping
Wednesday, March 26th, 2008 ($30 per person) 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Learn about rainwater gardens, invasive plant replacement, wildlife attraction, bio-hedges
erosion control and more.
Attendees will receive a $10.00 Gift Certificate for Out Back Nursery
Location: Carpenter Nature Center 12805 St. Croix Trail Hastings, MN 55033
Space is limited; Please call Carpenter Nature Center at 651-437-4359 to make reservations.




Native Landscapes for Urban Yards

Thursday, April 17th, 6:30-9:00 p.m. (Event is Free)
FamilyMeans building, 1875 Northwestern Ave., Stillwater, MN


The main presenter is Erik Olsen, MLA, a native landscape designer with Out Back Nursery & Landscaping in Hastings. Erik will discuss approaches to designing native landscapes for small urban and suburban spaces, and challenge us to bring the natural beauty, ecology, and interest of native plants to our urban yards and gardens. Topics include the structure and layout of a native garden; design issues such as steep slopes, limited sunlight, and plant composition; and use of trees and shrubs to give structure to your garden.

NOTE: Refreshments and socializing begin at 6:30 p.m. At 7 p.m. we have invited Troy Meacham, Land Manager at Standing Cedars Land Conservancy in Osceola, WI, to preview our June 7th field trip to Standing Cedars. Our main program with Erik Olsen will begin at 7:30 p.m.

WELCOME

This is a journal of urban native landscaping. This is a place to share ideas, thoughts....and explorations of a kind of landscaping that is beautiful and sustainable.

I hope to inspire and promote a way of landscaping that restores an interconnectedness between people, birds, animals, insects and soil organisms into harmonious cohabitations. Your comments are welcome.

Photo credit: Nick from Fort Saint John, British Columbia

UBC Botanical Garden centre for Plant Research

SPRING IS COMING - A flower nation is coming

Pasque Flower Anemone Patens
Ranunculaceae. Buttercup or Crowfoot Family.

This is a deep rooted perennial of dry prairies, sand plains and hillsides. It is one of the first blooming wildflowers of Minnesota. When the Dakota saw this plant blooming amid the melting snow, they would sing a ceremonial song about the Pasque Flower. The words of the song encouraged the other flowers to emerge soon.

Total Lunar Eclipse (Last night)

I went outside into the back yard. The Moon had turned a carnelian red color.... and Saturn was southeast of the moon.... and the bright star just above the moon was Regulus during the eclipse. The winter night constellation Orion was still visible. I am glad my alley doesn't have light posts. It was an awesome sight to behold!!!!