2007 Rain Garden Workshops – No More Waiting!

What Minneapolis gardening workshops in had a waiting list of 415 homeowners in 2006? And a waiting list of 856 in 2007? The Metro Blooms Rain Garden Education program! Now in it’s third year, the Metro Blooms Rain Garden program will serve about 1200 Minneapolis residents during 2007. The Rain Garden Workshops Program brings together a well-respected landscape ecologist, landscape design and horticultural professionals, Master Gardeners, an individual coaching session, on-site consultations, cash match reimbursement grants for native plants, and special native plant sales.

Rain gardens are shallow basins planted with beautiful Minnesota native perennials that receive rain water directed toward them to seep naturally into the ground. This helps to replenish our groundwater, and stops rain water from becoming the stormwater runoff that flows into storm drains and pollutes our lakes, rivers and streams.

MB is a 20 year old nonprofit that is putting on 21 education workshops on rain gardens in nearly every Minneapolis neighborhood. The first workshop in the series is a two-hour, large-group Education Workshop (Part A) that costs $15 and will teach landowners how to install a rain garden, and give all attendees an do-it-yourself method. Easy online advance registration is required at www.MetroBlooms.org. Rusty Schmidt, a Minneapolis landscape ecologist, is the key presenter. He has designed and maintained a wide range of rain gardens and bio-retention areas throughout the US. With Dan Shaw, he’s authored Plants for Stormwater Design, now in its fourth printing.

Area homeowners may also sign up online for a follow-up Coaching Seminar (Part B). For this small-group, two-hour seminar, residents bring their own rain garden plans and questions, and receive professional advice from landscape design assistants and master gardeners. Find out which plants will thrive in the sun or shade of your garden, or get help designing your rain garden to fit your conditions. Attending Part A is a prerequisite.

Native Plant Reimbursement grants of $65 for installing native plants are available on a first-come, first-served basis to participants with the submission of an application and receipts. The Native Plant Grant Reimbursement program has been made available by the Hennepin County NRICH (Natural Resources Incentives for Critical Habitat) Program. Lastly one-hour On-site Consultations on a participant’s property may be scheduled with Metro Blooms Landscape Design Assistants after April 15, 2007, at a low cost. In addition, this year, three special Native Plant Sales are available to all participants. Details are available online.

Rain Garden Workshops are sponsored by Metro/Metro Blooms Program, Minneapolis Public Works Department Stormwater Education Fund, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Hennepin County Environmental Services, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

Minneapolis residents are encouraged to register early to ensure a place. MB also asks that you help it’s limited staff by registering online. Or send a $15 check or money order payable to Metro Blooms to: Pat Gill, 2223 7th St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418. (651) 699-2426. Your mailed registration must include your name, address and zip code, phone number with area code, e-mail address (if available) and the workshop number (#A1 – #A10) that you wish to attend. Space is limited so register early.