Hello Wild Ones!

Spring is exciting (no matter what the weather) as we are waiting impatiently and with awe at what is coming up in the garden/yard. Some of us may be wondering how to grow more native plants, but we really like the look of our perennial gardens and don’t want to change their overall appearance. So, on WEDNESDAY, April 27, we will be brainstorming about replacing non-native perennials with native plants of the same general size, shape, color, etc. There are some perennials we will not give up, but we might be inclined to replace those picky, persnickety ones with easy care natives. Bring your reference books and put on your thinking cap! Erik Hahn will present the Plant of the Month.

Carol will be sending a separate email SOON with info on the group plant order. Boreal Natives (http://www.prairieresto.com/Boreal/boreal_natives.htm) and Outback Nursery (http://www.outbacknursery.com) will be our sources for ordering this year. Start perusing their web sites for plant/tree/shrub lists, including photos of many of the plants they carry.

SATURDAY, April 30th: Duluth Garden Flower Society (DGFS) Spring Gardening Conference, includes over 20 Gardening Seminars and a Gardener’s Market at Lake Superior College (Carol will be leading one class about native plants). See the web site for a brochure and registration form. Not sure if we can put up our display, but if someone is available to staff it, Carol will try to set it up. http://www.dgfs.us/dgfs2005conf.pdf

TUESDAY, May 10: NABA-Northern Crescents presents, “Native Plants for Butterflies” with Paul Hlina of Leaning Pine Nursery. They meet at Benedictine Health Center, Kenwood Road, at 7 p.m. What a great topic!

THURSDAY, May 26, Wild Ones will be taking a trip to Chambers Grove Park with Tom Kasper as our guide. Chambers Grove is the oldest park (Tom’s an expert on the history of Duluth’s parks) with an old cemetery near by, and what better place to look for native plants? Meet at 6 p.m. at the park: drive west on Hwy 23 through Gary. Hwy 23 splits, and as you enter Fond du Lac, Hwy 23 rejoins. At that point and just before the bridge, turn in at the Chambers Grove Park sign.

SATURDAY, May 28, Wild Ones will be having a table at the annual Duluth Garden Flower Society Plant sale (we are members of DGFS now!), and your contributions for selling are needed. Rumor has it most clubs make a few hundred $$ at this, with the total amount of money for the sale over $4000 last year! Ideas might be starting seeds OR dividing perennials (native and non-invasive, non-natives). Be sure to label them. Contact Carol as the time draws nearer to let her know how you’ll be able to contribute and help out.

Wild Ones’ April 27 meeting at Hartley Nature Center is free to Hartley and Wild Ones members, a $4.00 donation is asked from nonmembers/guests. Wild Ones gatherings from May through August will be off-site and at a variety of locations. Call Carol at 730-9954 with questions, and be sure to let her know how you would like to help promote Wild Ones at any events. If you have an idea for a program, call Carol or Cindy at 525-6504. See you Wednesday!

Thanks! Carol Andrews 730-9954

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