"Lawns to Legumes" State of Minnesota Program Promotes Pollinator Habitat
Lawns to Legumes is a new State-funded initiative to protect pollinators, especially the rusty patched bumblebee.
A cost-sharing and technical outreach program is being set up for homeowners who want to enhance their landscape by adding pollinator-friendly habitat, including native plants. Priority is being given to areas in the State that can support the endangered rusty patched bumblebee. This includes most of Washington County.
Dan Shaw from the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) will discuss the State-wide program.
Lauren Haydon and Tara Kelly will discuss how a pollinator prioritization will be used as a tool for the Lawns to Legumes program in Washington County. They both work for the Washington Conservation District assisting landowners with conservation projects including the design and installation of pollinator plantings. Additionally, they will discuss some design consideration for bee lawns, pollinator gardens, and prairie restorations.
You will find the latest details on the Lawns to Legumes program at this BWSR webpage: <bit.ly/LawnToLegumes>.
Information on the rusty patched bumblebee is available le here: <https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/05/31/bombus-affinis-meet-the-rusty-patched-bumblebee-new-state-bee-minnesota>.