Native plants available at SWCD

Have you heard the buzz? The Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has been busy helping community members plant pollinator habitat in their backyards, and will launch its second annual Native Plant Kit sale soon.

New this year, native seed mixes will also be offered. Native Pollinator, Monarch, and Songbird mixes covering about 100 square feet will be available for pickup at a cost of $18 each. Native plant kits offered include Monarch, Pine Mulch, Rain Garden, Deer Resistant, Raingarden, Shade, and the 2020 favorite, Pollinator kits. Some kits may have several different species from last year. Each kit consists of six species that offer showstopping blooms spring through fall, totaling 36 plant plugs that cover about 150 square feet for $60 per kit. The plants are supplied from Minnesota Native Landscapes, which helped us ensure that the kits are designed to be easy to plant and maintain. The kits provide a mix of colors and plant heights to bring optimal aesthetics and function for wildlife.

Native grasses and wildflowers provide critical habitat for bees, butterflies, songbirds and many other types of wildlife that use the vegetation for shelter and food. Low-cost and low-maintenance, native plantings do not require fertilizing or regular mowing or irrigation, and have a very positive effect on the soil. In fact, their extensive fibrous root systems, which can grow down to 15 feet deep, reduce erosion, restore soil health, and filter runoff before it enters our streams and lakes.

These plantings will contribute to our Northeastern Minnesota Bee Friendly Corridor, which connects our region's beekeepers, naturalists, gardeners, farmers and food producers, as well as local artists who highlight the importance of pollinators in our lives. Community organizations such as Cloquet Memorial Hospital and Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton have joined in and planted their own pollinator habitat for patients and residents to enjoy.

Do your part and plant pollinator habitat. Even the smallest garden helps our bees, birds, and butterflies. Orders are being taken now until Friday, June 4. Curbside pickup is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 18. We will be following social distancing guidelines for everyone's safety. Order online at https://carltonswcd.org/native-plant-sale. Contact Alyssa Bloss (Alness), Carlton SWCD conservation specialist, with any questions at

218-384-3891 or [email protected].