2008 Metro Blooms Rain Garden Workshop Recap

March 23, 2008

Metro Blooms will be offering 16 rain garden workshops (Part A) from March 25th through June 9th throughout the metro area and 10 rain garden seminars (Part B) April 9th through June 23rd.

The Part A workshops will teach attendees how to design and install rain gardens, effectively use native plants, trees and shrubs and employ eco-friendly lawn care practices including redirecting downspouts and minimizing or eliminating fertilizers. Attendees will receive a packet of support material. The cost to attend the workshop is $10 per person. (Download the Press Release for workshop dates.)

Small-group (Part B) seminars will help those who have attended the workshop get individual help with their rain garden design. Metro Blooms Landscape Design Assistants and Master Gardeners will answer individual questions about garden layout and plant selection. The cost for the seminar is $10 per person. If desired, an on-site consultation with a Design Assistant can be scheduled by workshop participants for $40.

Four special Native Plant Sales, open to all participants, will be held at various times and locations around the metro area to help participants complete their gardens. Check the dates and locations of these sales at www.metroblooms.org. A 10% discount is available to Metro Blooms members.

For a complete list of Coaching Seminars (Part B), plant sales and workshop location addresses visit www.metroblooms.org.

Mail-in registration for the workshops and seminars will begin on February 1. Online registrations begin March 1 at www.metroblooms.org. To register by mail, send a check payable to Metro Blooms to: Noelle Hechtman, 3629 Quebec Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN 55426. Please include your name, address and zip code, phone number with area code, e-mail address (if available) and the workshop number (#A1 – #A16) that you wish to attend.

Rain gardens are shallow basins planted with native perennials that allow rainwater to seep naturally into the ground, preventing stormwater runoff and helping to replenish our groundwater. In addition, rain gardens provide vital wildlife habitat.