Rain Garden Workshop, Native Plant Sale in Plymouth

The rain garden workshop “Beautify Your Yard, Protect Our Lakes” is 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, at St. Barnabas Lutheran Church. A native plant sale is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at the church. 

Participants will learn about watershed management, storm water runoff and rain garden basics including design, installation and maintenance of rain gardens using native plants. The workshop will also teach participants to learn how to landscape for curb appeal while maintaining clean lakes. Professional designers will be on location to offer hands-on assistance as participants plan a rain garden project. 

“These workshops are geared toward residents who have issues with excess water in their yards or burdensome lawn maintenance, who are interested in enhancing native wildlife or have a general affinity for improving water quality,” said Derek Asche, Plymouth's Water Resources Manager. 

Metro Blooms Native Plant Sale will feature a wide variety of native flowering plants and grasses to add color, variety and habitat value to landscaping. The sale will offer options for rain gardens, shoreline restoration and colorful gardens to attract birds and butterflies. 

“Having the plant sale four days after the workshop is convenient for those who attended the workshop, created a plan and now just need to purchase the plants,” Asche said. 

The workshop and native plant sale are sponsored by the city of Plymouth, Metro Blooms and the Bassett Creek, Elm Creek, Shingle Creek and West Mississippi Watershed Management organizations. 

For more information, call 651-699-2426 or visit www.metroblooms.org. Registration for the workshop can be done online, over the phone or by mailing a $15 check, payable to Metro Blooms, to Rain Garden Workshop Registration, P.O. Box 17099, Minneapolis, MN 55417.

(Information provided by a city of Plymouth press release.)