Gardening with Native Plants - Nine Mile Creek Watersheed District, Minnesota

1. THE NINE MILE CREEK
WATERSHED DISTRICT
The Nine Mile Creek
Watershed District
Celebrating 50 years of
In 1959, the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District watershed management
was one of the first urban watershed district
formed in Minnesota. It encompasses about 50
square miles in surface area around Nine Mile
Creek. The District is located in Hennepin County
and includes most of Edina, most of Bloomington,
and portions of Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Hop-
kins and Richfield.
Gardening with
The responsibility of the Nine Mile Creek Water-
shed District is to protect and manage the water Native Plants
resources within the District’s legal boundaries.
If you would like to know more about the Nine
Mile Creek Watershed District projects please
contact the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
office at 952-835-2078 or email Kevin Bigalke at
kbigalke@ninemilecreek.org.
Celebrating 50 years of watershed management
THE NINE MILE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT
7710 Computer Ave,
Suite 135
Edina, MN 55435
Phone: 952-835-2078
Fax: 952-835-2079 www.ninemilecreek.org
Website: www.ninemilecreek.org

2. Why Natives?
What are Native Plants? Where can I find Natives? moisture, bloom time and color prefer-
ences. Native plants are in a vast array of
Native plants are plants that are indigenous Some native plants can be found at local nurs- colors and exist in a variety of textures.
to a region, in our eries. However, you might find a greater selec-
case the Twin Cities tion at annual plant sales. Specialized nurseries For more information on landscaping with
Metro Area. In par- can also be found on our partner’s website, native plants or where to find native plants
ticular, they are www.bluethumb.org. visit our Blue Thumb partner’s web site at
plants that were pre- www.bluethumb.org.
sent at the time of
Interested in native plants gardens?
the Public Land Sur-
Honey Bee sucking
vey (1847-1907) dur- Consider applying for our Cost-Share Grant Pro-
on the nectar of a
ing early European gram. Our Cost-Share Grant Program offers finan-
Prairie Coneflower
Settlement. cial assistance for efforts that protect and improve
water and natural resources within the Nine Mile
Why Natives? Creek Watershed. For more information, visit our
website www.ninemilecreek.org Native Plant Art
The use of native plants in your garden is an
easy way of reducing lawn care such as wa- You can enjoy your native plants all year round
Which ones should I plant?
tering and erosion control. Native plants by picking them and drying
have extensive root systems that prevent soil them out. You can also
Depending on the type of soil and shade per-
from eroding. They improve the water quality spray paint these and use
centages, different native plants are appropri- them to decorate wreaths or
of our creeks and lakes by reducing the ate. Bluethumb.org has a great plant selector even your Christmas tree!
amount of water that runs off our roofs and tool on their website. The tool will help you se-
streets into the stormwater drains. These lect plants depending on you sun exposure, soil
drains have for outlet our creek and lakes.
Native plants are also important for wildlife.
They provide nectar, pollen and seeds for
native butterflies, birds and other animals.
THE NINE MILE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT
They require little maintenance, except for
Spring cutbacks. 7710 Computer Ave,
Suite 135
Did you know? Edina, MN 55435
Two hundred years ago, the metro area hosted Phone: 952-835-2078
diverse plant communities. However, only 3.5% Fax: 952-835-2079
of the total land area is now comprised of native Website: www.ninemilecreek.org