Category Archives: conservation
The Truth About Ice Melt Products
Keeping your balance on icy walkways can be tricky. So is balancing the need for salt versus the damange it does to the environment. Here’s some information to help you make an informed choice about how you will keep your driveway and outdoor walking surfaces safe for your family and guests this winter. Article includes reviews of several ice melt products. Continue reading
Top Ten Benefits of Urban Trees
Since you were small you’ve learned that trees are good for life. Why are they good? We learned these top ten benefits at the 2011 Clean Water Summit held at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Continue reading
Stylish Raingardens
I’ve heard it before. “Raingardens look like weed patches.” That may be true of poorly maintained raingardens, but well kept raingardens look fabulous, full of healthy native plants. And they don’t have to be 100% native. You can incorporate some beautiful perennial cultivars and still have a perfectly functioning raingarden. Here are four factors that make for a beautiful raingarden. Continue reading
A Landscape Revival
On June 4, 2011, the Roseville Rainbow Foods Pavillion sizzled with the energy of hundreds of native plant buyers, sellers and environmental enthusiasts. The first annual Landscape Revival Native Plant Expo & Market attracted avid native plant gardeners as well as folks new to the concept. Continue reading
The Minnesota Environmental Initiative
Hedberg is delighted to announce that we, as part of the “Go Blue! Diamond Lake Community Makeover” project team, are finalists for a prestigious 2011 Environmental Initiative Award. These annual awards presented by the Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI) honor innovative projects that have achieved extraordinary environmental outcomes by harnessing the power of partnership. Continue reading
First Place Finish for a Beginning Wall Builder
Hedberg sales rep Bill Auten was looking for something fun and meaningful to do last October over an extended weekend with his wife, so he signed up for the Dry Stone Conservancy’s 7th Annual National Walling Competition in Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. He wasn’t the only person to travel for the day-long event. 35 participants came from 11 states, as far away as Vermont.
Bill is an avid do-it-yourself landscaper and he enjoys building stone walls. “I want to teach others how to use more natural stone. Everytime I’ve been to England and Scotland, half the pictures I take are of stone.”
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Experiencing the Eco Experience
The twelve best days of summer are here, in my opinion. The Minnesota State Fair is in full swing, with rides and barkers, livestock and everything-on-a-stick. Part of the fun of the fair, for me, has always been seeing what’s new. This year’s Eco Experience delights me by showing not only what’s new in sustainable building, landscaping, energy and transportation, it brings it together at the community level. Continue reading
Big Timin’ it with National Geographic
Today’s guest blog is provided by Angie Hong, one of our Blue Thumb colleagues. You can read her bio at the end of this post. “National Geographic just called,” read the email subject line from Rice Creek Watershed District educator Dawn … Continue reading