8.3.A. PRSR 10-10-2007Item: 8.3.A.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Parks and Recreation Commission
FROM: Bill Maertz, Parks and Recreation Director
DATE: October 4, 2007
SUBJECT: Request for a Pollination Garden at Orono Park
Susan Bergstrom has been awarded a $500 grant funded by University of Minnesota
Extension. The scope of this project is to design, construct and maintain a garden that will
contain native and non-native plants that attract bees and butterflies. An estimate of the
garden size is 15x20, and in the shape of a butterfly.
The purpose of this garden is to provide a pleasant garden experience for those visiting the
park or other activities in that area, a natural botanical environment to view bees and
butterflies and a hands on learning experience for children and adults to study these insects
and learn about their importance and the problems they face such as the recent bee colony
collapse issue.
Staff is looking for commission feedback as to potential locations for this garden.
'^ June 28, 2007
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Dear Master Gardener:
Thank you for your application for a Master Gardener 2007-08 .Project for your local
community. We are pleased to inform you that the State Master Gardener Advisory
Board has approved your project for funding with a grant of $500.00.
There were 29 grant requests and the Board approved 10 projects, so the competition was
very high. With the exception of one grant, and that total grant request was less than
$500, all other grants were approved at less than the full amount requested. Please
confirm by July 15 with an email to Linda Wasem (wasem001(c~umn.edu) that you
accept the grant.
In order to receive your funding, please submit invoices for your costs to Linda Wasem at
the State Master Gardener Office, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318. Monies
must be used by June 30, 2008.
We ask that project materials and publicity of activities funded through this grant include
the following acknowledgement: This project is funded in part by a grant from
University of Minnesota Extension.
We are asking all projects to submit a poster (approximately 30" x 36") for display at the
September 15, 2007 State Master Gardener Conference in Fergus Falls. This poster can
show plans for your project, before, mid way or after; pictures and details of what you are
planning or will accomplish should be part of the poster. Please include your county,
project title and the impact you hope to accomplish on your poster.
By June 30, 2008, please submit a final 1 page summary report to the State MG Office of
how you used the funds and what impact your project made in the community.
Thank you for submitting your project and good luck with the implementation of your
work. Please contact me if you have further questions.
Mary H. Meyer
State Master Gardener Coordinator
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Page 1 of 5
Susan Bergstrom
From: "Mary Meyer" <meyer023@umn.edu>
To: "Susan Bergstrom" <sjberg@ties2.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 10:22 AM
Subject: Re: 2007 RF Proposals for Master Gardener Projects
Susan, thanks for your application, best wishes, Mary
Susan Bergstrom wrote:
> 2007 Request for Proposals for Master Gardener Projects
> Requests are being taken for Master Gardener Projects to initiate
> educational programs and events that are currently limited due to
> funding. Small grants of up to $1,000 will be considered for projects
> that meet the following criteria: address a community need, can be
> completed within 1 year, fulfill the mission of Extension, involve a
> significant number of people, and show a positive educational impact
> in the community.
> Requests should be submitted by June 15 to Mary Meyer, State
> Coordinator for review at the June 2007 State Advisory Board meeting.
> Monies will be granted by July 15, 2007 and must be used by June 30,
> 2008. Awarded projects must: 1) complete a final evaluation showing
> the community impact and submit this to the State MG Advisory Board by
> June 30, 2008 and 2) prepare a presentation or poster for the annual
> State MG Conference.
> Request for Proposals for Master Gardener Projects
>`Project name Butterfly and Bee Garden
> Date_06/11/07
> Contact Person_Sue Bergstrom.
> County_Sherburne
> Email_sjberg(t~ties2.net 763 441 6798
> Extension Staff Contact (if applicable)
> Haugen-Brown
Tana
> Project description: 500 words or less, use a separate page if necessary:
> The scope of this project is to design, construct and maintain a
> garden in Sherburne County at the county fair grounds. The garden will
> contain native and non-native plants that attract bees and
> butterflies. An estimate of the garden size is 15 x 20, and in the
> shape of a butterfly.
> The purpose of the garden is to:
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Page 2 of 5
> * Provide a pleasant garden experience for those visiting the fair
> or other activities at that location
> * To provide a natural botanical environment to view bees and
> butterflies
> * To provide a hands on learning experience for children and
> adults to study these insects and learn about their importance
> and the problems they face such as the recent bee colony
> collapse issue.
> By design, the butterfly shaped garden will remind viewers of its
> purpose and provide an attractive location for the plants. For
> structure and ease of maintenance, a border of paving bricks will
> enclose the entire outer perimeter of the gazden. To represent the
> body of the butterfly, lazger stepping stones, matching the color of
> the perimeter, will be placed through the center. This will allow
> visitors to walk through the center for a closer look.
> Plants will be selected based on their importance and preference to
> butterflies and bees, as well as the soil type, and the light and
> moisture requirements. It is anticipated that a variety of both native
> and nonnative plants will be used, and will be clearly labeled for the
> public. In addition, the entire gazden will be mulched for moisture
> control, weed control and attractiveness. It is anticipated that
> garden construction and maintenance will be taken care of through the
> Sherburne County Master Gazdeners and Jr. Master Gardeners as well as
> local 4-H clubs. In addition to the gazden, a display will be prepazed
> on the honeybee. A logical offshoot to this project could be to
> incorporate associated speakers at the 2008 Sherburne County garden
> expo, and/or at the monthly Master Gazdener meetings, such as someone
> familiaz with bee colony collapse, a local beekeeper, a community
> education offering. This is a critical issue that the public should be
> more awaze of. It affects us as gardeners, as consumers, and we can
> learn more about what to do to help.
> Expected impact in the community:
> * Increase public awareness of the importance of pollinators in
> the community and related topics such as nectaz, toxins,
> disappearing flower habitats, endangered species, and the need
> for protecting these habitats.
> * Learn what we can do in our yards and gardens to help pollinators
> * Increase the public awareness of the need of and importance of
> butterflies and bees in our daily lives
> * Explore the threat to butterflies and bee colonies in our
> communities and what impact they may have for the future
> * Provide beauty and environmental impact for the fairgrounds and
> the many visitors to the events at the facility
> Amount of funding requested: $650
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> Specific use of funds, if not listed in description:
> Paver bricks for the perimeter (approx. 15 x 20) _ $100
> Stepping stones for the center = $30
> Soil test and amendments needed = $50
> Plants = $250
> Butterfly house = $20
> Mulch = $150
> Money for aspeaker = $50
> Timeline of project:
> Summer-fall of 2007 or spring of 2008
> Prepare garden area, remove weeds or sod
> Soil test/amend if needed
> Add pavers and stepping stones
> Some plants added (contact local nurseries and Master Gardeners for
> donations also)
> Mulch
> Winter 2008
> Prepare the display
> Incorporate related speaker into the garden expo plans and meetings
> Plan appropriate teaching activities for the kid's garden club at the
> expo (i.e. the life cycle of a butterfly, or the bee colony and honey
> production)
> Spring 2008
> Utilize the display at spring garden expos in the county
> Conduct the above educational activities
> Complete the planting of the garden and schedule maintenance
> activities with Master Gardener volunteer time
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> Summer 2008
> Prepare for county fair visitors
> Have display on site and schedule volunteers to staff the garden
> during peak fair hours
> Future plans for project sustainability after funding:
> It is projected that the regular maintenance of the garden can be
> handled with Master Gardener, Jr. Master Gardener, and 4-H volunteers.
> This would include watering, weeding, and planting as needed. Once
> established, costs would be minimal, perhaps some additional mulch or
> plants. Local nurseries could be approached for donations as well as
> the Master Gardeners.
> Possible plants may include but not be limited to:
> Butterfly weed
> Coneflowers
> Columbines
> Lupines
> Sedum
> Monarda
> Nepeta
> Hesparis
> Milkweeds
> Herbs (dill, parsley, thyme)
> Joe pye
> Helenium
> Rudbeckia
> Scilla
> Vervain
> Yarrow
> Lantana
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> Petunias
> Goldenrod
> Golden alexanders
> Verbena
> Asters
> Phlox
> Sunflowers
> Pearly everlasting
> Mallows
> Purple prairie clover
> Wild geranium
> Nasturtium
> Marigold
> Lamium
> Day lily
> Butterflybush (zone?)
> Salvia
Mary H. Meyer, Ph.D.
Professor & Extension Horticulturist
Department of Horticultural Science
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Drive
Chaska, MN 55318
Voice: 952-443-1447
Fax:952-443-2521
meyer023(a~umn.edu <mailto:meyer023(a~umn.edu>
http://horticulture.coafes.umn.edu
http://horticulture.coafes. umn.edu/miscanthus
http : //www. mg . umn. e du
8/9/2007