Please consider joining us for one or more garlic mustard and celandine poppy (invasive poppy only) removal efforts to take place this spring in Villa Park and Reservoir Woods. It is a fun way to get to know other like-minded people in Roseville and helps prepare our natural areas for the growth of native plants. Led by Wild Ones volunteers.
All times 9:30-11:30 am
Where to park:
Reservoir Woods, West- parking lot at the top of Alta Vista Drive
Reservoir Woods, East- in cul de sac at end of Reservoir Woods Circle
Villa Park- on Cohansey Blvd., near the park garden signage at the intersection of Cohansey Blvd and Crescent Lane.
| Date | Location | Leader |
|---|---|---|
| Thurs., April 30 | Reservoir Woods, East | Erica TenBroek |
| Sun., May 3 | Reservoir Woods, East | Erica |
| Thursday, May 7 | Villa Park | Erica |
| Sat., May 9 | Reservoir Woods, West | Anna |
| Sun., May 10 | Villa Park | Erica |
| Tues., May 12 | Reservoir Woods, West | Anna |
| Thurs., May 14 | Reservoir Woods, East | Erica |
| Sat., May 16 | Reservoir Woods, West | Anna |
| Sun., May 17 | Reservoir Woods, East | Erica |
| Thurs., May 21 | Villa Park | Erica |
| Sat., May 23 | Reservoir Woods, West | Anna |
| Tues., May 26 | Reservoir Woods, West | Anna |
| Thurs., May 28 | Villa Park | Erica |
| Sat., May 30 | Reservoir Woods, West | Anna |
Even though it’s still too cold to plant, it’s not too cold to plan — your native garden project, that is. Now is a good time to apply to your local watershed for a grant to help you get that project off the ground.
Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
Vadnais Lakes Area Watershed Management Organization (VLAWMO)
Rice Creek Watershed District
Capitol Region Watershed District
Use this map to help you identify your watershed.
March 9, 2026, starts in the AM.
Neonics are neurotoxic insecticides used on more than 12 million acres across Minnesota: on farms, in our yards and gardens, and in public spaces. They are a leading cause of pollinator decline and in turn affecting our food systems and the fish, birds and wildlife that rely on insects for food. They also pose direct health risks to humans and contaminate our waterways. But the vast majority of neonic use in Minnesota is unnecessary! Join us at the state capitol to strategize and voice our concerns.
DETAILS AND SIGN UP HERE:
Roadside plantings have been considered an opportunity to reduce habitat loss. Emilie Snell-Rood, professor of ecology, evolution, and behavior at the UMN, presented her lab’s findings at the annual Center for Transportation Studies Transportation Research Conference in November. As part of work funded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (MN-ENRTF), Snell-Rood’s lab has studied the risks of roadside pollutants for the last decade, with a current focus on microplastics. Learn more about this study: https://mnltap.umn.edu/ltapnews/2026/february/pollinators
At our November Chapter Meeting, 11/20/25, the Big River Big Woods Chapter elected new officers and directors to our Board. We are pleased to announce the results:
| President: | Kendra Sommerfeld |
| Secretary: | Robin Manthei |
| Treasurer: | Steve Fester |
| Director: | Cyndi Vehe |
| Director: | Erica Tenbroek |
| Director: | John Kramer |
| Director: | Liz Wendland |
| Director: | Troy Thielen |
| Director: | Joe Crowe |
In past years we have designated some positions as “Member-at-Large”. The Board has chosen to change that designation to “Director”.
Volunteers are needed to remove buckthorn and burdock.
Date: Sunday, October 5th Where: Hand-in-Hand Montessori School in Roseville211 N McCarrons Blvd, Roseville, MN 55113 (meet in parking lot)Time: 9:30 – 11:30 am MORNINGWear: Long sleeves, pants, good shoes or boots, glovesBring: Water, Loppers, Hand Saw, Chainsaw if you have one Date: Sunday, October 12th Where: Hand-in-Hand Montessori School in Roseville211 N McCarrons Blvd, Roseville, MN 55113 (meet in parking lot)Time: 1:00 PM AFTERNOON Date: Sunday, October 19th Where: Hand-in-Hand Montessori School in Roseville211 N McCarrons Blvd, Roseville, MN 55113 (meet in parking lot)Time: 3:00 PM (NOTE TIME CHANGE- to avoid football game) In case of rain, an additional date will be added:Date: Sunday, October 26th Where: Hand-in-Hand Montessori School in Roseville211 N McCarrons Blvd, Roseville, MN 55113 (meet in parking lot)Time: 1:00 PM
The Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom needs people to volunteer to be EcoStewards.
ECOSTEWARDS are individuals and small groups who are dedicated to preserving, protecting and restoring natural areas and vital ecosystems. They adopt a parcel of land in the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom in Como Regional Park. CWOC provides the training in March or April and tools needed.
Contact Tricia Wehrle at Saint Paul Parks & Rec. Her email is tricia.wehrle@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
Capitol Region Watershed District’s 2025 Partner Grants application is now open. The online application link is accessible on our Partner Grant page of our website. The deadline to submit is 4:00 PM, February 25. Please see the attached letter for full program details including program changes from previous grant cycles.
Partner Grants fund programs and projects led by public, private and non-profit that increase clean water knowledge and actions. All proposed projects must serve residents within CRWD’s boundaries. Visit the About CRWD page and scroll down to view a map of the District. Grant awards range from $10,000 to $40,000.
All possible applicants are recommended to attend or view our Partner Grant Information Session on February 4 from 3:00 – 5:00. We invite organizational leadership, development, or program staff to attend.
We look forward to seeing another year of fantastic proposals come in. Please reach out to me if you have any questions about this process or your project idea.
Beginning July 1, 2024, cities cannot stop people from planting native landscapes on private property, including the front yard!. The law (HF 734) defines native landscapes as
“a planned, intentional, and maintained planting
of native or nonnative grasses, wildflowers, forbs, ferns, shrubs, or trees, including but not limited to rain gardens, meadow vegetation, and ornamental plants. Managed natural landscapes does not include turf-grass lawns left unattended for the purpose of returning to a natural state”.
3555 Victoria Street N, Shoreview
The next date and time for cleaning up the Island Lake School Garden is this coming Sunday, May 19th, at 1:30 pm.
Leanne and Karen spent about 2 1/2 hours last Saturday removing excess leaves, some weeds and clearing the path, but there is more to do. More bush pruning, weeding and editing.
We hope you can spare an hour or so on Sunday to make the work go more quickly. You never know what we might see. The Painted Lady butterfly was there Saturday to visit her host, the Pearly Everlasting foliage.
Be sure to bring water, gloves, a kneeling pad and a favorite weeding tool is standard. It’s a full sun garden so sun protection is a must.
Volunteers may ask for Karen Eckman or Leanne Phinney at the site.