Working with Metro Blooms, each garden features all Minnesota-native plants and highlights how to use them in a variety of site conditions. The goal is to transform an underutilized expanse of turf grass into pollinator habitat, adding to a network of high-quality habitat across the Twin Cities Metro. Reintroducing native plants will benefit pollinators, birds, and other wildlife, and have positive, long-lasting effects on soil and water quality within the parks.

Thanks to help from our communities, three gardens were planted in 2023. Battle Creek Regional Park, Lebanon Hills Regional Park, and the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden entrance at Theodore Wirth Regional Park had gardens planted — totaling 15,600 native plants on 19,120 square feet of turf grass.

A big shout out to the Blue Thumb Partners who were contracted with to prepare the sites. And a huge thank-you to over 200 amazing volunteers who helped us plant and maintain the gardens. They included students, corporate groups, families, friends, and individuals invested in their local regional parks. We accomplished so much together!