You’re invited to an open house to learn, interact, and have questions answered about natural resource management improvements along two Dakota County Greenway Trails. These plans outline ecological restoration, invasive species management, and pollinator plantings in public lands along these trails.

The Scott Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is excited to host speaker Dr. Elaine Evans to talk about what’s happening with Minnesota’s state bee: The rusty patched bumble bee.

The Scott SWCD has been awarded funding through the State’s Lawns to Legumes Program to restore critical habitat for the endangered rusty patched bumble bee. Scott SWCD staff will give an overview of funding opportunities while Dr. Elaine Evans from the University of Minnesota discusses why these bees are so important.

This free educational webinar will go over:

• How to identify the rusty patched bumble bee and their role as a critical pollinator species
• The life cycle and behaviors of the rusty patched bumble bee
• What’s being done to protect them
• How you can help expand their habitat and beautify your property with Lawns to Legumes grants

Dr. Elaine Evans holds a PhD in Entomology and works as an Associate Extension Professor at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab in the Department of Entomology. They handle questions related to bee conservation and are currently monitoring the population of the endangered rusty patched bumble bee.

You’re invited to an open house to learn, interact, and have questions answered about natural resource management improvements along two Dakota County Greenway Trails. These plans outline ecological restoration, invasive species management, and pollinator plantings in public lands along these trails.

Join the Vermillion Stewards in distributing native seed and removing garlic mustard at Vermillion River Linear Park in Hastings. Friends of the Mississippi River staff will provide instructions. Please contact Sophie Downey to register. FMR requests limiting groups to 4 or fewer.

Join the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization and the City of Farmington to clear out invasive buckthorn around the Vermillion River! Meet at 10 a.m. at the pavilion at Rambling River Park for instructions. Please bring your own tools (loppers, pruners, gloves, safety glasses) and dress appropriately.

Register ahead of time at https://www.vermillionriverwatershed.org/signup-form-buckthorn-removal-at-rambling-river-park/ so we can have a head count. Everyone is welcome – you do not have to live in Farmington to participate.

Join Great River Greening, U of M Extension Bee Lab, and the Xerces Society for a hands-on pollinator capture and release sampling field day. Participants will gain more experience with capture and release practices, as well as pollinator identification.
Sampling field days will take place on multiple days at both Ritter Farm in Lakeville and Spring Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake with morning and afternoon sessions available. With multiple sampling efforts throughout the summer, we will gain a better understanding of how pollinator populations are responding to our restoration efforts.
Additional field days are scheduled for:
– Thursday, July 7
– Tuesday, August 9
– Thursday, August 25
To sign up for Spring Lake Regional Park sampling days, visit https://givepul.se/1abay9.

Join Great River Greening, U of M Extension Bee Lab, and the Xerces Society for a hands-on pollinator capture and release sampling field day. Participants will gain more experience with capture and release practices, as well as pollinator identification.
Sampling field days will take place on multiple days at both Ritter Farm in Lakeville and Spring Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake with morning and afternoon sessions available. With multiple sampling efforts throughout the summer, we will gain a better understanding of how pollinator populations are responding to our restoration efforts.
Additional field days are scheduled for:
– Thursday, July 7
– Tuesday, August 9
– Thursday, August 25
To sign up for Spring Lake Regional Park sampling days, visit https://givepul.se/1abay9.