April 2025 Monthly Meeting Recap
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
4/17/2025
The April monthly meeting was held in-person and via Zoom from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Attending this meeting can be counted as 2 hours of Continuing Education. (Find the recording in the Archives of the Monthly Meeting page.)
RCMG Board Announcements
Kay Wimer, RCMG Board Chair, opened the meeting of the nonprofit organization.
Project Updates
Blooming Saint Paul Showcase | Mary Montagne
- nominating gardens, visiting gardens,
- looking for a co-coordinator this year and someone to take over future events - reach out to Mary if interested American
Indian Montessori Childcare Center Garden (MAICC) | Ann Aurelius
- Gardens at New Life Presbyterian Church
- children's demonstration garden as well as an adult component
- Thursday's during the summer
- looking for a co-coordinator this year and someone to take over future events - reach out to Ann if interested
Pilgrim Baptist Community Garden | Nate Galloway (via Brianna Gohde)
- garden is expanding
- There will be a training session titled 'Mini Forest Revolution' on April 19th by Hannah Lewis
Yard Waste Sites | Liz O'Toole
- very important projects RCMG partners with the County on
- RCMG receives funding from the County
- sign ups for summer shifts coming
AV for meetings | Christopher Skelly (via Brianna Gohde)
- takes a lot of work and effort to do AV set up for monthly meetings
- always looking for more. There is a training on April 26th for all interested.
Darren Lochner's Coordinator Updates
Plant Sale
- sign ups coming Thursday for interns and mentors, Saturday for all others
State Conference
- June 27th-28t
- sign up soon as sessions are filling up
MG Database
- delayed roll out but getting close
- REMEMBER TO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR HOURS
- important to still keep track and enter them in once the new database is up and running
The Barn
- lots of great things happening
- hoop house insulation to better grow plants for plant sale
- recently had a pruning workshop and rain garden looks great
Garden Gate Tours
- sign ups coming
- Great chances to show off you garden, get feedback, learn, network and build community.
- Garden Gate Tours will happen Thursdays and Sundays this summer
Education Kits
- have been working on streamlining and refining and making more accessible.
- No need to lug around a huge box anymore, many resources will be digital and more user friendly
Program – Justin Townsend (Ramsey County) about Invasive Plants Early Detection to Prevent New Invasions
Justin gave an overview of different invasive species found in Ramsey County - how to identify them and how to manage them.
For the Ramsey County: Invasive Species Watch List (click here) for photos and information. For more information about the project and Cooperative Weed Management Area go here.
To report species you can go to EDD Maps (or use iNaturalist) or call or email Justin.
For other inquiries you can contact Justin. (Contact info below) He does ID walks, can identify via photo, can give advice, etc. Ramsey County can also work with landowners to help them manage.
Justin Townsend
651-323-3780
Bonus Program – Simba Blood (RCMG) about Natives vs Cultivars Research
SImba gave a quick presentation on native plants vs cultivars and nativars.
Native - species that grow naturally in a specific region and have evolved over time
Cultivar - varieties of plants that have been selectively bred by humans for specific traits,
Nativar - A cultivar of a native plant
Not a widely studied area, but interesting research from Annie White Phd. shows that natives in general attract and retain more pollinators.
Lots of great native growers and nurseries in the area, but always double check that you are getting the plant you want!
Recap provided by Agata Miszczyk
RCMG Volunteer