WEST METRO BEE CLUB

04/17/2026

Spring is on the way, but your yard isn’t quite ready for cleanup yet! 🌱🚫

🐝 Give pollinators a chance to wake up: Hold off on raking leaves and cutting back stems—many bees and beneficial insects are still nesting and need time to emerge.

🌼 Let the soil warm up first: Wait until soil temperatures reach about 50°F. A simple sign? When dandelions start to bloom, it’s go-time for yard projects!

A little patience now makes a big difference for pollinators all season long. 💛

04/17/2026

04/17/2026

We opened up more seats for Seeds and Stories with Diane Wilson for this Saturday's workshop.

This fun and engaging writer's workshop is for writers of all levels and all ages.

Part One of the workshop explores our sense of place and connection. Part Two will be in the Green House making seeding necklaces and learning about our relationship with seeds.

FREE tickets at our web site and through Eventbrite.

04/17/2026

It's ! Habitat loss is the leading threat to pollinator health and gardens are an amazing way to support pollinators at home.

By planting regionally-native flowers that provide continuous bloom for year-round foraging, your garden can be a sanctuary for bees, birds, butterflies, moths, and other beneficial insects🐞

Looking to join the movement of pollinator-friendly gardening, but not sure where to start? Become a Bee Friendly Gardening member and gain access to garden registration, educational opportunities, and more! Learn more at pollinator.org/bfg

04/17/2026

It can feel difficult to convince others to use fewer pesticides, especially if they are not already interested in conservation. We have advice to navigate the conversation!

04/17/2026

🐝 Is Lawns to Legumes still happening? Yes — but we need your support.

Over the past year, Minnesota’s popular pollinator habitat grant program hasn’t received enough funding to operate at its typical capacity. While we are currently working with one cohort of Spring 2026 grantees already underway with their projects, future funding is needed. We anticipate offering another round of grants in Spring 2027 — but to a much smaller number of Minnesotans.

Since launching in 2019, Lawns to Legumes has empowered over 12,000 residents to create 20 million square feet of pollinator habitat across all 87 counties. Minnesota is home to more than 500 native bee species, and this program gives people a tangible way to protect pollinators while improving water quality, supporting biodiversity, and strengthening local businesses.

Public demand remains incredibly high — thousands more apply each round than we can fund. Yet funding was not included in this year’s state budget.

If Lawns to Legumes has made a positive impact on you — or if you believe this work matters — please contact your state legislators and ask them to support continued funding. Use our template message and find your legislators’ contact info here:https://bluethumb.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/L2L-Template-Message-to-Legislators.pdf

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

04/17/2026

Join us for the FREE public event showcasing the wondrous world of insects!The Great Minnsect Show will take place on Saturday, April 18th, 9:00am - 3:00pm at the St. Paul Campus Student Center located at 2017 Buford Ave, St. Paul, MN. Please note that 9:00am-10:00am is a sensory-friendly hour.

04/17/2026