Educational Resources
Missouri Botanical Garden - Plant Finder
Look up, view a photo, and read about the over 7,500 plants. Search by scientific name, common name and/or selected plant characteristics to find the name of the plant you’re looking at.
Prairie Moon Nursery - Guides & Information on Native Plants
This native plant nursery, located in Winona MN, also serves as a helpful catalog and resource on a huge variety of native plants. Look up site conditions, soil preferences, and ecological benefits of a specific native plant you’re thinking about.
Pollinator Partnership - Ecoregional Planting Guides
Invite pollinators to your neighborhood by planting a pollinator friendly habitat in your garden. These ecoregional planting guides, tailored to specific zip codes, can provide a free guide for selecting plants for pollinators relevant to your area.
Glacial Ridge Growers
“Restoring the Prairie One Backyard at a Time”
Incredible selection of native plants as well as non-native plants like decoratives and vegetables. Notably affordable. Cannot deliver to house, but order pickup takes place at a designated location in the Twin Cities area to keep delivery costs low. (Greenhouse pickups also available, located in Glenwood MN).
Out Back Native Flora Nursery & Landscaping - Informative Catalog
Located in Hastings MN, this native plant nursery has a helpful online catalog that includes useful information when designing a new garden, such as: bloom time, bloom color, fruit color, fall color, etc. that help with envisioning aesthetic.
Recommended Materials
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Barrina 4FT T8 Plant Grow Lights
Great full spectrum grow lights for a new setup. They are best used for seedlings. They fit perfectly on a 4ft wide rack.
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Suståne Compost Tea Bags
Steep these “tea” bags in a gallon of water overnight, and use to water seedlings or grown plants. Provides nutrients and microbes for healthy growth.
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Seedling Trays
Use standard-sized trays to fit standard-sized containers.
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Cowsmo Soils & Compost
Cowsmo is a local (WI) soil and compost producer that can often be found sold at food coop plant sales. You can also purchase directly from them for bulk orders.
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Blood Meal - High Nitrogen (N) Fertilizer
Have you tested your soil? Your soils may already have sufficient levels of phosphorous (P) and potassium (K), so adding an “all-purpose” fertilizer with equal parts N-P-K can actually be harmful to your soil and surrounding ecosystems. Blood meal is the best fertilizer for adding N only.
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Alfalfa Meal - High Nitrogen (N) Fertilizer
Alfalfa meal is less intense than blood meal (lower N value), but is a great vegetarian alternative. Unlike blood meal, it will break down and contribute to the microbial activity in your soil (sort of like compost). Add it to the top of the soil surrounding the plant stem.