Find the perfect Blue Thumb Workshop for you this spring!
Are you ready to transform your yard into a thriving habitat for pollinators, support clean water, and restore local ecology? Blue Thumb’s Planting for Clean Water workshops will give you the tools and knowledge to make it happen! Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your native garden, there’s a workshop that fits your needs.
Which workshop is right for you?
Planting for Clean Water
- Learn all about how water moves across residential landscapes and how every yard and garden can play a part in improving water quality. We’ll share the steps for managing stormwater in your yard with rain gardens, rain barrels, and other eco-friendly strategies.
- This workshop includes a presentation by Metro Blooms Design+Build landscape designers followed by time to meet in small groups with landscape designers and master gardeners to discuss your project ideas and plans.
Planting for Clean Water: Shorelines
- If you live near a lake, river, or pond, this workshop will help you protect water quality with a native buffer planting or shoreline restoration.
- Designers from Metro Blooms Design+Build will cover site assessment, unique shoreline considerations, native plants for shorelines, buffer plantings and more! You will also receive a Resilient Shorelines workbook and access to our accompanying online learning series.
Planting for Pollinators 
- Want to attract bees, butterflies, and birds? Learn to select plants and design a native plant garden that supports wildlife and brings beauty to your outdoor space.
- This workshop includes a presentation by Metro Blooms Design+Build landscape designers followed by time to meet in small groups with landscape designers and master gardeners to discuss your project ideas and plans.
Rain Garden Maintenance
- Already have a native planting or rain garden? This hands-on workshop will teach you how to maintain your garden year-round, including tips on weed and invasive species removal.
- Led by landcare experts from Metro Blooms Design+Build, this workshop takes place onsite at a rain garden, where you’ll have the chance to practice maintenance and plant identification skills!
Check out our events page for additional workshops, including Healthy Soils and Turf Alternatives!
Flexible Learning Options
Workshops are available both virtually and in-person in the Twin Cities area. Registration is just $15, with sliding-scale options available for some workshops. Plus, an online learning series is free to everyone! Find your workshop and register today at bluethumb.org/events
Prefer to learn at your own pace? Check out our free Resilient Yards online learning series! The series contains courses: Resilient Yards, Turf Alternatives, Seed Saving, and Resilient Shorelines. Each course has a series of videos that will guide you through each step of your planting project.
Have questions? Email us at info@bluethumb.org.
– Megan Reich, Metro Blooms Communications and Program Manager