Bee Friendly

Sources for Bee-Friendly Plants

(Be aware that even vendors who don’t use neonics, or sell annuals and perennials treated with them, may sell treated woody plants like shrubs and trees. Those plants take longer to grow so protection from pests is more vital in the nursery trade. Neonicotinoid chemicals will dissipate over time. So if you buy treated trees and shrubs, try to plant flowering varieties after they have flowered to protect bees from higher doses of the pesticides.)

Local Sources:

*Mother Earth Gardens – 3738 42nd Ave. South, Minneapolis, 55406 (612-724-2296) & 2318 NE Lowry Ave., Minneapolis, 55418 (612-789-0796) www.motherearthgarden.com [Many plants grown by local Rush Creek Growers. Ask about shrubs and trees.]

*Gardens of Rice Creek – Renowned plant breeder and landscape designer Betty Ann Addison, former owner of Rice Creek Gardens in Blaine, sells plants in her own beautiful backyard in Minneapolis every Saturday from May 4 through Labor Day weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find out more here: www.gardensofricecreek.com

*Naturally Wild – Debbie Hansen sells native plants from local growers Glacial Ridge and Prairie Moon throughout the season at several sites. See her website for locations (www.naturallywildflowers.com or email for information).

*Prairie Moon Nursery – 32115 Prairie Lane, Winona, MN 55987 – 866-417-8156  info@prairiemoon.com – Many seeds collected from wild natives; others from seed companies; propagate some plants, others contracted from trusted local independent growers.

*Prairie Restoration –  Scandia, MN – 800-837-5986 – www.prairieresto.com – Large selection of plants for all MN habitats – excellent advice on natives – Plants grown only from their seeds

*Shady Acres Herb Farm – 7815 Hwy. 212, Chaska, MN 55318 – 952-466-3391
Jim and Theresa Mieseler have owned Shady Acres since 1977. They offer a wide range of interesting and often unusual herbs and vegetables. They don’t use any insecticides or fungicides.

*Squire House Gardens – 3390 St. Croix Trail South, Afton, MN 55001, 651-436-8080.  squirehousegardens.com. In addition to offering bee-friendly plants, they allow visitors to stroll through their gorgeous gardens during store hours.

*Tangletown Gardens  –  5353 Nicollet Ave So., Minneapolis – 612-822-4769
Most plants are grown from Seed Savers seeds, propagation only from their own plants. Some plants from outside growers may be treated so ask about specific plants not grown by Tangletown.

*Landscape Alternatives  –  25316 St. Croix Trail, Shafer, MN , 651-257-4460   landscapealternatives.com – Great source for natives & owner knows his natives.

*Outback Nursery – 15280 110 Stree South, Hastings MN, 651- 438-2771, Great source for native  plants.  www.outbacknursery.com

*The Vagary  –  Randolph, MN 507-263-5369 – thevagary@gmail.com – Excellent for perennials and natives.

*Hampden Park Co-op  – Raymond & Hampden Aves So SAP, St. Paul, MN – 651-646-6686 –  hampdenparkcoop.com. Plants from Glacial Ridge Growers – No pretreatments, no pesticides Predatory insects for pest control

*Leitners Garden Center – 945 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul 651-291-2655.  leitnersstpaul.com. Sources annuals, veggies and herbs from Wisconsin suppliers like Rush Creek. Their suppliers for shrubs and trees do spray with neonics. Ask staff for help to identify neonic-free plants.

*Bachman’s – Most plants grown by Bachman’s since 2014 do not contain neonics. Dale Bachman is very concerned about this issue and communicates regularly with scientists and advocates who are working on this issue. Ask staff for help seeking out neonic-free plants.

*Gertens – Inver Grove Heights, MN, As of 2015, Gertens does not use neonics on annual bedding plants, vegetables and herbs, and the seeds from which their plants are grown are neonic-free. They do apply neonics to some plants, including hanging baskets. For more information on their use of neonics see this link: www.gertens.com

Local Growers

(These growers don’t sell to the public directly. But when you see plants with these labels, you can be sure they are not treated with neonics and other insecticides and herbicides.)

*Glacial Ridge Growers – Glenwood, MN – 320-634-0136    (866-518-1671)  glacialridgegrowers.com Wholesale to nurseries, co-ops, garden centers, fundraisers; farmer’s markets – No insecticides, herbicides, growth retardants, or GM seeds. Predatory insects for pest control

*Rush Creek Growers – Spring Valley, WI – 778-5577 www.rushcreekgrowers.com. Wholesale to the upper Midwest.

*Gardens of Eagan  –  Northfield – 507-645-2544 – info@gardensofeagan.com Outstanding reputation & certified organic; Grow all own seeds – No treated seeds or plants – farmer’s markets & co-ops – Cut flowers: jennifer@humblepiefarm.com

Other Sources for Seeds and Plants

*Baker’s Creek Heirloom Seed Company – Rare Seeds –  2278 Baker Creek Road, Mansfield, MO 65704 – 417-924-8917 – rareseeds.com All seeds non GMO, non-hybrid, non-patented, non-treated; many heirlooms

*Fedco Seeds  –  P.O. Box 520, Waterville, ME 04903 – 207-426-9900  fedcoseeds.com – Untreated vegetable, herb, and flower seeds

*High Country Gardens  –  www.highcountrygardens.com

*High Mowing Organic Seeds – 76 Quarry Road, Wolcott, VT 05685 – 802-472-6174 –
highmowingseedscom – 100 % organic and non-GMO

*ION Exchange – Native Wildflower Seed & Plant Nursery- IA –563-419-0837 ionxchange.com No pretreatments, grow all own seeds and plants

*Johnny’s Seeds – 877-564-6697-P.O. Box 299 Waterville, ME 04903 – (fax: 207-238-5375) johnnysseeds.com – customerservice@johnnyseeds.com – Many certified organic untreated seeds & heirlooms; [some conventional treated labeled “T”]

*Livingston Seeds – 830 Kinnear Rd. Columbus, OH – 614-488-1163 & 614-890-7569 livingstonseeds.info – No GMOs, no chemically treated seeds

*Prairie Road Organic Seed  –  Fullerton, North Dakota. 7010-883-4416. No GMO’s, dedicated organic & sustainable, no chemicals or treated seeds. Organic Farmers of the Year 2013. Fully organic and chemical free. www.prairieroadorganic.co

*Seed Savers Exchange  –  3094 North Winn Road, Decorah IA 52101 – 532-382-5990  seedsavers.org – Heirloom and open pollinated seeds, No GMO – For availability contact:  tom@seedsavers.org

*Xerces Society – 628 NE Broadway, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97232 – 855-232-6639. In addition to solid, science-based information about many eco-related topics, the Xerces Society offers pollinator seed mixes – www.xerces.org