GoodGrows

Yes please, St P Parks and Public Works and Schools Facilities!!

A survey in Minneapolis found that 95% of park users support less mowing. Cities that cut back save up to 36% on maintenance. And the fireflies are coming back.
In the early 2010s, researchers at the University of Minnesota surveyed park users in Minneapolis about mowing frequency. The result was striking. Ninety-five percent of respondents supported less mowing in parks. They preferred natural spaces with longer grass and wildflowers over closely cropped turf. The finding has been cited repeatedly in conservation literature as evidence that public opposition to natural landscaping is weaker than municipal maintenance departments assume.
The financial argument is equally compelling. Studies indicate that park managers can save up to 36 percent on maintenance costs by reducing mowing frequency from 15 times per year to 10. Fewer mowings mean less fuel, less labor, less equipment wear, and lower emissions. It also means less noise. City parks become quieter places.
The ecological benefits extend beyond bees. Fireflies, which have declined across the eastern United States, require undisturbed vegetation and moist soil. Frequent mowing destroys their habitat and disrupts their life cycle. Parks that mow less report increased firefly activity. The connection is direct. When grass is allowed to grow, the insects that depend on it return.
Minneapolis is not an outlier. Cities across the country are experimenting with reduced mowing regimes. In Appleton, Wisconsin, the birthplace of American No Mow May, park participation has grown every year. In Iowa, the Department of Natural Resources encourages landowners to mow roadside ditches only after August 1 to protect nesting birds and pollinators.
The 95% figure matters because it gives city councils political cover. Park managers often worry that residents will complain about tall grass. The Minneapolis survey suggests the opposite. Residents prefer it. They find it more beautiful, more interesting, and more alive. The challenge is not public opinion. The challenge is changing maintenance schedules that have been locked in place for decades.
When a city mows less, it saves money, reduces emissions, and creates habitat. And at dusk, the fireflies start blinking again. That is not a small thing.

FREE GUIDANCE FOR CREATING POLLINATOR HABITAT (a reminder, because it's Pollinator Week): This fall the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and Blue Thumb - Planting for Clean Water are launching Lawns to Legumes: Habitat at Home, a free educational program for residents offering step-by-step seasonal guidance, access to webinars and resources, and opportunities to connect with a community across the state — without the need for a grant application. Link to Lawns to Legumes: Habitat at Home: https://buff.ly/NrLhejL

Mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus in Dakota, Hennepin, and Ramsey Counties. These are the first positive samples we have collected in 2026 and they are on schedule with when we usually expect to see our first positive samples in a typical year.

West Nile virus activity elevates as we head into later summer months and with hot weather in the forecast, it's possible we will see increased activity of the vector species in the coming weeks.

Residents are advised to take precautions by wearing insect repellent, covering up exposed skin, and emptying standing water!

https://open.substack.com/pub/climatewaterproject/p/a-dramatic-rise-in-groundwater-in
Groundwater recharge to aquifers, excellent piece of science writing for this wet Water Wednesday

A dramatic rise in groundwater in the Sahel I was looking at satellite remote sensing data when I was struck by something curious.

Well explained and illustrated

Do you know how many caterpillars it takes for a mama chickadee to feed her young? 🐛 Less Lawn More Life took a chickadee’s story and some very hungry caterpillars to the @TODAYShow! We’re spreading the word about something backyard naturalists have known for years: your lawn and outdoor spaces can be a lifeline. One mama bird needs up to 9,000 caterpillars to raise her chicks. Caterpillars need native plants. Native plants need you. @AudubonSociety and @CornellBirds are proud to partner with the #LessLawnMoreLife Challenge, providing you 12 steps to rewild your yard, balcony gardens, small plots, and rural acres—join a growing movement saying: count me in. Join the campaign anytime, and you’ll start from Step 1. We’ll be helping you get to know your local birds, plant native plants, and turn your lights off at night. The chickadees and so many other birds and wildlife are counting on us. 🐤 Special thanks to @the_caterpillar_lab for helping to bring some natural wonder to live TV!