May 9, 2001
Stillwater Gazette
Betsy Halden

History of horticulture exhibit to open at Washington County Historic Courthouse and What to do about night crawlers in your lawn

A unique exhibit celebrating the history of horticulture in Washington County and the St. Croix Valley will open on May 21 at the Washington County Historic Courthouse., Stillwater. “Begonias, Berries and Beans” is the title of the exhibit which will feature a collection of artifacts and photographs from private collectors and local museums in Washington County and the surrounding area. Local gardens, orchards, tree farms, nurseries, and collectors have contributed artifacts such as old gardening tools, apple pickers, and other horticulture-related items, some familiar, some unusual. The exhibit will show and illustrate how equipment and gardening practices have changed in the Valley.

The Grand Opening of the exhibit will be held at the courthouse on Sunday, May 20, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. At this outdoors event the groundbreaking ceremony will take place for Phase 1 of the new Historic Courthouse Gardens, on the east side, the Third Street side, of the courthouse. Leah Peterson and Karen Thielman, Washington County Master Gardeners, designed the gardens within keeping of the Victorian style of the courthouse. The gardens include hardy shrub roses, hydrangeas and spirea, flowers traditionally associated with Victorian gardens and weddings, a present day function of the courthouse. Additional volunteers on the landscape design committee include volunteers and staff of the historic courthouse, staff from the Washington County Parks Department, and Joan Newman, Washington County Master Gardener and representative of the Ivy Chapter, Stillwater Garden Club. Gudrun Nordby, volunteer coordinator, marketing and programming associate for the Washington County Historic Courthouse, says the gardens are designed to be practical as well as to enhance the beauty of the courthouse grounds. Phase 2 of the gardens will include plantings of annuals on the west side of the building. Phase 3 will include plantings on the north side of the grounds. Details will be announced at a later date. Nordby invites the public to attend the opening celebration and to volunteer to help with the upkeep and maintenance of the gardens. For additional information on the exhibit or the Washington County Historic Courthouse, call 651.430.6233. The courthouse is located at 101 Pine Street West, Stillwater.

Night crawlers With the recent heavy rains in our area, you may have noticed an abundance of night crawlers on your walks, driveways, and in your lawn. Some homeowners are reporting night crawlers are making mounds in their lawns and they are asking how to eliminate these helpful earthworms.

Night crawlers are beneficial and should be encouraged and tolerated whenever possible. They decompose organic material which contributes to building fertile soil which keeps turf healthy and growing vigorously. Poisoning them with a chemical such as diazinon is not a great idea. Diazinon kills more than just the night crawlers. A non chemical alternative is the use of a power rake (sometimes referred to as a vertical mower) to level off the mounds of soil cast up by the night crawlers. Fall is the best time to use the power rake although it also can be done in early spring when the ground has had a chance to dry out somewhat. It can be done right now, too, but if the weather is hot and windy it might be wise to water the lawn after using the power rake. The tines of the rake leave little slits in the turf and some of the plants may be vulnerable to desiccation.

Avoid rolling the lawn to knock down the night crawler bumps. Rolling will compact the soil.

The Yard & Garden Line is a great resource for gardeners. If you have a question about garden or landscape plants, insects, wildlife, plant disease, soil testing call the yard & Garden Line at 612.624.4771 in the metro area or 888. 624. 4771 in greater Minnesota.

Betsy Halden is a Master Gardener with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. University of Minnesota Extension Service materials were consulted in the preparation of this column. You can reach Betsy Halden at eahalden@comcast.net