NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact Julie Westerlund at Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
952-471-0590, x 209; jwesterlund@minnehahacreek.org.

Showcasing living walls, green roofs and raingardens

MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT PARTNERS WITH BACHMAN'S ON WATER-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING DEMONSTRATION AT LYNDALE AVENUE STORE

DEEPHAVEN, MN—June 13, 2008— Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) and Bachman’s Landscaping Services have partnered to exhibit several new display gardens at Bachman’s on Lyndale, including two rain gardens, a living wall, permeable pavers and a live green roof. These display gardens are now open at Bachman’s for public viewing, outside in the garden center.

“It has been a privilege to work with the staff at the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. They share our interests in education and understand the importance of protecting the environment for tomorrow. By demonstrating these best practices we can learn to use less of the earth’s resources and work to help keep Minnesota’s streams and lakes clean,” says Bachman’s President, Dale Bachman.

“The MCWD is proud to partner with Bachman’s to find innovative and attractive ways for homeowners to incorporate ways to clean up stormwater in their landscaping,” said Eric Evenson, MCWD Administrator. “More and more homeowners are asking how they can help to protect the environment. The stormwater vignettes at Bachman’s Lyndale store show how easy and attractive being green can be!”

The theory behind rain gardens is to keep runoff water on properties rather than running directly into storm drains. A well-designed rain garden allows water to filter through the soil, reducing pollutants such as phosphorus along the way. In essence, rain gardens help with water quality and quantity control, and they reduce erosion by reducing run-off. The added benefit is a lovely garden of flowers and plants that will tolerate or even thrive in an area that is alternately wet and dry. Rain gardens are increasing in popularity because they are a beautiful way to clean water. For more information visit the display gardens at Bachman’s on Lyndale and look for featured “informational care sheets.”

Events & Workshops:

Metro Blooms Rain Garden Workshop

            Thursday, June 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
            Bachman’s on Lyndale

Join Rusty Schmidt, wildlife biologist and landscape ecologist, to learn all about rain gardens from environmental benefits and garden design to native plants and care. Participants receive a packet of support materials to guide the planning of their own garden. Register online at metroblooms.org. Registration fee: $10. Call 952-471-0590 for information. Ask about the Native Plant Reimbursement Grants (up to $65) for Hennepin County Residents who install a rain garden.

Celebrate water conservation at Bachman’s

Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bachman’s on Lyndale, outside in the Garden Center

Q&A – Demonstrations – Refreshments

FREE Green Roof Seminar at Bachman’s

Saturday, July 5, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Bachman’s on Lyndale, Heritage Room

Meet Doug Danielsen, Bachman’s Green Roof expert, and learn about the environmental and financial benefits of this eco-friendly building technique.

For more information about what you can do to help keep water clean, visit www.minnehahacreek.org.

About Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
Since its formation in 1967, the MCWD has been a regional leader in cutting edge research and technical expertise in the areas of water quality monitoring and management. The district protects, improves and manages water resources, runoff and related natural resources for 129 lakes, 8 major creeks and thousands of wetlands located within the 181 square mile watershed of Minnehaha Creek and Lake Minnetonka, in partnership with 29 communities, other agencies and concerned citizens.

About Bachman’s
Bachman’s was founded in 1885 and remains family-owned, with fourth-and fifth-generation Bachman family members leading the company today. Based in Minneapolis, Bachman’s operates 29 retail stores in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud, including six full-service Floral, Home and Garden Centers, 22 smaller retail floral stores including all Lunds and Byerly’s locations, and Cedar Acres Garden and Landscape Center. The company also operates indoor and outdoor landscaping divisions, a nursery wholesale division, eight acres of greenhouses, and a 670-acre growing range near Lakeville, Minn., which produces many of the plants, flowers and landscaping products sold at Bachman’s locations. Visit Bachman’s online at bachmans.com.

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