# Local Resilient Lawns - Collecting Conversation **URL:** \ **Category:** Resources\ **Created:** [August 5, 2023, 5:01pm UTC](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/local-resilient-lawns-collecting-conversation/234 "2023-08-05T17:01:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![syd](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/user_avatar/westcentralmnclimate.network/syd/32/19_2.png) [@syd](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/u/syd)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 5:01pm UTC](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/local-resilient-lawns-collecting-conversation/234/1 "2023-08-05T17:01:57Z")
This post serves as a place to collect thoughts/plans/resources surrounding local & native lawns. **Monthly Meeting Notes:** 2026 Revamp: - [Resilient Lawn Meeting - Saturday, January 24th at 10AM](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/resilient-lawns-sub-committee-home-base/260/6) 2023 Notes: - [Link to notes from WCMNCN August Meeting](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/august-2023-meeting-sat-5th-aug-10-30am/230), where Native Lawns were first brought up as a topic. - [Link to notes from WCMNCN September Meeting](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/september-2023-meeting-notes-sat-sep-9th-10-30am/233), where Lawns continued as a topic of conversation. - [Link to notes from WCMNCN October Meeting](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/october-2023-meeting-notes-sat-oct-14-10-30am/239), where lawns & strategies for engaging local government were discussed. A goal for the conversations about lawns over the 2023-2024 winter is: “Having conversation to encourage outreach and education about local lawn resiliency” to have plans and thoughts BEFORE spring! * * * [**Resilient Lawn Library**](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/resilient-lawn-library/243) The **Resilient Lawn Library** is the WCMNCN’s effort to research topics regarding resilient lawns more in depth. This library will serve as a guide and reference point to our community leaders when meetings and conversations are had regarding promoting and implementing resilient lawn efforts. * * * **Questions:** - How does the city keep the park grass so green? - What are the regulations in Morris & Stevens County surrounding lawns? (See Above) - What are other MN communities regulations/changes in regulations? - How does UMM manage this giant task? The public schools? - What are the pros/cons of No Mow May/Slow Mow Summer? - What is in place to help promote native lawns? - What is a low, medium, and high maintenance lawn? **Folks:** - Sally Finzel - [Morning Sky Greenery](https://www.morningskygreenery.com/) - Master Gardeners - [Stevens County Extension](https://extension.umn.edu/local/stevens#contacts-for-gardening-2572763) - WCROC/Ester Jordan - [Native Prairie Restoration](https://wcroc.cfans.umn.edu/about-us/wcroc-news/building-native-prairie) - Griffin Peck - City of Morris Sustainability Coordinator - Jon Trappe - UMN Turf Grass Science - [https://turf.umn.edu/](https://turf.umn.edu/) - James Wolfin - [Team – James Wolfin - Twin City Seed Company](https://twincityseed.com/team-james-wolfin/) - Robin Trott - [Robin Trott | Extension Staff Directory](https://extensionstaff.umn.edu/robin-trott) - Cameron Berthiaume - City of Morris Green Corps [cameron.berthiaume@ci.morris.mn.us](mailto:cameron.berthiaume@ci.morris.mn.us) - Cameron’s Work Plan Document: [Green Infrastructure Improvement Work Plan.docx.pdf](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/uploads/short-url/bSqkA8qnhsI7tk17oONno5z2bPt.pdf) (730.9 KB) **Other Communities:** Information gathered about other communities has been moved to the Other Communities section in the [**Resilient Lawn Library**](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/resilient-lawn-library/243). **General Resources:** Feel free to copy these resources to appliccable topics within the [**Resilient Lawn Library**](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/resilient-lawn-library/243). - [No Mow May Youtube Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgFMlNFJDi0) - The University of Minnesota Bee Lab: - [Slow Mow Summer | Bee Lab](https://beelab.umn.edu/no-mow-may) - Bee City USA - [No Mow May - Bee City USA](https://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may/) - Lawns to Legumes - [About + Apply – Blue Thumb](https://bluethumb.org/lawns-to-legumes/apply/?gf_protect_submission=1) - [MN Board of Water and Soil Resources, Lawns to Legumes: Your Yard Can BEE The Change](https://bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l) - Tree Canopy Grants - [Urban and Community forestry | Minnesota DNR](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/urban/index.html) - UMN Extension Lawn Care - [Lawn care | UMN Extension](https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/lawn-care) - Monarch Watch, register your lawn as a Monarch Waystation, or order supplies to make it one! - [https://www.monarchwatch.org/](https://www.monarchwatch.org/) - MNLCorp Pocket Prairie Program, sends full kits to create a prairie garden in your lawn - [https://mnlcorp.com/](https://mnlcorp.com/) - [Stevens County Soil Water Conservation District](https://www.stevensswcd.org/) - Rain Gardens - **City of Morris Code:** > **SEC. 7.11. REGULATION OF TREES, GRASS AND WEEDS IN STREETS** > Subd. 5. Duty of Property Owners to Cut Grass and Weeds and Maintain > Trees and Shrubs. Every owner of property shall cause the grass and weeds to be cut. If the > grass or weeds in such a place attain a height in excess of eight (8”) inches it shall be prima facie > evidence of a failure to comply with this Subdivision. Native grasses and wildflowers > indigenous to Minnesota, planted and maintained on any occupied lot or parcel of land, set back > a minimum of ten (10’) feet from the front property line as part of a garden or landscape > treatment are exempt from this ordinance. It shall also be unlawful for any such person or > persons to cause, suffer or allow noxious weeds or plants identified and defined by the > Minnesota Department of Agriculture to grow on any such lot or parcel of land so as to endanger > the health, safety and welfare of the City. > **SEC. 10.21. MAINTENANCE OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.** > Subd. 1. It is the primary responsibility of any owner or occupant of any lot or > parcel of land to maintain any weeds or grass growing thereon at a height of not more than eight > (8”) inches (except for native grasses and wildflowers indigenous to Minnesota, planted and > maintained on any occupied lot or parcel of land, set back a minimum of ten (10’) feet from the > front property line as part of a garden or landscape treatment, which are exempt from being no > more than 8”); to remove all public health or safety hazards therefrom; to install or repair water > service lines upon any property which is improved with commercial or habitable structures; and > to treat or remove insect-infested or diseased trees thereon. It shall also be unlawful for any such > person or persons to cause, suffer or allow noxious weeds or plants identified and defined by the > Minnesota Department of Agriculture to grow on any such lot or parcel of land so as to endanger > the health, safety and welfare of the City. Also see: [Gardens, Lawns and Trees](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/gardens-lawns-and-trees/141) ---
**Author:** ![badtothebohn](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/user_avatar/westcentralmnclimate.network/badtothebohn/32/248_2.png) [@badtothebohn](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/u/badtothebohn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 2:53am UTC](https://westcentralmnclimate.network/t/local-resilient-lawns-collecting-conversation/234/2 "2025-12-07T02:53:01Z")
I see we already have a great amount of information collected on the topics of native lawns and pollinator gardens. I’m really passionate about the subject, so it’s been on the mind since the short discussion held after the December meeting. Is there a way to get flyers up (like the one I saw made by Captain) on the poster boards around town; e.g., laundromat, library, etc? It might not feel like much, but it would reach a small audience, at least. Picture examples are great, but I’m wondering if the college or some other local entity would be interested in starting a project that could be visited for an in-person example, showing the benefits of native plants in (former) turf grass lawn spaces. Morris is in a superb location for a number of easy to grow, inherently low maintenance native plants that I’d love to see more people adopting into their landscaping decisions. Were I able to fund the work myself…