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City of Dawson Pollinator Pathways

What is it?

Pink coneflowers in a lush green field with tall grasses.

The Pollinator Pathways grant program promote native plantings that establish key corridors (or pathways) for at-risk pollinators such as (but not limited to) the Monarch Butterfly and Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, Minnesota’s State Bee. This will be achieved by establishing and educating Minnesotans about pollinator conservation and promoting overall interest in ecological landscaping. The goal of the Pollinator Pathways grant program is to establish and strengthen collaborations in residential and educational spaces to create connections to statewide and local habitat corridors/pathways, especially in underserved communities. To qualify you must be a resident of Dawson, MN. 

Not a Dawson resident but interested in planting? Apply to the lawns to legumes individual grant to be reimbursed up to $400 for native plantings. Apply here: https://bluethumb.org/lawns-to-legumes/apply/ or check our our Lawns to Legumes page under Pollinator Program.

Many residents across the county have received funding through this program!

How do I get started?

It is not too late to get started! This program runs until the end of 2026. Just give us a call (320-598-7071) or email SWCD Manager Rhyan Schicker (rhyan.schicker@lacquiparleswcd.org) to get your planting started!

What do I need to know?

Welcome to your home base for all things Pollinator Pathways! Below you'll find a few resources to help you plan, plant and maintain your new pollinator abode.  And if we're noot clear enough, head on over to bluethumb.org to get any more materials you may need.

Planting for pollinators Design Guide: 

Truck with a trailer on a driveway next to a garden bed with small plants.
Planting for Pollinators Design Guide.pdf

 Care Instructions:

Plant-Care-Guide-Metro-Blooms-DesignBuild.pdf

 Pollinator freindly tree and shrubs list:

Native-Pollinator-Friendly-Tree-and-Shrub-List.pdf

 Help with Pocket Plantings here

Help with Container Plantings here

 

What we've done so far

PathwaysMap.pdf
A map of Dawson showing pollinator and container plantings marked with icons and lines.
Map of Dawson's Public Pollinator Plantings

 

  •  Large walking garden at Grace Lutheran Church
Aerial view of a house, neighboring buildings, trees, and a sidewalk along a street.
Planning and grass removal phase of the Grace Luthern Church garden

 

  • Rock Rapids Park with a triangle piece of land in the floodplain
River with rapids, surrounded by trees and residential area; road in the background.
Rock Rapids Park with completed plantings  near entrance of the walkway.
Aerial view of a road, grass, two black vehicles, a tarp on the ground, and people nearby.
Triangle floodplain piece on the corner of Pine and Diagonal Streets.

 

  • Main street boulevard planters
Three people planting in a garden bed near a black truck on a sunny day.
Rhyan, Quintin, and local volunteer planting one of the boulevard areas
Sign for Prairie Five Rides and JM Ambulance with contact number, set in a small landscaped area.
Planting around a local sign in Downtown Dawson, MN

 

  • Welcome to Dawson sign in Gnome Park
Sign reads "Welcome to Dawson" with garden and gnome statues underneath.

 

  • Native Plant containers for 14 main street businesses
People gathered around large planters with soil and greenery outside, near vehicles and houses.

 

  • Working with 16 Dawson Residents designing custom gardens
Two people in a garden with chairs and planters, near a building.
Local landowner planting of  forbes and a few shrubs

 

BWSR awards more than $1 million for Lawns to Legumes Pollinator Pathways Grants 

Read News Release HERE

 

Join our contact list to get updates as they are released on this exciting opportunity for the City of Dawson! 

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