Episode 24

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Published on:

26th May 2026

Tips for Planting a Pollinator Garden

Today we’re talking about planting for pollinators! A few years ago I received a Lawns to Legumes pollinator habitat grant through a MN statewide education program called Blue Thumb which is part of the nonprofit, Metro Blooms based in Minneapolis. Metro Blooms partners with communities and folks to create outdoor spaces that’s good for the water and land like installing rain gardens that filter and clean water and native plantings the provide habitat for pollinators.

With the grant, I started my first pollinator garden which has been addictive and now has transformed a once entirely mowed backyard to about 3/4’s pollinator garden… and it’s SO much fun to see all the flowers and life back there.

I’ve invited Megan and Jennifer from Metro Blooms to talk with us about how to plant for pollinators.

Megan Reich is with the Education Team and Jennifer Ehlert is Vice President of the for-profit Metro blooms Design+Build that does residential and commercial design, installation and maintenance of native landscapes.

But, No matter where you live, this can apply to you.

Each of our little pollinator spaces, big or small are like stepping stones across the landscape to help for example, migrating monarch make their journey. And, it’s, I think, super fun.

Here are a few resources:

Metro Blooms Website: https://metroblooms.org/

Blue Thumb Website: https://bluethumb.org/

Blue Thumb Planting Templates: https://bluethumb.org/public-resources/

Lawns to Legumes Habitat at Home Sign Up: https://bluethumb.org/lawns-to-legumes/habitat-at-home/

Lawns to Legumes Garden Tour Day: https://bluethumb.org/garden-tour-day/

National Wildlife Federation - Native Plant Habitats - https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native

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About the Podcast

The Global Grit Experience
Stories of inspiring people with grit protecting nature, wildlife and the outdoor places we love.
The Global Grit Experience is about caring for nature, wildlife and each other by sharing stories of people making a difference in small and big ways. Real people, doing the work, who we can learn from, find some inspiration, and gather our grit to step up for the protection of our natural world. Erika Gilsdorf is an international, award-winning video producer and uses this podcast to be able to dive a bit deeper into a variety of environmental topics that are relevant, authentic and inspiring in today's challenging times. It's a podcast built on stories of hope, connection and action.

About your host

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Erika Gilsdorf

Hi! Thanks for being here! I’m Erika, the Global Grit Experience podcast creator and host. Though the podcast format is fairly new to me, I’ve been sharing stories close to 20 years in Minnesota, the U.S. and around the world. Some of those I’ve worked with include The Minnesota Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, General Mills, United Airlines, and National Geographic. I’m an outdoor enthusiast, adventurer, and climate and nature activist. I chose ‘grit’ because everything worth pursuing takes grit - passion, perseverance, courage, curiosity, hope and an unwavering determination to protect. Nature deserves a bit of our grit. Thanks for giving some of your grit for the love of nature.