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FRIENDS OF MINNETONKA PARKSWe envision a park system that honors and builds on our city’s heritage of preserving, restoring and managing our distinctive high-value natural spaces that enhance Minnetonka’s quality of life and distinguish it from other cities.
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FALL BUCKTHORN BLITZES!
Volunteer to help manage buckthorn in our parks. Please click on the link below to register for any or all of these upcoming fall events.
PARK |
DATE |
TIME |
REGISTRATION LINK |
Meadow Park South |
Friday, September 16th |
4 pm - 6 pm |
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Thursday, September 22nd |
4 pm - 6 pm |
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Meadow Park South |
Saturday, September 24th |
9 am - 12 pm |
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Sunday, September 25th |
3 pm - 5 pm |
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Wednesday, September 28th |
4 pm - 6 pm |
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Saturday, October 1st |
9 am - 12 pm |
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Meadow Park North |
Sunday, October 2nd |
9 am - 12 pm |
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Saturday, October 8th |
9 am - 12 pm |
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Linner |
Sunday, October 9th |
1 pm - 3 pm |
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Saturday, October 15th |
9 am - 12 pm |
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Meadow Park North |
Saturday, October 22nd |
9 am - 12 pm |
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Saturday, October 29th |
9 am - 12 pm |
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Sunday, November 5th |
9 am - 12 pm |
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European Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
European buckthorn occurs in upland, shaded, and high-nutrient sites. European buckthorn is the most prevalent invasive plant in Minnetonka's parks and has invaded much of the degraded or altered savannas, thriving in the low-light conditions created by the growth of undersirable native trees (box elder, elm, ash).
European buckthorn is a decidous shrub/small tree that can grow 25-feet tall. Mature buckthorn bark and leaves can easily be mistaken for black cherry (Prunus serotina) and wild plum (Prunus americana). The female plants produce flowers that when fertilized, transform into green fruit that matures to dark blue-black color. For more information on how to identify European buckthorn, see photo captions below. MN DNR information
European buckthorn occurs in upland, shaded, and high-nutrient sites. European buckthorn is the most prevalent invasive plant in Minnetonka's parks and has invaded much of the degraded or altered savannas, thriving in the low-light conditions created by the growth of undersirable native trees (box elder, elm, ash).
European buckthorn is a decidous shrub/small tree that can grow 25-feet tall. Mature buckthorn bark and leaves can easily be mistaken for black cherry (Prunus serotina) and wild plum (Prunus americana). The female plants produce flowers that when fertilized, transform into green fruit that matures to dark blue-black color. For more information on how to identify European buckthorn, see photo captions below. MN DNR information
FALL BUCKTHORN workshops hosted by the city of minnetonka
The city's restoration specialist teaches strategies and timings to tackle this invasive plant on your property. There are two opportunities to attend the workshop this fall:
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September 15th, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Register for this event |
VISIT A PARK
BIG WILLOW
LAKE ROSE
PURGATORY
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CULLEN NATURE PRESERVE
LONE LAKE
SHADY OAK
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HILLOWAY
MEADOW
TOWER HILL
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JIDANA
MINNEHAHA CREEK
VICTORIA EVERGREEN
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Find a park in your neighborhood! |
2021 by the numbers
We have been an organization for just eleven months, but we have had a banner year (even in a pandemic). With dozens of restoration and other events, hundreds of hours of volunteer time, and nine formal proposals submitted to the Natural Resources department for 2022, we are off to a great start. The city, too, has shown their interest by beginning a formal volunteer management system and also a proposal submission process: two important parts of a successful partnership between a volunteer organization and city staff. We look forward to collaborating on the development of both. Read more in our 2021 Annual Report.
Invasive Plants
We're building a website resources section and just published a page on common invasive plants.
Click here to learn more about why invasive plants cause ecological harm and how to identify them.
Click here to learn more about why invasive plants cause ecological harm and how to identify them.
