Volunteer Highlight: Lebanon Hills, Eagan

In celebration of National Public Lands Day, 179 volunteers joined Great River Greening and Dakota County to plant pollinator-friendly wildflowers across a treasured county park. Volunteers worked in small groups restoring a degraded prairie plagued by oak wilt and invasive species. The area had become so degraded, in fact, that a native seed bank no longer existed. In other words, the space needed a new source of native seeds. Because of our hard working volunteers, the area is now filled with hearty seedlings, including Big Bluestem and Black Eyed Susans.

It’s inspiring to see this many volunteers – including nearly 40 teens from Upward Bound – come together to plant wildflowers. Lebanon Hills is a beautiful natural area, but the newly restored oak savanna needs a little help to truly shine. Thanks to our enthusiastic volunteers, the area is well on its way to recovery.

– Amy Kilgore, Outreach Program Manager

CHECK OUT photos from Lebanon HillsPhotos courtesy of Bruce Nimmer. This event was generously funded by the Outdoor Heritage Fund and Dakota County.