Business & Tech

The Marsh Celebrates 27 Years With Prairie Restoration Planting

Fifty new native species will be planted in the Civic Center Marsh Woods.

As part of The Marsh’s 27th Anniversary celebration, a team of 20 members of The Marsh staff, joined by representatives of the city of Minnetonka and Prairie Restorations, will plant fifty new native species in the Civic Center Marsh Woods.

These site-appropriate species, including Red Maples, Sugar Maples, American Hazel, Witch Hazel, Choke Cherry and Ironwood, will replace invasive species such as buckthorn and garlic mustard, previously cleared from the area.

On May 18, these three organizations—, the and Prairie Restorations—will celebrate nature, collaboration, past successes and future victories for the community.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

History

Ron Bowen, founder of Prairie Restorations, planted the first prairie in Minnesota in 1970. At the time, he was the personal gardener for Bruce Dayton.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Individuals and businesses throughout the state started to take notice and by 1976 Ron had launched his own business, Prairie Restorations.

Today, Prairie Restorations employs more than 100 people in six locations. The company has passionately led the way in the fascinating business of native plant community restoration; it has completed thousands of projects and restored prairies throughout the Upper Midwest.

Ruth Stricker and Bruce Dayton opened The Marsh, A Center for Balance and Fitness in Minnetonka, in 1985. Because they understood the powerful role of nature in our personal and communal wellness, they chose to build their center on a spot overlooking a scenic Minnetonka wetland and named it for its natural setting. Due to his relationship with Bruce Dayton, Ron Bowen was involved in the landscaping from the beginning.

The City of Minnetonka has a history of celebrating and caring for its natural resources. It has worked collaboratively with The Marsh and often relied on the advice and expertise of Prairie Restorations for city projects. Together, they have crafted a plan to “give nature a helping hand” throughout the city of Minnetonka.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here