April 25, 2023 – ROCHESTER, MINN. – The City of Rochester Parks & Recreation Department is encouraging participation in “No Mow May” for the fourth consecutive year. May is when pollinator species are the most vulnerable, as they have just returned from migration or come out of hibernation and need locally-sourced nectar to continue their life cycles and colonies.

Yard signs are available for residents and business owners participating in “No Mow May.” Signs can be printed at home or picked up from City Hall. The signs available at City Hall are already printed, laminated and attached to a small wooden post; one per household and/or business, please! Please call 507-328-2525 for availability of the signs before arrival.

It is important to note that participants can dedicate as little or as much of their lawns they desire to “No Mow May” – even a small section will provide benefits to pollinators! Additionally, participating in “No Mow May” does not exempt properties from following the noxious weed portion of Rochester City Ordinance 8-5. Noxious weeds are still not permitted.

Alison Litchy, Forestry Supervisor, shares, “participating in ‘No Mow May’ is an easy, low cost, low effort way to help our pollinator species. All you have to do is nothing in the month of May. What better way to support the environment than having to do almost nothing?”

City of Rochester parks participating in “No Mow May” include:

• Fieldstone
• The Gardens
• Parkside
• Homestead (not including the ballfield)
• Wedgewood Hills
• Schmidt
• Cassidy Ridge
• Elton Hills

More information about “No Mow May” can be found here.