My massive black walnut tree has behavior issues. With the help of hordes of nut-addled squirrels, it drops a mess of debris and stains the concrete with hulls and shells. I hold my breath when people walk their dogs or kids through the alley, fearing someone will get beaned by a nut. My neighbor calls…

That strip of land between the sidewalk and the street—the boulevard or sometimes, the hellstrip—offers exciting space opportunities for gardeners who want to expand their plantings. But planting a boulevard garden requires honest assessment, careful plant choices and diligent maintenance. Assess the Space First things first: Make sure it’s legal to plant on the boulevard….

This is a short list of pollinator-friendly and climate-adaptive plants, compiled by the experts at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab, that provide food and shelter for Minnesota pollinators.