October Program

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Social 6:30 pm. | Program 7:00 pm

Richfield Community Center,  7000 Nicollet Ave 

Ants: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Elizabeth Chaigne

In this presentation we will be looking at the rather unsuspecting and yet ever present insect: the ant. With their armies, they bring about many benefits to our yards and gardens and of course some disadvantages too. Topics covered include some basic morphology, most common species in MN, life cycle and roles they play in their colonies and how to best manage them. We will also cover some interesting and fun facts about these sometimes overlooked little critters. 

Elizabeth Chaigne has been an enthusiastic gardener from early childhood to the present day. She has been a master gardener with the University of Minnesota since 2014. Her backyard garden in Golden Valley is filled with some tried-and-trues and some vegetables that are perhaps a little less common. Her most recent project has been working in her garden at her home in France where she gets to explore a growing season of plants that extends up to growing zone 9! She draws from her years living and cooking in France as well as her experience as a master gardener in Minnesota to create meals and eat directly out of the garden. Other than vegetables, her gardens are self-landscaped into various perennial flower and shrub areas leaving plenty of space for her three dogs to romp.