Thank you to the landowners on the tour for sharing examples of landscaping that contributes to lake health and clean water! And...thank you to so many others on Lake Ossie that are landscaping with the lake in mind. Enjoy the trip around the lake! Click here for a copy of printable directions
How to go on Tour
This is a self-guided tour designed to be viewed from the lake. Eleven properties are listed below with a description and photo. They are also listed on a google map if you need directions.
The tour starts on the north shore of the main lake at the Nehl property. Follow the shore through the channel and up the east side of the lake. When you reach the island, cross over to the west side and continue south until you reach the Davis property.
What You'll See
All of these properties use landscaping to reduce phosphorus flowing into the lake. Phosphorus stimulates algae and weed growth. It is naturally high in the soil in this area. Phosphorus is reduced by filtering rainwater, diverting and slowing down water as it runs to the lake, preventing erosion on slopes and shorelines, and eliminating use of fertilizers.
There's something to learn from every property. Some are wild and natural while others are more like lakeside gardens.
What can you do?
- See how your shoreline scores in the Lake Ossie Love Your Lake Landscape Survey.
- Find tips and advice on what you can do to improve water quality at www.loveyourlake.info
- Interested in starting a project of your own? Contact Bob Noll at bjnoll1975@gmail.com.
- For general information about the tour or shoreline projects, contact Jodi.eberhardt@gmail.com
Beautiful Buffer Zone
9283 Ossawinnamakee Rd
The Nehl family created a lakeside buffer zone with native plants and grasses. It's a great example of how to use native plants at the bottom of a steep slope to filter rainwater and reduce runoff that carries phosphorus and sediment into the lake. The deep roots of native grasses and flowers also help to reduce erosion of the shoreline.
The shoreline to the right of the dock (viewing from the lake) was covered in invasive reed canary grass. In 2019 they eliminated the reed canary grass and seeded the area with native grasses and flowers.
The shoreline to the left of the dock was all beach when they bought the property. In 2010 they converted most of the beach to native grasses, shrubs, and forbs. It was a little challenging to establish the plants in a bed of sand.
Shoreline Rain Gardens
32975 Graf Rd Pequot Lakes MN
Ron and Lisa Engblom hired a landscaper to create rain gardens on their shore. A rain garden is a shallow depression or basin that can hold and filter the rainwater to prevent it from running into the lake. Native plants use the phosphorus and allow water to seep into the ground with their deep root system - some reach down 10 to 12 feet. The flowers and grass are creeping into the rip rap to provide more protection against erosion.
Giant Pines and Tall Chairs
32995 Graf Road
John Dubois lovingly restored an original cabin nestled in a grove of giant pines. They love to watch the eagles land in the trees and the privacy of the pines. There’s no lawn to mow because the pine needle mulch covers the slope. Rather than clearing the shoreline, there's a couple of tall chairs on the shore to see over the top of the bulrushes and joe pye weed (the tall plant with pink flowers).
Lady Slipper Point
33085 White Pine
Christine Warren’s point at Benzik Bay is a natural treasure. More than 50 lady slippers bloom in the spring. The entire point has a natural shoreline with mowed walking trails and a small beach. The house is set back from the lake and looks out through the tops of the trees. There are a few cabins on top of the hill that are hidden by one of the largest stands of old growth pines that remain on the lake.
Spectacular Gardens
8894 Sunset Trail
Clarice Renschler has beautiful gardens surrounding the house and all the way down to the lake. The water’s edge was planted with native grasses and flowers a few years ago. The shoreline restoration project used grant funds and helped reduce erosion. You can still see a bit of the fiber log at the shoreline that was used to help the plants get started and stop the wave action. This is a great alternative to a rip rap shore.
Managing Stormwater on Steep Slopes
33689 Winnamakee Shores Road
Joe and Jodi Eberhardt built a small cottage by the lake in 2018. The driveway down a steep slope manages storm water with rainwater basins, swales, berms, and driveway curbs. They minimize the grass on the property and are restoring the land with native trees and plants. You can read more on their blog site or contact them for a tour of the property.
Minimizing Shore Impact
33580 Forest Knolls Rd
Paul Meehl and Jodie Hall left much of the wooded lot in place when they built their home. They chose not to have a sand beach on the property and have minimal impact on the lakeshore. The side of the house has rain gardens with native plants to capture storm water. Native grasses and flowers grow into the rip rap to provide habitat and additional erosion protection.
Award Winning Lakeside Garden
33364 Timber Ridge
Charlie & Julie Costa have completed six shoreline restoration projects. The property was featured in a magazine and has been recognized with lake-friendly landscaping awards. There is always something in bloom on their shoreline. A small amount of rip rap protects the very edge. They have offered to share their experience with grants and projects to anyone that may be interested in starting a project on their shoreline.
Planting in Rip Rap
33018 Forest Knolls Road
Andersons protected their point with rock rip rap. The family allows the rock to fill in with native plants. The deep roots work with the rocks to manage erosion. The plants will filter rainwater and trap sediment and nutrients that the rock alone would allow to flow into the lake. Notice the shoreline shrubs on the point - dogwood and meadowsweet are great options that stay low and have strong root systems to protect against wave action.
Hidden House on the Point
32692 Northwoods Circle
Arne’s house peeks out through a small clearing in 280 feet of shoreline. The dock and boat lift is hidden from the view of the house. Their point by the no wake zone is full of trees and shrubs on the shoreline that attracts orioles, kingfishers, blue and green heron and many more songbirds. They do not rake a swim area, which gives fish habitat and helps blocks wave action that would erode the shore.
Untouched Shoreline
32301 Chiarella Drive
The Davis family is a steward to 800 feet of shoreline. The water's edge is purely natural and is one of the few areas on the lake to see an example of what it would have looked like prior to all the development. A minimal dock and red canoe are on the point. The house is set back in the woods and you have to really look to even know it’s there.
If a lake can keep forested land along 75% of the shoreline, it has a high probability of sustaining clean water and healthy lake ecosystem for fish and other wildlife. The Davis property is a spectacular example of a forest that protects the lake and provides habitat.
