PROBLEM SOLVING WITH NATIVE WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES
Wildflowers and grasses can be used in many ways to solve landscaping problems. However, the ethical collection and application of seed from rapidly decreasing habitats where these plants grow is crutial to the survival of the systems in which they exist. Over-collecting from them impacts the system, so it is better to collect a small portion of seed and grow it off for a couple of years so that the habitat is not negatively impacted and so that you are assured regeneration or production of seed on you own property. This safeguards your seed crop from the detrimental impact experienced on habitats in the "wild". Purchasing seed from a vendor theoretically provides an appropriate collection of species for you specific location. That is the hope. The best scenario is to identify a collection site near your proposed planting site, recieve permission to collect there, and then collect a small portion of seed to start with. This will provide a start-up seed production facility/laboratory in which to make future harvests. Beware of seed purchases from vendors who sell generic "collections" or "mixes".
How to have a green thumb without an aching back After many years gardening with native wildflowers, I attended a conference in 1992 that introduced me to the prairies of Louisisana. One presentation, given by Dr. Charles Allen and Dr. Malcom Vidrine of LSU @ Eunice, La, was a discussion about the wildflowers and grasses of the cajun prairie and the restoration work they had begun with Coastal Prairie species. They were using many of the species I gardened with but simply "put them out to pasture" and let them fend for themselves. And fend they did! After visiting the restoration site many times during field trips and making visits to other ecosystems with Dr. Allen and Dr. Vidrine, it was clear to me that my aching back would appreciate the idea of gardening without the hard work I was accuctomed to. I started work soon on my first wildflower patch and as they say, "the rest is history". Today when i walk in my seed fields, I am usually taken aback by some new species that i hadn't seen before. I am always astounded by something new and unusual when i make my journey through the paths beside my plots. Often it's simply a different angle of light cast on a setting that strikes me, or a skipper butterfly flittering about a blossom head in search for nectar. There is always something new and exciting when I take the time to walk my meadow.
Below topics under construction
Attracting wildlife
Stabilizing soils
Restoring underground water systems
Creating an outdoor classroom
Reducing mowing in the landscape
sprigging for fast cover
|
Muhleisen Pond April, 2000 |
Back slope of pond dam, April 2000 |
|
Muhleisen Pond April 15, 2001 |
Back slope of pond dam, April 15, 2001 |
Coreopsis in bloom, May 10, 2001 |
Mountain Mint in bloom May 25, 2001 |
Coreopsis in seed, May 25, 2001 |
