Despite its benefits, prairie restoration and the use of alternative “natural” yardscapes is slow in catching on because many urbanized people see grasslands as unkempt and disapprove of them. The largest obstacle to natural landscapes is the public perception of what the landscape should be based on traditions that began in the early eighteenth century. Natural landscaping using native plants provides an opportunity to increase our connection to nature and help educate our neighbors.
I intend to facilitate the planting of an interpretive prairie in the Philo High School yard using ideas and help from my Field Ecology classes and community involvement. The planned site is between one third and one half an acre. The site has sandy loam soil, is slightly sloping and receives full sun. This combination of soil and site characteristics makes the site mesic; it has good drainage but retains adequate moisture due to the average 39 inches of annual precipitation.
Armed with the site information, my students researched native prairie plants to find species appropriate for the site. Each student compiled a list of plant species appropriate for the site. To optimize species visibility and maximum seasonal variety the size and bloom time of the plants were determined. Each student identified 25 species of their choice. The choices were tallied to produce this list of their choosing:
A Google earth picture shows that the site is a triangle. The students determined that the triangular shape of the site is less than optimal. Research helped the students come to the conclusion that a more rounded plot was appropriate. A rough shape was drawn over the Google earth picture. The length and width of the site was measured (~ 235’ X 135’) and a scaled map of the proposed shape was drawn. Each student drew their own concept of what the lay-out should be. They met together to look the plans over, discuss strong and weak points of each and decide on a final design and based on that decision a map was drawn.
The students will research the value of a prairie so an Introduction to Prairies can be written. A booklet identifying and describing the plants will be produced. The students are excited about the project and we begin growing starters for planting this year. This will be multi-year project with more than one Field Ecology class involved as well as community support and help. The finished prairie will be a visual feast demonstrating that the most outward reason for restoring grasslands is in their beauty, a mix of grasses and forbs that bring color and textural variety. The prairie will be used to persuade homeowners to use the natural beauty of native grasses and flowers into their yardscapes.
The students will research the value of a prairie so an Introduction to Prairies can be written. A booklet identifying and describing the plants will be produced. The students are excited about the project and we begin growing starters for planting this year. This will be multi-year project with more than one Field Ecology class involved as well as community support and help. The finished prairie will be a visual feast demonstrating that the most outward reason for restoring grasslands is in their beauty, a mix of grasses and forbs that bring color and textural variety. The prairie will be used to persuade homeowners to use the natural beauty of native grasses and flowers into their yardscapes.