A native river restoration.

19 years ago

There is a city park I go to in HIghland park, HIdden falls, I think the name is and the park people leave an area by the edge of a riverbank unmowed for wildlife, there is meadow behind a mowed area too shadowed by cottenwoods that is uncut. The area when I was a boy had common Milkweeds,and other natives but sadly has become infested with Spotted Knapweed, russian spurge and other lowlifes. Lately I have been pulling up the invasives and hualing them away to my garbage in effort to save the last few natives remaining. I plan to buy natives, like Black eyed susean, big blue stem and coneflowers from my local nurshery and atempt to restore the area.

At my work I went to a local job fair and talked with someone from the city of saint paul about this, to see if it was okay, he told me its fine to plant natives in pubic parks.

I spoke to another friend who is in the landscaping buz, He says to just do it, no one will care. It sure seems its been that way for awhile, I know the park has tried in the past at restoration, they planted black eyed suseans, but I assuming they gave up because of money,time,ect.

people in the park have seen me and have given me good comments about the work I was doing once I explained to them what I was doing and why.

At first before the job fair I felt guilty in that what I was doing was bad, but as I see the natives come back stronger and there being less and less nasty knapweed I've come to understand that a law is only as good as what becomes of it.

I have a budget of $60, does anyone know of a nurshery in the Highland park area that sells natives for cheaper then $7 pur seedling, or $10 pur pant. or any online websites you could point me to.

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Comments (5)

ziggy___
19 years ago
Try the native plant exchange, you might get some sympathetic people to send you plants for postage.

Ziggy
ficus-spider-man
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you, I did post for the plants I wanted, but am still unsure about the rules of that page, Is it not okay to give out info, such as phone num,ect.? Also how do you tell them that you have plants to desire and seeeds to swap. The computer only lets me pick want to or give away. Are these sites protected from bad people who may do you harm, such as take your phone num,computer ect.

Today I spent my $60 for the month on a big Ironweed, a pair of baby Big blue stems, a purple pharie clover and a Brown eyed seasan. All of the other nursheys in my area have natives are are priced the same, thank you so much for posting.
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ladyslppr
19 years ago
I am sure there are lots of native plant gardeners in the area who could provide plants. Many of the native plants you will be looking for spread readily when grown in the yard and can easily be divided, seedlings shared, etc. I am always having to divide and remove some of my natives to keep them from taking over the yard. The plants I remove would be great starters for a prairie if I wasn't 1000 miles away. If there is a local native plant society that might be a good place to ask for donations. There almost certainly is a local chapter of the Audubon Society and many of the people there will be native plant gardeners. Another idea is to try growing seedlings yourself. I wouldn't try every native plant from seeds, but Black Eyed Susans, for example, grow very easily from seed. You could have a hundred seedlings by July for perhaps $20 in supplies (seed, pots, planting mix). Finally, you might consider plant rescues from roadsides that are being graded or sprayed. Some natives like Common Milkweed grow so rampantly on roadsides that you could find a large stand, ask the landowner, and almost certainly be given permission to take some plants for a worthy project like yours. Most people either don't value milkweed or have so much that they won't mind you taking some. Lots of other natives are almost as rampant and could probably be found easily.
loris
19 years ago
Gardenweb has a Minnesota forum. I know I'm able to use the NJ forum to get information, including ideas about where to buy plants. I've attended plant swaps through the forum where I've gotten native plants including ones I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise (and unfortunately also a few invasives I didn't realize were invasive until I did the research at home).

I see the Minnesota forum also has a link to a Minnesota exchange page. You could post your wants and haves right there, or set up a exchange list through your member page. The link to member services is at the bottom of forum pages, then choose "Edit Your Exchange Lists".

Here is a link that might be useful: Minnesota forum on GardenWeb
Flowerkitty
19 years ago
If there is a need for shrubs or trees like bayberry, nannyberry, virginia creeper, dogwoods etc, the New Hampshire State Forest Nursery has great deals, usually 25 beautiful healthy bare root seedlings for 25 dollars. They are mostly sold out for this spring. I was very impressed

I highly recommend winter sowing to make your own starts for next spring planting.

If you make note of clumps of wildflowers worth propagating you can go back in early winter, get the seeds, and winter sow them for the cost of potting soil. You shouldnt get in trouble for harvesting seeds if you dont take all of them. I use mailing envelopes. This is better than sowing the seeds by tossing them about since most cannot grow past existing plants. It is better than clearing the ground which invites in invasives

There is great information in gardenweb on winter sowing. It really works. Basically you plant the seeds into pots in mid or late winter and leave them out to freeze and thaw. It is recommended to plant milkweed in the cardboard tubes from papertowel rolls because milkweed don't like being dug up. The milkweed can be planted tube and all in the spring.
I keep my pots in a dog cage to protect them from squirrels

Bit by bit I have isolated some great natives. The first year they may not bloom. The second year you may have more seeds than you can handle.

I am redoing my land too. Remove invasives. Transplant seedlings into new areas. As the invasives are reduced natives often reappear for free. It takes time and repetition. I rescue natives by pulling away competitors. Since many look alike in the spring before they bloom, I save anything interesting. If it turns out to be an invader I can pull it later just when it blooms

You are doing a great service. Any plant you start may be carried to distant places by birds

Here is a link that might be useful: New Hampshire State Forest Nursery