GARDENING WITH WILDFLOWERS

Turn yard into a meadow

WITH MORE land cleared for
agriculture and urban development
every day, wild places are becom-
ing harder to find.

But by sowing a crop of
wildflowers, homeowners can
transform their yards into bloom-
ing meadows that will attract birds
and animals.

In an article in National Wildlife
magazine, author Laura Martin
described how wildflower mead-
ows are timeless windows on the
natural world.

Moreover, unlike the typical
Kentucky bluegrass lawn, native
plants are well- suited to their local
climate and environmental condi-
tions. As a result, wildflower
meadows need little watering, an
important advantage over thirsty
lawns and formal garden beds.

Although the popularity of
meadow gardening is growing,
writes Martin, misconceptions
abound. One is that meadows re-
quire wide expanses of land.

According to Martin, however,
yard-sized areas of 2,000 square
feet and even jess can be planted
effectively.

Another misconception is that
wildflowers are hardy enough io
flourish without preparation or
care. Although many species of
wildflower can withstand drought
and other adverse conditions, it
takes careful sowing and
work to coax good growth from

| CAPE
CoD

wildflower seed.

Here are five basic steps that
people can take to create
wildflower meadows:

1. Choosing a site: Wildflowers
need plenty of sunlight. Plants
traditionally included within a
meadow need at least six to eight
hours of good, hot sunshine each
day to bloom well. Shade-loving
plants, however, can be included at
the meadow’s borders, serving as a
‘transition zone between woods and
open areas.

2. Choosing seeds and plants:
Wildflowers native to your own
region will give the best results.
Plants from other regions or coun-
tries often do not adapt, or they
adapt so well that they overtake
native vegetation and become
serious pests.

Consequently, the best results
come from a seed mixture designed
for a specific geographical region.
Reputable nurseries and mail order
companies can give you informa-
tion on which species are native to
a region, their growing conditions,
and their germination.

Almost any wild flower meadow
will attract birds, butterflies and
other wildlife. But specific animal
species can be lured by planting the
right kinds of wildflowers.

Hummingbirds, for example, are
attracted by Indiau paintbrush and
red penstemons. Insect-attracting
flowers that grow near the bound- -

ig a.
| Across from Venice Bekery

on Malin Strect
ght yellow awnin

ary between meadow and woods
ase effective in luring kingbirds,
great crested flycatchers,
chickadees and downy
woodpeckers.

Butterflies, including monarch
and swallowtail, are attracted by
milkweeds {including butterfly-
weed and Joe-pye-weed).

3. Planting the meadow: In most
parts of the country, people can
seed in the spring or fall. In either
ease, proper soil preparation will
save time and effort later on. By
tilling an area carefully, you will

“get good germination conditions

for the seeds.

Small areas can be tilled to a
depth of six to eight inches with a
rotary tiller, and then left alone for
three to four weeks to allow weeds
to begin growing. Then, the weeds
should be killed by tilling again or
by uprooting them by hand.

Once the seedbed has been
prepared, seeds should be mixed
with sand, evenly distributed and
tamped down. Mulch is helpful in
keeping seeds in place if planting is
done on steep hillsides.

4, Managing the meadow: Like
other seeds, wildflower seeds need
water to germinate. After seeding,
if rainfall is insufficient, water the
area. The only major chore will be
mowing the area to prevent trees
and shrubs from invading and to
help disperse seeds for the next
growing season.

6 each
(bundles of 30)

19 ~ Friday, March 17, 1989 - North Shore News

Mowing can be done in the late
fall or very early spring, and
should leave the plants about six
inches tall. Mowing in the spring
will leave seed heads intact during
the winter to provide food for
birds.

5. Reseeding the area: Theoreti-
cally, perennial wildflowers will
grow and bloom year after year,
and annuals will reseed themselves
for a good show every year.

In practice, however, it may

sometimes be necessary to sow
some annuals at the beginning of
each season and divide the peren-
nials as necessary.

The famous conservationist
Aldo Leopold wrote of those peo-
ple who can live without wild
things and those people who can-
not. For those who cannot live
without wild things, a meadow
provides a wonderful opportunity
te bring the wilderness to our
doorsteps.

Your lovely lawn deserves
“a lovely couple”

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