Official publication of Wild Ones-Natural Landscapers, Ltd. Wild Ones Journal is made possible in part by the generous support of the Liberty Prairie Foundation
MARCH/APRIL 1999 ~ VOLUME 12, NO.2
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about all that could be done, as the ... I made a flail and then went up As many of us go about our sod was very tough. on the prairie to thresh out a grist. It "prescribedburns" (see Wild Ones Wheat was generally harrowed in. had to be threshed on the ground of Handbook, Prairie Maintenance The ground was plowed for corn. The course, and the wind must blow the chapter), it is interesting to note plows that were here were brought chaff out of it, for there was no fan- the perceptions of America s settlers from the East and were a miserable ning mill to do it. on the fiery "landscape that was." excuse for a plow, as they would not I worked one day and the next day score on the prairie soil; but it was I calculated to get enough for the use them or none. grist. For some reason I had failed to In 1839, Chas. T Gifford, of Elgin, take my dinner with me, and started m., invented the first plow that would home after it. I had got down near the FIRE run clean. The mould board was made big spring on the Bagley farm, when From a letter by Cyrus Church of boiler iron, the point of steel. Of I looked back and saw a smoke near dated Friday, April 1, 1898, course he had it patented and it was a my wheat. I started back to see about Walworth, Wis.: wonderful good thing for the farmer. it and when I got to the top of the hill then spring of 1838 real farming The land being new and free from I saw the fire on the top of my stack. commenced on the prairie, the weeds, the crops were good. The grain I hurried along to see if I could save Iprevious year's [ground] break- had to be threshed with a flailor trod- something, as I had left my tools ing being in good condition to culti- den out with cattle or horses. In 1840, there. There was a stack of hay near- vate and put in crops. When the land a man by the name of Knapp, of Dela- by which was on fire and in many was first broken a little corn was van, brought the first threshing ma- places the fence was burning. I had sometimes planted. They would take chine onto the prairie. It consisted of not been gone from there an hour and an axe and strike the bit into a furrow, a cylinder only,and we separated the when I left there was no sign of fire or then drop in the grain and give a blow straw from the grain with pitchforks. smoke in sight. on each side to cover it. This was That was pretty nearly perfection. (continued on page 2)
Historical accounts submitted by members Wendy Walcott, Margaret Ovitt, Mark Charles and Dan Savin !roal::E (continued from front page) to Iowa first, walking out here. We From the book Fond du Lac County, I think it was the first week in lived in Wisconsin. He bought 80 Wzsconsin, Past and Present, 1912. October. There had been a heavy acres of land with a little log cabin An original prairie of tall and frost to kill the grass, but we had no on it, with one room; Father bought exuberant grass on fire, especially at idea that fire would run yet. We had a pony to ride back to Wisconsin. night, was a magnificent spectacle, had no experience with it as there We, my mother and three children, enjoyed only by the pioneer. Here is had been no fire the two seasons Estelle, Chester and myself, then an instance where the frontiersman, before. The fire started in the south- moved to Iowa with Father. The cov- proverbially deprived of the sights west part of the prairie, and a heavy ered wagon was loaded with house- and pleasures of an old community, wind took it across the prairie as fast hold goods, all we could bring ... I is privileged far beyond the people as a horse could run. Mr. Bell had a remember several things along the of the present day in this country. little log house near where the house road, one especially when we came to One could scarcely tire beholding the he afterwards built now stands. He the Mississippi river. Had to drive the scene, as its awe-inspiring features had some stacks of hay about there, wagon on a flat boat and that fright- seemed constantly to increase, and and the fire licked up everything ened me so I never forgot. I also the whole panorama unceasingly clean but the house. remember when we stopped at changed like the dissolving views of A few days after this we saw a Dubuque to sell the honey we had a magic lantern, or like the aurora smoke which appeared to be some brought along with us. I remember borealis. Language cannot convey, distance away. Mr. Sanders said we seeing the big dolls in the store win- words cannot express the faintest had better go and burn around our dows. idea of the splendor and grandeur of stack of hay. We had put up a large My sister and I had the whooping such a conflagration at night. It was rick of hay in company, near where cough on the way, but not very bad, as if the pale queen of night, disdain- Orson Bilyea lives. We hurried along as traveling seemed to be good for it. ing to take her accustomed place in and got there just in time to see the My brother did not have it then. We the heavens, had dispatched myriads fire jump on the stack, and we left for finally arrived at our new home in upon myriads of messengers to home. Iowa . light their torches at the altar of the ... Some time in April, Joseph Father had to buy some livestock setting sun until all had flashed into Bailey came to Walworth. It was get- and farm implements, but wegot one long and continuous blaze. ting to be dry and pleasant weather, along fine. There was no Creston The following graphic description and one day while we were away he then. Afton was our nearest town, of prairie fires was written by a saw smoke at a distance. Fearing about 15 miles, and with but two traveler through this region in 1849: the fire might run through there houses Onthe road to there. We had "Soon the fires began to kindle and burn the rails [fences], he went to guard against prairie fires, as there wider and rise higher from the long to burn around them, and in so was so much open prairie all around grass. The gentle breeze increased to doing burned up every rail; but the us. We had to "back-fire," as it was stronger currents and soon fanned fire he was afraid of never came near. called, all around the place. Father the small, flickering blaze into fierce About this time my mind was not would plow all the way around the torrent flames, which curled up and in a very amiable condition, but when farm, on each side of a wide strip-- leaped along in resistless splendor, I met Mr. Bailey, he was feeling so wide enough so that fire would not and like quickly raising the dark much worse than I was capable of jump across it. The grass in between curtain from the luminous stage, the that it had a wonderful influence over the plowed strip would be burned off. scenes before me were suddenly me. Though I felt the loss of the rails We children would like to go along changed as if by the magician's wand, keenly, I never blamed Mr. Bailey for with Father at night when he burned into one boundless amphitheater, what he had done for he was trying the tall prairie grass on the strip. This blazing from earth to heaven and to do us a kindness, and was ignorant was once each fall. We had to do this sweeping the horizon round,- of what the prairie fire was capable of to protect our farm from those terri- columns of lurid flames sportively doing. ble prairie fires. mounting up to the zenith, and dark From said experience we learned When Father had to go to Afton clouds of crimson smoke, curling to guard against prairie fires which after groceries, we always took away and 10fttill they nearly gave us much trouble some seasons, matches along. If we saw a fire along obscured stars and moon, while the as our fences were constantly the way, we could burn off a place rushing, crashing sounds, like roar- exposed. to get away from the fire as the fires ing cataracts mingled with distant were so swift in that tall dry prairie thunders, were almost deafening. From an account by Ida Osmond grass. We could see what we called Danger, death, glared all around; it Heaton (1861-1963): "buffalo wallows" all along the way, screamed for victims, yet, notwith- We carne to Iowa in October 1865. as it had not been very many standing the imminent peril of prairie I was 3 ~ years of age. We came in a years since this was buffalo pasture fires, one is loath; irresolute, almost covered wagon. My father came out land. unable to withdraw or seek refuge." e prairie ecosystem and fire are synony- This dense mat locks up certain nutrients as well as mous. Native prairie will not endure without shading and insulating the prairie soil. Fire helps set Tifire, and true prairie invites fire by the very the stage, unlocking nutrients and returning nature of the fuels it produces and the climate in them to the earth, exposing seed beds to sun which it occurs. (I use the term prairie plantings to and rain." indicate the contrived landscapes utilizing native In a paper presented at the 1968 Symposium on grassland species as opposed to indigenous prairie Prairie and Prairie Restoration, researcher Clair remnants. This may seem a subtlety, but is germane Kucera stated that on Missouri prairies a three-year in regard to the necessity of fire.) interval between burnings will maintain grass In an article in Science magazine, dominance and species diversity that are University of Wisconsin scientists Mark typical of native prairies. On plots burned Leach and Thomas Givnish state that plant BURN annually, production and densities of native species are disappearing from Wisconsin OR grasses were in some cases 100 percent prairie remnants due to "a lack of fires that greater than plots that were not burned at all. once replenished the soil with nutrients and MOW? On plots burned once every fiveyears, cleared the landscape, which allowed a results were about the same as on fire-free diverse plant community to flourish." plots; and that the total root mass in the A fact sheet titled Questions About Warm-Season upper inch of soil was as much as 39 percent less than Grasses, published by the Missouri Department of on prairie burned annually. Conservation, states: "Fire was a natural occurrence in the evolution of prairie grasses. They developed THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND: not only a tolerance for fire, but a response to it that 1.There is no substitute for periodic fire as a compo- allows them to outgrow the less tolerant competition nent of the prairie ecosystem. if the burn occurs at the proper time of the year." 2. Fire is inherently dangerous, especially so in the Responding to the question as to whether mowing hands of individuals who are not trained in its use would accomplish the same purpose the publication and control. stated: "No. Such a treatment would achieve some of 3. Burning of planted prairie parcels may be detri- the affects of burning, but not all that are required to mental to invertebrate populations who find suit- maintain the desired grass stand condition." able habitat on such small isolated parcels. (Ibis is John Madson, in his book, Where the Sky Begins, not so on large areas where refugia are available writes, "Not only are encroaching shrubs and trees due to the spotty nature of wildfire.) killed by a well-fed,wind-whipped prairie fire, but 4. Periodic mowing and raking of planted prairie the fire-tolerant grasses may draw benefits from the parcels may serve to provide some of the benefits of apparent chaos. burning. It removes the litter, but does not darken 'The black ash surface resulting from burning the soil surface nor return nutrients to the soil (this increases the rate of spring warming on burned is a more complex phenomenon than it sounds). prairie, so does the removal of thick grass mulch, per- Thus, while not a substitute for burning, mowing mitting more light, warmth, and moisture to touch the and raking may be the only alternative available to the soil itself, stimulating grasses and forbs. Growth and residential homeowner when burning is not possible. vigor of prairie may suffer in thick, unburned mats of -Andy Larsen, Executive Director, dead grass parts that have built up over several years. Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg, Wis.
n the evening the prairie took fire, either by hopes of carrying off her son, threw him on the I accident or design, arid burned with great fury, ground, and, covering him with the fresh hide of a the whole plain being enveloped in flames. So rapid buffalo escaped herself from the flames; as soon as was its progress that a man and a woman were the fire had passed, she returned and found him burnt to death before they could reach a place of untouched, the skin having prevented the flame safe1y; another man with his wife and child were from reaching the gra.ss on which he lay. much burnt, and several other persons narrowly escaped destruction. Among the rest a boy of the History of the Expedition Under the Command of Captains half-white breed escaped unhurt in the midst of the Lewis and Clark to the Sources ofthe Missouri, Thence flames. His safe1y was ascribed to the great medi- Across the Rocky Mountains and .110wnthe River Columbia cine spirit, who had preserved him on account of to the Pacific Ocean, Nicholas Biddle and Paul Allan, eds., his being white. But a much more natural cause was Philadelphia, 1814, quoted in ThesMoving Frontier, Louis the presence of mind of his mother, who seeing no B. Wright and ElaineW Fowler, eds., 1972 kead{ines
THE PUBLICITY WAS FANTASTIC
n 1997 I was chairman of Sheboygan County's Festival of Trees (Wisconsin). In 1998 the X chairman was Helene Capizzi, who's married to the "Home Page" editor of our local paper, The Sheboygan Press. She overheard a conversation I was having at a festival meeting about saving some plants on a homesite which was soon to be excavated. She went home and, unbeknown to me, mentioned to her husband about the saving of plants by the Wild Ones. And that's how I found my yard the subject of a newspaper article. The interview and photo session were a hurried affair as I had to attend a funeral in an hour, so I was not in my usual gardening apparel when photo- graphed. (They were to come back for another shot IS YOUR when I was in my denims, but I inconveniently fell LANDSCAPE READY off my stoop on returning from the funeral and was TO MAKE ITS incapacitated for awhile. Am happy to report I am MEDIA DEBUT? completely healed; and my biggest fear when I fell was-who will weed my garden?) ild Ones members have The publicity from the article was fantastic. Not Wbeen featured in some big- only did the newspaper get calls, but I received name news, home and garden many. Mostly folks wanted to know more about Wild '7deas magazines, radio and television Ones and how to join or where they could get Sweet move programs, and books. For com- Woodruff and questions on its behavior-i.e., is it rapidly munity awareness, however, really invasive, how do you tend to it in the fall, is it a when nothing beats the local paper. perennial, etc. I received so many copies of the article their time Community newspapers are from friends and acquaintances and have heard so comes." generally hungry for interesting many positive remarks from people in the commu- -Carolyn stories about local citizens, so nity. I try to give summer luncheons for my friends Heilbrun tell them about your property. to be able to share the garden, but regret the time I Send them a couple snapshots, have to spend in the kitchen preparing the food, as some WIld Ones literature, and I would rather be outside. your personalized yard brochure We added a garden room onto our home in the (turn to page 6 for ideas). Give early part of 1998, and the construction did take its the editor some advance notice toll on the garden as the trucks had to go right over of your vegetation's peak color it to dig the basement. So we are still in the midst season so your interview can be of getting the garden back to normal. It will take a scheduled accordingly. year or so to get some of the perennials back to their If you have already been fea- former state, but the room was worth it. We eat all tured in the media, please tell us our meals there and can feel like we are sitting right about your experience. out in the garden without the mosquitoes. ~ -Nancy Warrington
Above: The diminutive Pussytoes (Antennaria sp.) begins opening its fuzzy white flowers in April. lllustration by Lucy Schumann. t h t
I ~ .....1 "I'M DIGGING
A POND, /I I SAID ... for two years. "Can't you imagine the personality the water will have- the life it'll support-all that we'll learn because it's right in our yard?" At the time, friends and neighbors just stared. Now their "oh!" and "wow!"outbursts reveal their faith to have been lank. Our pond measures about 20 by 25 feet, with a center well near 3 feet deep. With the foreknowledge of under- ground utilities' whereabouts, I began by stripping the topsoil from the areas that would I relied on JoAnn Gillespie to get me started with become the pond and swale. During heavy rains I the water plants as I am unfamiliar with that tribe. observed where water gathered to verify my engi- She set me up with Burreed, Blue Flag Iris, Sweet neering plans. Then, I just kept shoveling, moving Flag, Water Plantain, Softstem Rush, and Flowering the dirt to build a berm between our yard and the Rush (Butomus umbellatus, a pretty non-native Aldo asphalt lot next door. Before building the berm, Leopold favored). And, as JoAnn had assured me, the oily water from the parking lot pooled in our yard. plants 'biofiltered' sufficiently so no pump is needed. By running drain tile from our downspouts, water THE POND HAS THREE ZONES: is carried away from the house, flushes the pond, 1) A center lambchop-shaped well intended to con- and then flows to the swale which harbors Swamp fine waterlilies and offer deep hibernation muck for Milkweed, Marsh Marigold, Obedient Plant, amphibians. 2) A long, shallow crescent for shore- Ironweed, Jewelweed, Cardinal Flower, Blue Lobelia, line plants. 3) A round 'cool tub' (as opposed to a hot Sweet Grass, a Tamarack and Musclewood trees. tub) where we dangle our feet or slide in to soak. Much of the pond's edge is dry, but I wanted the Between the sections, I built up ridges to hold back species growing there to blend with the blades and the soil and roots in the two planting zones. reeds of the water plants, so my plantings included Eight friends helped us roll the 3O-milpolypropy- Wild Onion and Spiderwort. A land-lubber sedge lene liner into a long cigar shape and carry it over neighbors the pond's Tussock Sedge. the thick, cushioning bed of newspapers, dampened Between the house and the pond, I wanted low- to stay put. After pushing the liner in place and filling profile plants that would not obstruct our view of the it with water, I turned under the edge and buried it water. Transplanting our bed of rhubarb there filled with soil. At the risk of offending many, I must say the bill. Although not a wetland species, its large I find rocks encircling a pond (intended to hide the leaves look at home within the marshy setting that liner edge) to look highly contrived and unnatural. seduces our gaze daily.~ -Joy Buslaff
A plank bridge over the drainage
swale inten- sifies the impression that this is a wetland. I recline awaiting liner-toting volunteers. . prOject !J 0 U can do t 0 d a !J
"Resistance lights, such to the A YARD BROCHURE as the bird organized house, or the mass can creek, or the be effected hen guests walk away from a tour of brush pile. only by the your yard, will they remember the They wrote up man who W names of the plants you showed a trail guide for is as well them? Will they be able to explain to their those who visit organized friends why you have a natural landscape? Will the yard. Each in his in- they know how to join Wild Ones? Probably not, of the children dividuality unless you write down some of that information also has a as the for them. You need a personal yard brochure. garden that is mass his or her own. itself" WHAT CAN YOU PUT A personal yard -Carl INTO YOUR HANDOUT? brochure would be jung, Paul, Holly and Sam Olsen provide a vege- the ideal venue to 1875- tation map. The children in Bret Rappaport's reveal the results of 1961, family inventoried their one-acre prairie and your research about Swiss woodland. Jeremy, Conor, Chandler and Cassidy the pre settlement psychiatrist also noted the criss-erossed trails and other high- conditions of your neighborhood-identifying former plant
The. Ols •...... communities and describing how and when the landscape changed. You can also include a list of all the species currently growing in your yard (it may surprise you), or type up a list of all the species of birds to have visited your property, if that's your fascination. Should your situation allow, set up a Oo.t< Pla'j "Tr(a._ .$o.,vO •••"",," small mailbox stuffed with brochures la. •...•...... along with a sign encouraging passersby to help themselves. Of course, this would be a great spot for a Wild Ones yard sign, too. Another spice to add to your brochure is a quotation from a favorite author who sums up your philosophy ...
"If there is one lesson I have drawn from my travels, it is that cultural and biological diversity are far more than the foundation of stability; they are an article offaith, a fundamental truth that indicates the way things are supposed to be.... There is a fire burning over the Earth, taking with it plants and animals, cultures, languages, ancient skills, and visionary wisdom. Quelling this /lame and reinventing the poetry of diversity is the most important 'rry,d -CNa.s.s R-o;tl<. ~"'rdl .... challenge of our times. " -Wade Davis, Shadows in The Sun M.d_ Gv-a.••~ o Fro.;,;.:. ';'"rat •.... 5'<1"'0mop/t: •
7-7-'M 931") N. -:J"y"', Ave Within my yard brochure I've included this essay about what my property means to me.
WHAT IS THIS PLACE WITH MY NAME ON ITSDEED?
his place before you is my reference "Surely it is library, regularly consulted with queries an error to about nature. It also serves as a dance T banish the floor to courtship rituals for countless species, orchard and including my own. It is a living perfumery, no .thefruit- doubt, and a veritable gift shop supplying bou- garden from quets, plants and seeds, teas and nibbles. It must the pleasure- be some kind of market, too, as it has brought grounds 0/ forth rhubarb pies and berry jellies and State modern Fair first-place wines. At times, it is nothing more houses, than a canvas for a creative mind laying traps strictly rele- for flattery, and thereby it becomes a match- gating them maker of friends who began as admirers. to the rear, This landscape works as a demonstration as ijsome- of bioengineering as it baffles noise, prevents thing to be erosion and channels winds. It further acts as ashamed of" an agent of the environment as it builds soil, -Richard filters pollutants and generates oxygen. Jeffries The assessor would appraise it as a property (1848- of increasing worth. The meter-reader would 1887) record it as an energy-miser. An Iraqi dictator, Wild life in finding no power mower, would write it off as a A Southern fossil fuel-free zone. Those who own native Country plant nurseries, on the other hand, would find economic prosperity in a half-acre consumer. their performance so as never to rerun a season The life scientist might regard its diverse quite the same way twice. The melodies hum, species as a pharmacopoeia of medicinals trumpet, whisper in improvisational collaboration. or simply a garden resisting infestation. The From this vantage point we have beheld patriot or historian would applaud its tribute meteors and fossils, herons and hummingbirds, to provenance. A wise teacher would recognize maggots and manure, hail and human tears. We it as a classroom. Any child would see it as a have pond-soaked during July's heat, gazing up playground. An artist would perceive it as an at hundreds of yellow blooms, and cross-country infinite series of picturesque scenes. skied upon December's snow, admiring thou- The contemplative would see this as a holy sands of white-capped stems. place. Those who fear God would think it a This oasis that rewards the senses and lifts veneration of His creation; those who fear the mind and comforts one's body is all things to mankind would see it as an act of preservation. this family.We have envisioned the grandeur of The people of third-world countries would see a its presettlement landscape and resuscitated it land of plenty ... unsquandered. to the best of our amateur abilities. We invite you Oddly enough, the very best definition for to visit our piece of Earth and encourage you to this wildlife habitat may be that it is our home restore the place to which you hold the deed. ~ entertainment system. The colors advance in -Joy Buslaff
The more I simplify inside my home, and the more I diversify outside it, the happier I am, and the fewer the chores. rrfie t.nst.de s tor !J
In 1830, a doctor claimed to have cured a patient WILD GINGER oftetanuswith thisplant.-Iri/1923, H. Smith recorded, "Thefresh of dried root is,used by the ( AsorUIJl _cQnodense) Meno~ini as a mild stomacliic. WhEmthe patient is , • _ "'0 0 \" c' " ---,weak.or has a weak stomach and it might befatal to Family: Ari~tolo'chiaceae (Birthwort)' %,<~ / eat something he craves, thin he must eat part of this Other N~~es: 'Little Brown Jugs, Little Pig'~'\\r. root. Whatever he wants then may be eaten""with Feet, Cana'oa Snakeroot, Indian Ginger, False Colt's"'-,. impunity. "", / ' , Foot, Heart Lea£'Wild Spikenard, Colic Root,' "", Mountain women used the root to ease the aches SturgeonrPlant, Ver~nt'Snakeroot, South~rn ?md pains of pregnancy,! ginger has always been Snakero~t, Ginger,Root.''''" r: assbciated with childbirth, hence'the'family namJ";
Habitat: In,rich woods and somewhat shaded, Birthwort. I / f /' ~ ~-~. ' calcar~ous ledges. It is usually,propaiated by foo[_, Nam~ origi~~ Gen6.s n~e, Asarum (ASS-a-rum), divisi~ns. \\" \,:. l {./...-' "". isfrom,the Greek w.6rd a, meaning "not," and sairo, Description: A single dark red-brown to greenish- meaning "I adofn,"!becauseit was rejected from the . ~ ...--- -. :'. '%" i ! " '.' ':. ~ ,,' brown flower appears in the crotcn-between two garlands usedhY,theancients: NATURE DAY 1998 he Oklahoma Chapter's Nature Day 1998 activi- Tties took place at Sanborne Park this past sum- mer. The event was arranged by the Payne County Audubon Society.The activities and demonstrations were designed for children, however, most of the events also captured the attention of the adults. The programs included face painting, backyard bird workshops, nature walks, and a scavenger ollecting and germinating the seed of many hunt. Other displays provided access to fragrant C woodland wildflowers can be tricky, but Wild herbs, growing mushrooms, honey and beeswax Ginger is among the easiest. The seeds are ready candles. to collect when they have turned brown, and, Wild Ones was represented by Michelle Ragge unless woodland critters beat you to them, they who displayed native flowers and grasses and can be leisurely collected over a two- to three- prepared two identification contests (one for habitat week period in June. About 10 to 20 seeds can be and another for native plants). Michelle also set squeezed from each flower-like capsule. This is a up a table where children could make their own quick job, but will leave your fingers temporarily butterflies. stained. Several groups affiliated with Oklahoma State Seeds must be sown immediately. If waiting a University offered a wide variety of information. few days, keep the seeds in a sealed, refrigerated Phil Mulder from the Entomology Department container. Seeds sown in situ will germinate the brought a variety of insects that could be touched. following spring, but true leaves might not appear Jodie Whittier and Day Liggor represented the until the second growing season. To hasten Zoology Department with an impressive Red-tailed growth, sow seeds in flats or pots. Keep these Boa weighing about 35 pounds. Phil Lienesch, also well watered the first summer, leave outside until from the Zoology Department, demonstrated the late winter, then take in to a heated greenhouse different types of lake algae-organisms that can- or another warm, bright situation. Germination not normally be seen. Jason Andrews represented will occur within a few weeks and seedlings will the Geology Department with a display made up of likely begin developing true leaves by mid to late fossils, bones, rocks and minerals. The highlight of spring. the display was dinosaur bones and teeth. Wild Ginger forms a lovely groundcover in Volunteers associated with Caring for moist and mesic shade. Large colonies can be Planet Earth brought water displays. The easily divided, and rhizome cuttings root well; but first was a model of a stream that included rootstocks shouldn't be taken from natural areas fish and water spiders. The displays were unless it is part of an organized plant rescue. ~ designed to show how different organisms -Maria Urice reveal the water quality of a stream and to Ion Exchange demonstrate the effects of erosion. ~ <: Harpers Ferry, Iowa -Pat McDonald "Ecologymust become the organizaing principle of the next generation. " - Al Gore Classrooms without w a [[ s The Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Fund of the Milwaukee Foundation awards grants to places of learning for projects whose efforts best reflect our message of creating natural landscapes using native plants and environ- mentally sound practices, and appreciating humankind's proper place in the web of Nature. The Lincoln Prairie plot at Lincoln School in De Pere, Wis., was one of the recipients of a 1997 Seeds For Education grant. Follow- ing is their report. -Nancy Aten, Seeds For Education director SPRING 1997 ~ Mr. Farnsworth, the prairie coordina- approached our superintendent and expressed interest in tor, prepared the site. He eliminated the grasses and aiding us with our prairie. They wanted us to come up weeds and rototilled the site. That was not an easy job. We with a wish list. We brainstormed and came up with the decided that we would take the grant money along with list (including more plants, a gate, tools, birdfeeders, and some additional funding from our PTa and order plants birdhouses). We also got Group 500, a design firm in instead of seeds. Racine, to design a logo for our prairie free of charge. We e-mailed artwork of prairie plants and wildlife to be incor- OCTOBIER1997 ~ The plants arrived and we planted porated into the logo. them as quickly as possible since October was a very warm month. Two days is all it took us and we planted SUMMIER 1998 nearly 100 plants. Unfortunately it filled about one-third of See the photo! Black-eyed Susans, Ox-eye Sunflowers, our prairie. Purple Coneflowers ... garden spiders and grasshoppers. NOVIEMBIER1997 ~ Mr. Farnsworth went to the Wild NOVIEMBER 1998 ~ Students collected seeds from Ones' Green Bay Chapter meeting to present our progress plants that bloomed this year and purchased additional to its members. The group was so impressed by our seeds from Prairie Nursery. Seeded remainder of original efforts and undertaking that they donated to our prairie prairie, and completed and seeded a new plot. Added bird- many prairie seeds. So, in the cool days of November we feeders and houses built or donated by teachers' grandfa- planted the seeds. Boy, that was much easier than planting thers. Students are collecting cans to raise money for bird- plants. seed. We, the students and staff, thank you for your MARCH 1998 ~ We anxiously wait for the spring grant and interest in our project. It really got us weather to see what will come up. Nicolet Papers started. ~ RESERVED FOR MEMBERS o N l Y ild Garden, the first national garden- large scale in the public or private sectors. The ing magazine to focus exclusively on magazine is called Professional Wildscaping, and W gardening with native plants, is now it will present case histories and how-to infor- offering Wild Ones members a special sub- mation from people who are actively involved scription rate: $12.50 for four issues (one year). in using natives. The magazine's purpose is to This low rate will save members $7.50 off news- encourage more land developers to conserve stand prices. Wild Ones members who already native vegetation when possible and to replace have a subscription may extend it at the lower vegetation they remove with locally indigenous rate. varieties. If you know of someone who is a land- Wild Garden supports your efforts to plant scape designer or architect, building contractor, . and maintain native landscapes, and our goal land developer, landscape consultant, or gov- is to help keep you informed about national, ernment professional whose job involves land regional, and local events related to this excit- planning in any form, call us, and we will be ing topic. Every issue of Wild Garden contains happy to send them a sample of Professional regional wildscaping tips, as well as articles Wildscaping free of charge. about specific plants and wildlife indigenous to For more information about either of your area of the country. these offers, please call our new toll-free This year the publisher of Wild Garden also number: will be launching a national magazine for pro- 1-877-NATIVE-2 (877-628-4832). ~ fessionals who want to use native plants on a -Joanne Wolfe, Publisher Wild Ones-Natural Landscap- will be held at the Severson Dells Environmental OKLAHOMA Center of the Winnebago County Forest Preserve ers, Ltd. is a non-profit organization COYLE CHAPTER District, 8786 Montague Rd. with a mission to educate and share Meetings are held on the last Saturday of the information with members and com- KANSAS month at 10 a.m. at the Stillwater Public library, Rm 138, unless otherwise noted. munity at the 'plants-root' level and to Chapter meets monthly. Call Michael S. promote biodiversity and environ- Almon for info, (785) 832-1300. WISCONSIN mentally sound practices. We are a diverse membership interested in KENTUCKY FOX VALLEY AREA CHAPTER Meetings are held at UW-Extension office, FRANKFORT natural landscaping using native 625 E. Cnty Rd. Y, Oshkosh, 7 p.m., unless Meetings are held on the second-Monday of species in developing plant communi- otherwise noted. the month at 5:30 at Franklin County Exten- ties. ~, ~~ ~~ ~\.. '~i; sion office unless otherwise noted. Call Katie MARCH 18-Kate Redmond, educator and natu- \ ~1~,\,•..~.Y;/,;' Clark at (502) 226-4766 or email herbs@kih. ralist, presents "Native American Uses of Plants "':\", \-' ~ '\t, ',-tJ. l'>' :\~, ~\(\~!,,:ij!i7-,f for Food, Medicine and Other Life Needs."Meet on ~'\\"\','~ • 'I., ' ';,~,_~ ",_.:::--='-..\1 ';,Lt:'~' :1, net for info. ,J~:">,-,:' If :flt,r'-- ,\)l} .~/ LOUISVILLE CHAPTER lower floor of Oshkosh Public Museum with Win- ~o _. . 1/", ;;"_ Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the nebago Audubon group (use High St. entrance). ~, -~~ ~ ;/,' '"j1} month at 7 p.m. at the Louisville Nature APRIL 22-Rick Buser, UW-Fox Valley teacher, Center, 3745 Illinois Avenue, unless other- presents "Maintenance of Natural Landscapes." fJ'fie'meeti'ttjffiiC~ wise noted. Call Portia Brown at (502) 454- 4007 or e-mail [email protected] for info. GREEN BAY CHAPTER Meetings are held at the Green Bay Botanical ILLINOIS MARCH 16-(Tentative) Era MacDonald will Garden, 2600 Larsen Rd., 7 p.m., unless speak on being a conscientious consumer when buy- otherwise noted. Call Bonnie Vastag for info, GREATER DuPAGE CHAPTER ing plants for your site. (920) 494-5635. Chapter meets the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the College of DuPage, MICHIGAN MARCH 10-Randy Powers, Prairie Future Seed Co., discusses "Landscapingwith Native Plants." unless otherwise noted. Call (630) 415-IDIG ANN ARBOR CHAPTER for info. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of APRIL 14-Paul Smith, Oneida tribe, presents MARCH 18-Check hotline number for location. the month. For info contact Dave Mindell, "Preserving The Oneida Horticultural Heritage." (734) 665-7168 or [email protected]; or Jeff Rugg,from Nature's Corner, will teach us "How MADISON CHAPTER Bob Grese, (734) 763.0645 or bgrese@umich. toAdd Water Interest to Your Natural Garden." Meetings are held the last Thursday of the edu. APRIL 16-Christ Lutheran Church, Rt. 83 and month at Arboretum McKay Center, 7 p.m., 55th St., Clarendon Hills. Third annual potluck din- MARCH 10--7:30 p.m. Pioneer High School, 601 unless otherwise noted. Public is welcome. ner.Honored speaker Dr. Bob Betz. W. Stadium. A workshop, "Design Solutions:' will Call Joe Powelka for more info, (608) 837- address members' landscaping concerns. 6308. LAKE-TO-PRAIRIE CHAPTER APRIL 14-Prescribed burn 6 p.m., lecture 7:30 Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of MARCH 20-See next pagefor conferenceinfo. p.m. CobblestoneFarm, 2781 Packard Rd. "Con- the month in the Byron Colby Community ducting Burns in An Urban Setting" presented by APRIL 29- "Plant identification." Speaker will be Barn at Prairie Crossing, Grayslake (Rt. 45 Dave Borneman, program coordinator,Ann Arbor Cheryl Habberman who works with the UW just south of Ill. 120). Visitors welcome. Call Natural Area Preservation. Arboretum and is responsible for planning the Karin Wisiol for info, (847) 548-1650. Native Landscaping Conferenceeachyear. MARCH 9-Jim Steffen, ecologist, Chicago Bo- MINNESOTA MENOMONEE RIVER tanic Garden, presents "Planting And Managing onER TAIL CHAPTER AREA CHAPTER Natives in Your Dream Yard." Meetings are held at the Prairie Wetlands Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. at Gloria Dei APRIL 13-Valleri Talapatra, Kerry Leigh and Learning Center, 7 p.m., unless otherwise Lutheran Church, W180 N7863 Town Hall Frank Haas, landscape architects, present "De- noted. Call Tim Bodeen for info, (320) 739- Rd., Menomonee Falls. Call Judy Crane for signing A Spot for Native Plants in Your Dream 9334. info, (414) 251-2185. Yard: A Workshopfor Wild Ones Members.. MISSOURI March 16-Bill Reichenbach, Johnson's Nursery, NORTH PARK CHAPTER presents "Native Landscaping Design Concepts." ST. LOUIS CHAPTER Meetings are held the second Thursday of the Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the APRIL 20-David Kopitske discusses the habitat month at 7 p.m. at the North Park Nature month. New chapter is developing program and public lands of the lower Wisconsin River. Center, 5801 N. Pulaski, Chicago, unless schedule. Contact Scott Woodbury for info, otherwise indicated. Call Bob Porter for' MILWAUKEE-NORTH CHAPTER (314) 451-0850. more info, (312) 744-5472. Meetings are held at the Schlitz Audubon MARCH 3- To be announced. Center, 1111 E. Brown Deer Rd., Bayside, MARCH II-Doug Anderson, past president of the second Saturday of the month, 9:30 a.m., ChicagoAudubon Society and the ChicagoOrnitho- APRIL 7-Possibly Bill and Nancy Knowles' wood- unless otherwise noted. Call voice mail mes- logical Society, will speak about birds of the Chicago land garden. sage center at (414) 299-9888. region and plants that attract them. OHIO MARCH 13-Kit Woessnerwill tell us how she used APRIL 8-Speaker to be announced. COLUMBUS CHAPTER natural landscapingfor her home landscape. ROCK RIVER VALLEY CHAPTER Meetings are held the second Saturday of the APRIL lO-Richard Barloga will speak about Meetings held at Jarrett Prairie Center, month at 10 a.m. at Inniswood Metro Gar- "Prairiesof Southeastern Wisconsin." Byron Forest Preserve, 7993 N. River Rd., dens, Inniswood House, 940 Hempstead Byron, unless otherwise noted. Call (815) Rd., Westerville, unless otherwise noted. MILWAUKEE-WEHR CHAPTER 234-8535 for info. Call Martha Preston for info, (614) 263- Meetings are held at the Wehr Nature Center, 9468. second Saturday of the month, 1:30 p.m., MARCH 18-7 p.m. Heather Swenson, research unless otherwise noted. Call voice mail mes- management specialist for the Natural Land In- MARCH 13- "Backyardsfor Wildlife UsingNative sage center at (414) 299-9888. stitute, discusses '7nvasive Plants in the Winnebago Plants" bySara Jean Peters.Ms. Peterssupervisesthe CountyArea. " Backyards for Wildlife program for the DNR MARCH 13-Same program as North Chapter. Division of Wildlife.Phone 771-9215for more info. Non-members are welcomefor a fee of $2. APRIL 15-7 p.m. John Larson, Taylor Creek Restoration Nurseries, presents a program on "Wet- APRIL 10- Work Project: Continue landscaping at APRIL 1O--Same program as North Chapter.Non- lands and WetlandRestoration."Note: This meeting our Habitat for Humanity House. members are welcomefor a fee of $2. , ~I A . "A real gem!" ~ ~@oollrn~~OO~~$ '9The ggg PRAIRIE READER ************************ PO. Box 8227 St. Paul, MN 55108 651.646.2098 [email protected] NATIVE lANDSCAPING CONFERENCE www.theprairiereader.com North America's twelve-page Saturday, March 20, 1999 quarterly journal on prairie Co-sponsored by Madison Chapter ofWJ1d Ones and UW Arboretum gardening, restoration UW Memorial Union • Madison, Wisconsin and preservation. Keynote speaker: Neil Diboll. Honored guest: Lorrie Otto. "Eminently readable, Four tracks of seminars: Beginners, Management, Ecosystems and Special intelligently written, artfully produced." Interests. Twelve difference seminar topics from which to choose. Advance Registration: $22 - or pay at the door Send to Cheryl Habberman, UW-Madison Arboretum 1207 Seminole Hwy, Madison, WI 53711 CREATING A NATURAL lANDSCAPE VI Saturday, March 27,1999 Muskegon Community College • Muskegon, Michigan For more info contact West Michigan Region Environmental Network, (616) 788-3380 or Subscriptions (4 issues): $18, individuals; Muskegon Conservation Office, (616) 733-0008 $25, businesses, agencies, libraries. Single copies: $5. J with Wildflowers & Prairie Grasses from IF1JL41[lIUlE l~TlLlI~SlEJRJ( Call for our color Catalog & Growing Guide Or send your request to P.O. Box 306WO Westfield, WI 53964 P.O. Box 83 NORTHLAKE WISCONSIN 53064-0083 Nursery Grown Wildflowers Great selection, including \ Over 170 Wood Lilies, Michigan Lilies, Blue-Eyed Grass and more , ENDERS Greenhouse Restore prairie, woodland, or wetland A Division in the back yard or the back forty? Anne Meyer, Owner of Country Wetlands 104 Enders Drive Learn about your property's flora, Nursery & Cherry Valley, IL 61016 fauna, soil, natural history, Consulting, and ecological health? Ltd. (815) 332.5255 Rockford Area Protect, preserve, and enhance the Wetland & Native natural character of your land? Landscaping For rural/urban/commercial areas. Call or write for a free brochure. JoAnn M. Gillespie, LiH.D. Owner and Director • Residential & Commercial Native Landscaping • Natural Area Assessment & Restoration • Permit Application Preparation & Assistance • Design & Specification Preparation • Monitoring & Management Send for native plant list 2505 Richardson St. W181 S8684 Cottage Circle West Muskego, WI 53150 Fitchburg, WI 53711 250 species of (608) 277-9960 414-679-8003 Fax 414-679-6866 Native Plants W1JereScience and Stewardship Meet Prairie- MOO/1/ Nursery More-.~ttuuv 450 :r:::midweft -~ =' 91iI3~lllmJ> ,Portfollo,refenince'8nlialllit,; ~~~~~ , _ _;,~~n:r9qUl!~~.:~:?. ID:illllt:n"ooh WAl ~ oo.EJb ~~6m/$iFl ., M~~i~6;Wi~~onsi~':' ~~~ :'(;6P8'.)'255~.:~lO.o6 _ ~. c .>;;.:.;.l;..,~ "".' "', ,-- '... "- EVERYTHING fOR BEAUTifUL PONDS AND STUNNING AQUASCAPES KETTLE MORAINE NATURAL LANDSCAPING @ 11 11c.\ 00 I:PHI<£ c.\ IP I] n (jl,& GJ!DIl~ 0 @i1~"fINi,,~~ Intensive ten-month Master of Arts Program trains students in ecological site design and land planning, applied to residential and community-scale projects. Small yet diverse classes, unique rural setting, accredited by NEASe. ~{ Y I By designing real projects for clients, Conway students learn important design skills including ~,~ti practical problem solving, communication of ~ design solutions and ecological advocacy. POND AND BOG LINERS • Consulting services Sunm~er Workshop: • Custom seed mixes for "THE ART OF NATURAL 20-YEAR WARRANTY prairie landscapes LANDSCAPES AND GARDENS" NATIVE WATERLILlES, • Experience with residential, Presented by Darrel Morrison MARGINALS AND BOG PLANTS school and commercial July 26-30 plantings Limited class size, Fee: $500.00 Complete SUl11l11erWorkshop Schedule WINDY OAKS AQUATICS CONNIE RAMTHUN W377 Sl0677 Betts Road available soon. W996 Birchwood Drive Eagle, WI 53119 Campbellsport, WI 53010 Call, write or e-mail for further information. Phone * Fax 413-369-4044 • E-MAIL: [email protected] • www.csld.edu (414) 594-3033 (920) 5:3:3-89:39 Retail Catalog $1.00 $ine Perennials m ' and Jfative ~ «O Plantsfor Woodland and Prairie $ine <13otanicalsand JIandmade Goat Milk Soap Silky and aromatic, lovingly crafted and individually wrapped, We have three great garden scrubs CATAWG-$2.00 and more than two dozen other rich, moisturizing soaps all with gentle goats milk from the heartland and many botanicals from our own garden. MORE THAN AN HERBAL SOAP -BALMY BAR. - CONEFLOWER - JENS FOR MEN. (Bergamot) CAKE. -SPALALA. (Echinacea) - BLAZING STAR -THIMBLEBERRY BAR. -FROND. - VERY ROSEMARY (Liatris aspera) -GOATS 'N OATS. SCRUB. - BUFFALO BAR - HIP HIP ROSEA. - WOODEN RULER. ' r II i!Ii't N~...,~"" (847) 223-7072 Pat Armstrong sends us this beautiful scene from Naperville, Illi- E-Mail: [email protected] nois. Her yard sign is nestled among Blue Star Amsonia, Stiff Goldenrod, and wild raspberries beneath a blooming Cockspur DESIGN AND HORTICULTURE SERVICES Hawthorn. Thanks, Pat. Aluminum yard signs proclaiming "this land is in harmony with nature" are available from your local 32494 FOREST DRIVE - GRAYSLAKE, ILLINOIS 60030 chapter or send $21 to: Wild Ones Yard Sign, P.O. Box 23576, Mil- waukee, WI 53223-0576. . rFt::::::I~K::::2£::::3E:::::Jt:::::I~s:::::=:IlE:=::IIc:::::Ir::::::Ic:::::'Jc:::Ic::::::Ju r~C:=S~~c::=:.1~Ir:=IK:::::II:::::II:==:le:=:::J~c:::=J.:::::=Iu ~Wittf Ones Membership .... •. Wi{d Ones (jift Membership 6 ~ My name ~ Name 6 Occasion for gift~ _ n Address o Please send a gift membership to: ~ City ~ L State/ZIP _ R r I. 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Box 23576, Milwaukee, WI 53223-0576 lr= c= =/~M:B:H:::~S::::D~T':c= c= J ,~\ NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Wjti:ft!~,3.Oiffita[ U.S.POSTAGE Wll~b oris!N;SUR~~LA~DSCAPERS, LTD. PAID P.O. BOX 23Pt6\~.\1I4WAUKEE, WI 53223-0576 MILWAUKEE,Wi '"), JF . PERMITNO. 4016 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED DATED MATERIAL "Your membership's about to IEUlPlnllEl ... if the label above is dated 5/~/S51 or lS/~/5IS" YOUR TIMELY RENEWAL SAVES ON PAPER AND THE EXPENSE OF OUR SENDING OUT RENEWAL NOTICES. USE FORM ON PREVIOUS PAGE TO RENEw' NOTIFY US IF YOU MOVE AS BULK MAIL IS NOT FORWARDED. PRESIDENT HONORARY DIRECTORS BRET RAPPAPORT DARREL MORRISON (312) 845-5116 FASLA. GEORGIA VICE PRESIDENT SARA STEIN MANDY PLOCH AUTHOR NEW YORK (414) 242-2723 CRAIG TUFTS SECRETARY NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION JOE POWELKA WASHINGTON D.C. (608) 837-6308 ANDY & SALLY WASOWSKI TREASURER MINNESOTA WISCONSIN AUTHORS, NEW MEXICO KLAUS WISIOL IOWA OTTERTAIL. FOX VALLEY AREA (847) 548-1649 BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE CHAPTER WILD ROSE TIM BODEEN CAROL NIENDORF ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR CONTACTS MARY PALM BERG (218) 739-9334 (920) 233-4853 PATRICIA ARMSTRONG or DONNA ILLINOIS DONNA VANBUECKEN (319) 337-7917 MISSOURI VANBUECKEN PATRICIA BRUST (500) 367-9453 ILLINOIS KANSAS ST. lOUIS SCOTT WOODBURY (920) 730-8436 WISCONSIN SEEDS FOR EDUCATION GREATER DuPAGE LAWRENCE (314) 451-0850 GREEN BAY MARK FElDER DIREC'(OR (630) 415-IDIG MICHAEL ALMON (785) 832-1300 NEW YORK JULIE MACIER WISCONSIN NANCY ATEN NORTH PARK VilLAGE lONG ISLAND (920) 465-4759 LORRIE OTTO (414) 242-3830 NATURE CENTER KENTUCKY JANET MARINELLI WISCONSIN BOB PORTER FRANKFORT (718) 622-4433 MADISON WEB SITE COORDINATOR CHRISTINE TALIGA (312) 744-5472 KATIE CLARK 254) JOE POWELKA MARK CHARLES (ext IOWA ROCK RIVER VALLEY (502) 226-4766 (608) 837-6308 (734) 997-8909 OHIO DONALD VORPAHL MARY ANNE lOUISVilLE COLUMBUS MENOMONEE WISCONSIN GRANT WRITERS MATHWICH MIKE SMILEY MARTY PRESTON RIVER AREA LYNN WHITE CAROL TENNESSEN (815) 332-4367 (502) 243-2208 JUDY CRANE (614) 263-9468 WISCONSIN CHRIS REICHERT (414) 251-2185 NE ILL./SE WIS. MICHIGAN OKLAHOMA ROCHELLE WHITEMAN LIBRARIAN LAKE TO PRAIRIE ANN ARBOR COYLE MilWAUKEE-NORTH WISCONSIN MARIE SPORS-MURPHY KARIN WISIOL TRISH BECKJORD MICHELLE RAGGE & MILWAUKEE-WEHR KIT WOESSNER (414) 299-9888 (414) 677-4950 (847) 548-1650 (734) 669-2713 (4~5) 466-3930 WISCONSIN