Spring slow on the prairie

OK, so this is hardly a big prairie. But the little native plants project we have been working to restore on the west side of Elmwood Elementary School continues for another year.

That despite somebody at Jordan’s gas station telling me,
“The best thing you could do with those weeds would be to dig them up, seed it and start mowing.” Don’t get too upset by those comments. A few days later the same guy’s son brought the fire truck so we could burn off the prairie. That was March 26, when the little bluestem at right got a bit scorched and the beds (there’s another little plot nearby) took on their present barren look.

In the days since, not much has happened in the planting. Overall I’d say plants have been slow so far. Last year at this time my star magnolias had already started budding out. This year they are slow to open. To pass the time, I’ve collected a few more seeds and spread them on the prairie planting and have plans to buy a few plants from Stark County Soil and Water Conservation District (they have a sale every spring) to provide more fall color (since the kids come back to school after most of the prairie plants have bloomed).

Mostly I just need to be patient. As a reminder, I looked up the date on the picture below. It was May 28, 2007. That’s a long way off. I’m betting this year by that date the “weed planting” will be even more lush. And you know I’ll be keeping you posted.