6 replies to this topic

[WjColdWater]

Finally Paige and I went on a much needed plot walk. I’m on week ten with a new hip and doing well enough to walk the high foliage. This CP-29 design plot is on year six with lots of diversity. The plot is 8.1 acres in size consisting of the following: 5.1 acres in a mixed pollinators and short grasses, 1 acre of cool season grasses (burn perimeter)1acre of mixed hardwood trees and 1 acre of native shrubs. Carol and I with help planted the plot ourselves. Wildlife is thriving here with Pheasants being a favorite here. Songbirds migrate through and many breed here with multiple species spotted. The insect life is incredible and the birds love the buffet. Small and large mammals enjoy the habitat also. Reptiles and frogs have returned, Carol isn’t crazy about the snake sightings.😁Thought I would share a few pics on the plot.

Paige and I on a needed walk. Tree plots surrounded by a livestock electric fence. Deer population here is tough on young trees.

The pollinator core is 70% forbs 30% short warm season grasses. Notice the tall warm season grasses Big Bluestem and Indian grass. They are invaders from the neighbors plot. Wind and animals brought them into our plot. Beautiful grasses that add diversity.

The cool season (burn perimeter) has a lot of Foxtail this year pheasants love foxtail. We only had two Bluebird clutches make it to maturity this season. Wet and cold conditions took two clutches along with two Tree Swallow nests.


Bumper crop of Partridge Pea this year a important seed for birds.

Stiff Goldenrod with (Canadian Goldenrod a invader)

Mountain Mint

Round-Headed Bush Clover more common each year.

New England aster invading the shrub plot.


Lots of Hazelnuts this season another important food for wildlife. American Plum finished fruiting last month. American Plum is one of the first flowering shrubs in the spring. Bees are on them as soon as they flower. Bees of all species visit our plot by the thousands all season.The butterfly show is incredible as well. It’s been so gratifying to give a little back to help the natural world.
Wayne

[Taku]

Great job! Looks like a big success in helping some prairie land come back. Are you near Midewin Tallgrass preserve?

[WjColdWater]

Great job! Looks like a big success in helping some prairie land come back. Are you near Midewin Tallgrass preserve?

We grew up within ten miles of the old arsenal (now Midewin). Now we live in the country outside the quad cities. Our brother-in-law lives close to the preserve and has some great pics of the Buffalo herd. We purchased the property to build our retirement home eight years ago. It had been in row crops for years and the last year before the planting it was in soybeans. I had no experience in the CRP programs and the local USDA/NRCS were a great help. They walked me through the process on design and the application process. Our application was accepted and we planted the grasses and forbs in November. We rented the native drill from the NRCS and I borrowed a tractor from a neighbor. After a little practice I planted the natives. The trees and shrubs were planted in the spring as bare root stock. After mowing the plot three times the first year the forbs and grasses came. The trees and shrubs had two years of herbicide treatment to cut down competition from grasses. All the bare root plants were planted by hand using tree spades. After a burn on year four the plot has matured. Now I walk and remove any woody invaders with a spade. Now the local NRCS uses our plot for education on the pollinator/CRP programs that are available to qualified land owners. We enjoy sharing our experience to help others consider planting natives.
Thanks for the nice comments! Wayne+Carol

[WjColdWater]

Great job! Looks like a big success in helping some prairie land come back. Are you near Midewin Tallgrass preserve?

Midewin buffalo pics from my brother in law.

[ski3pin]

Great job! Looks like a big success in helping some prairie land come back. Are you near Midewin Tallgrass preserve?

 

Absolutely!  Well done!

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Thanks for posting, thanks for personally making a difference!

[WjColdWater]

Thanks for posting, thanks for personally making a difference!

After completing a career as a carpenter and construction superintendent, I’ve destroyed plenty of this earth. Now retired it’s time to reflect and give back.