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Subject: Re: Wildflower Meadow
From: SusanTillery <stillery@home.net>
Organization: Excite@Home - The Leader in Broadband http://home.com/faster
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 01 07:02:06
Message-ID: <MOD$010816.27312@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$010815.18320@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



I don't know where you are but here are some web sites that might help.
Green landscaping with Native plants
http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/greenacres/
there is a link to the Wild Ones Handbook at this site.

Backyard wildlife habitats - National Wildlife Federation
http://www.nwf.org/habitats/

In Maryland there is the Bayscapes program
http://www.fws.gov/r5cbfo/Bayscapes.htm

As you can see my bias is toward using natives but you do not have to be
fanatical about it. It would be helpful for you to be aware of the impact of
invasive nonnatives so that you can make an informed decision about using such
plants.
Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/index.htm

If you are in the USA there should be a local County extension office, or
perhaps even a Master Gardener group. If so check with them, they may well be
able to help you out.

I grew up in central Oklahoma in a rural area so we did not contend with weed
laws. Many wildflowers depend on an existing thatch of grass to survive and
what worked best for us was to be careful about where and when we mowed. We
waited until the wildflowers had set and dropped seed before mowing that patch
and some areas we never mowed at all. In the city, as I understand it,
presentation is important: borders, paths, gazing balls, things that make the
patch appear planned.

Good luck,
Susan Tillery

M& C LeBlanc wrote:
>
> Hi
> I would like to turn my "front yard" into a wildflower meadow . My "
> front yard" is about 2 acres.( I own 15 acre of land) .The first acre is
> the one I want to transform into a wildflower meadow . Where do I start?
>
>