2020 Winter RVC Insights - Flipbook - Page 7
“
Native is the original plant that co-evolves with the whole ecosystem
of insects, bees and butterflies and since they co- evolve, the plant, the
flower and the nectar are there when the insects arrive.
”
Kathy purchased her first seeds
from Prairie Nursery in Wisconsin,
which at the time was one of the few
places she could find actual native
seeds. “Unlike cultivars, which are
what you get at the big box stores
and greenhouses in the area, natives
are different,” she explained. “Native
is the original plant that co-evolves
with the whole ecosystem of insects,
bees and butterflies and since they
co-evolve, the plant, the flower
and the nectar are there when the
insects arrive. Cultivars are not like
that and some may or may not even
have nectar or their nectar might
not have any energy for the hungry
insects, although some cultivars are
good, too.”
Prairie Nursery was a great resource for Kathy. She actually went
there learning how to prepare the
soil and what she was going to need
to get started. They emphasized that
this was going to be a long-term establishment and it wouldn’t develop
overnight, or even in a year. In fact,
they told her it would take upwards
of three years and it was going to
look pretty unattractive for the first
couple of years. Kathy exclaimed,
“My patience paid off and now seven
years later, it’s beautiful and I just
love it!”
Along her prairie journey, Kathy
met some pretty interesting people,
one being a speaker and former
biology teacher in Stark County. He
told the class about his pond, which
was more like a wetland, where he
established native plants which
liked that type of soil and moisture
content. Since building the pond,
he has 12 or 13 different species of
frogs. Kathy, slightly blushing, said
she asked the speaker, “You know,
I understand how birds, butterflies,
insects, and all this other stuff gets
there, but frogs can’t just drop out
of the sky. How did they get there?”
His answer was simple, “You build it,
and they will come.”
This was just one more reason why
Kathy got involved. She said, “While
I don’t have turtles yet, I have about
everything else. I already had water
with the creek, and like us, they
needed a place to live. They needed
shelter, which I had, but I had no
food, and we all have to have food.
Once the prairie was established, a
whole new biodiversity ecosystem
just developed on its own. Build it,
and they will come.”
Seeing all of these changes was
very exciting for Kathy, especially the
different types of birds that began
visiting the prairie. She remarked
that she had never really noticed or
cared about all of the different insects, butterflies and moths before,
but now realizes they all play a part
in the development of the ecosystem on the prairie. She exclaimed, “I
even have quail now, they found a
place to live. It’s been really exciting
to watch what happens and it’s fun.
It just kind of restores my soul.”
The whole project began as
entertainment for Kathy, she had
always loved flowers and gardening.
When it comes to the prairie, she
admits that she is not a purist and
has planted some cultivars, such
as sedum, among the native plants
because they provide a lot of beauty
and the bees love them.
RVC / 7