Commonfields Spring 2019

Plant This, Not That! by Sarah Vogt, HeartLands Conservancy

Commonfields Spring 2019

Board of DirectorsE. William Reichert, Board Chair Ronda Latina, Vice ChairWilliam Boardman, Second Vice ChairStephen Parrish, TreasurerRobert C. Nelson, SecretaryWilliam ArmstrongBrenda ChandlerDawnesha JohnsonNancy LarsonCharlie MeierCliff SchuetteMary VandevordAnne Werner

Managing TeamMichael Andreas, Special Projects

Shelli Bement, Director of Finance and Administration

Janet Buchanan, Project Manager

Emily Kinard, Project Specialist

Laura L. Lyon, Special Projects Coordinator

Kim O’Bryan, Director of Development and Events

Mary Vandevord, President and CEO

Sarah Vogt, Project Manager

Ed Weilbacher, Vice President

Steve Widowski, Wildlife Biologist

3 N High StreetBelleville, IL 62220www.heartlandsconservancy.orginfo@heartlandsconservancy.org

HeartLands Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax deductible.

Cover: Daffodil photo by HeartLands Conservancy

Mulch vs. Ground CoverI recently attended and served on the planning committee for the Native by Design: Layered Landscapes program held on March 22 in Edwardsville. It was an educational half-day event full of native plant enthusiasts, prominent guest speakers, and local project showcases. One message from the keynote speaker—Thomas Rainer, co-author of the book Planting in a Post-Wild World—really caught my attention: he advocated for not using mulch. What?! We use mulch all the time to suppress weed growth and protect soil moisture and temperature. He challenged me to re-think this idea.

Instead of planting natives far apart with mulch in between, as done in traditional landscaping, use low-growing natives as a ground cover. Place plants close together to create a green carpet, with the larger focal flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees growing out of the ground cover. This planting strategy mimics nature and creates layers of visual interest. Furthermore, unwanted plants will fill bare soil—weeds naturally inhabit empty space. If you don’t leave empty space (i.e., bare soil) in your landscape, you won’t have as many weeds.

Rainer suggests using a mixture of ground cover plants that includes grasses, sedges, ferns, and creeping plants to cover a variety of bare spaces. Evergreen or semi-evergreen plants should be incorporated so that something is always actively growing to take in water, control weeds, and prevent soil erosion.

Here are some ground cover plants that can be used as an alternative to mulch:

Grasses: Sedges (Carex spp.), including but not limited to Carex pensylvanica, Carex cherokeensis, Carex eburnea

Spreaders: Meehania cordata, Asarum canadense, Waldsteinia fragarioides, Symphyotrichum ericoides, Packera obvata, Packera aurea, Erigen pulchellus

Clumping: Heuchera villosa, Callirhoe involucrate, Heuchera parviflora

Many of these plants will go dormant later in the season as it warms up and taller plants shade them out. But that’s okay. They are still there covering the ground and can spring back into action when needed. I can’t wait to use more of this green mulch method on our HLC sites and at my own home.

GrassesI need to plant some grass. Maybe you do too. I’ve found the most common types of turf grass seed are tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and ryegrass. None of these are native to North America; not even the one with Kentucky in the name. I strive to plant native perennial plants in my gardens and landscaping—why should the grass under my feet be any different? With that in mind, here is what I’m looking for in a grass type:

1. Something that is native to the area.2. A grass that looks similar to traditional lawn.

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3. A variety that can be kept relatively short (about four inches). We like to play in the yard. Prairies are great, but not for dogs, small children, and soccer balls. 4. A hardy species, so it can stand up to foot traffic. Again, we use our lawn for playing.5. Something low growing for less mowing, which results in reduced gas and pollution, and more time and money. A total win in my book! 6. A variety with good, long roots to suck down lots of water. 7. A grass that is drought tolerant. After the first growing season, I don’t want to be watering it.

So, what is out there that meets my criteria?

Buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides): Buffalograss is native throughout the central U.S. There is some fossil evidence that it existed here seven million years ago and was a main part of the American Buffalo’s diet. Buffalograss is short and slow growing, forming a dense sod. It is also high-heat tolerant, staying green throughout the summer with low water requirements. It goes dormant and turns brown in the winter, but that’s okay with me. Buffalograss is sometimes mixed with blue grama, another native seed, to help fend off competing weeds. There are also male and female varieties. The female seed heads stay below the leaf level, whereas the male seed heads shoot above the leaves. If having a smooth manicured lawn is important to you, you’ll want to pay a little extra for the female only varieties.

St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum): This beautiful, thick, dark green, warm season grass is native to the southern half of the U.S. and parts of California. It grows well in a wide range of soils and survives dense shade, heavy foot

traffic, and mild drought. St. Augustine grass isn’t typically a popular choice in this region, but with warmer and dryer summers, it could be a good option to try.

What about sedges? They are a great option for yards with low foot traffic.

Sedges (Carex spp.): Sedges are a popular bunching, grass-like plant that comes in a variety of heights. There are dozens of native sedges that are commonly used in ornamental landscaped areas. Several varieties could potentially replace lawn grass in low traffic areas. Most sedges are a low growing, low maintenance plant. With a little research, you could find a variety perfect for your soil, sun, and climate.

I’m going with buffalograss in my yard. It has a proven track record in Illinois, is readily available, and fulfils my wish list. Whichever grass, or grass-like plant, you decide is best for your lawn and lifestyle, good luck with your native yard planting!

Buffalograss (left) compared to traditional turf lawn (right).

St. Augustine grass.

A lawn with mowed clustered field sedge (Carex praegracilis), a native to most of the U.S. and Canada.

Commonfields Spring 2019 3

In the deep heart of winter, if you rise early and wander out into your backyard, you may hear something amazing—silence. If there has been a recent snow, the hush might be even louder. Silence is one of the rare gifts winter can bring us in our noisy modern society, if we choose to listen.

Then one day when February teeters on the edge of March, you walk outside and hear a different sound. From around the seasonal corner, spring is knocking.

It begins almost under our radar with a c...rrrrack as ice melts on a nearby pond and the water beneath gurgles free. The sun extends its reach northward; cold ribbons of water hit stones and logs of dormant creek beds and dry ditches. The new cascade calls the woodland creatures for a refreshing drink and an overdue bath.

Then more sounds arise. There is birdsong in the distance, out toward

a pink horizon. Our feathered friends have survived the cold, dark winter and now have reason to celebrate. The robins and song sparrows start to twitter in the treetops. March throws out the welcome mat in woodlands and wetlands for eastern phoebes, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, golden-crowned kinglets, brown creepers, and hermit thrushes. Beneath the melody, you hear a steady drum of woodpeckers. The music swells like the creek beds—a progressive jazz.

Red-tailed hawks and owls have traveled up from southern lakes to court and set up housekeeping; some still on their journeys are just passing through. Hawks break quiet moments with their piercing screech. Great horned owls, barred owls, and screech owls hoot near dusk, and attentive listeners can hear harmonies in rounds of verse known only to them.

Frilly little leaves sprouting high in the canopy and near the ground create a

soft rustle above our heads and under our feet—an applause for the unfolding spring symphony. Without warning, the crocus and daffodils pop out in bright bursts of yellow, pink, purple, and white, welcoming the hum and buzz of bees. These tiny motors cruise from petal to petal, alongside a motor with a bit more horsepower...a hummingbird!

A choir—a chorus of frogs—rises in chirps, croaks, and trills through the ever-extending twilight. Spring Peepers, less than an inch long, begin their mating season with a million tiny chirps that sound like little sleigh bells. The fragile and threatened Chorus Frog mates November through March, making its tiny trill a bridge between the seasons and inspiring faith that nature doesn’t give up even when the odds are daunting.

Snowmelt brings a roar from up north as the mighty Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers broaden their reach, threatening flooding and washing

Sounds Like...Spring!

bottomlands anew. When the rivers recede, they leave behind the busy buzz of insects—some friend, some foe—as the sun continues to climb and the heat continues to rise.

Rain and thunder come suddenly now in the middle of the day to patter on the sidewalks, hammer on roofs, and echo through the woods. All the while, the sun still shines.

Ducks splash and quack, their little ones peeping in a line. Children squish their toes into cold mud and birds shimmy themselves clean in the temporary pools that seem to erupt from nowhere in backyards. The world becomes “mud-luscious” and “puddle-wonderful,” according to American poet E.E. Cummings.

Have you heard any of these sounds yet? It’s spring!

A special thanks to Toni Oplt for helping us with this article.

In March, the Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom received an award for Outstanding Plan Implementation from the St. Louis Metro Section of the American Planning Association.

In 2016, the classroom began as a vacant lot transformation project in the west end of Belleville, IL. HeartLands Conservancy worked with numerous partners and the City of Belleville to develop and implement a vision and design for an unused, problematic detention site in the Signal Hill Neighborhood. This project continues to grow through various volunteer programs and reconnects local residents and students to nature.

Thank you to the City of Belleville, St. Clair County Greenspace Foundation, and everyone who made this project possible!

Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Wins Planning Award

HeartLands Conservancy4

Commonfields Spring 2019 5

Save the Date! Upcoming HeartLands Conservancy EventsVolunteer Work Day: Bioblitz Year 3April 26, 20198:30 AM to 3:30 PM (including lunch break)Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom, Belleville

2019 City Nature ChallengeApril 26-29, 2019Across the St. Louis Metro Region (see below)

HLC’s 30th Anniversary CelebrationMay 4, 20196:00 PM to 9:00 PMBecky Thatcher Riverboat, Mississippi River cruise

Silver Creek Stream MonitoringMay 18, 2019East Fork Silver Creek

HeartLands Hiking Club: Hike #2June 1, 2019Time and location TBD

Poisonous Plants of the Region TrekJune 8, 20199:00 AM to 11:00 AMSilver Creek Preserve, Mascoutah

10th Annual Field to ForkJuly 20, 2019Bellecourt Manor, Belleville

Visit our website and social media pages for detailed event information.

April 26-29Calling all citizen scientists and

nature enthusiasts! We need your help to

document our region’s wildlife.

Tell me more!The St. Louis Metro Region will once again be competing in the City Nature Challenge—a global competition to document biodiversity—along with more than 160 cities around the world.

How can I participate?Get outside! From April 26 through 29, take photos or audio recordings of wildlife (e.g., plants, animals, and

insects) and upload your findings into the free iNaturalist app. These observations can be made anywhere: in your backyard, at a local park, along your favorite hiking trail, or at a nearby nature preserve. In addition to helping St. Louis compete in the challenge, your observations will be used to document biodiversity across the bi-state area.

Where is this taking place?This event is happening regionwide! Help us make observations in the following counties:In Illinois: Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Monroe, and St. Clair.In Missouri: Crawford, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis City, St. Louis, and Warren.

Where can I get more information?Visit the St. Louis Metro challenge website: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2019-st-louis-metro

Saturday, June 8, 20199:00 AM to 11:00 AMSilver Creek Preserve, Mascoutah

Join botanist Molly Hacker at Silver Creek Preserve in Mascoutah to explore the flora of the watershed. Inspired by the 2017 trek on wild edible plants at the same location, Molly revisits the site to identify and discuss common poisonous plants of the region that everyone (especially wild food enthusiasts) should know about. Attend the trek for general botanizing, a walk around the preserve, and to learn about local poisonous plant species.

RSVP to treks@heartlandsconservancy.org or online at https://www.heartlandsconservancy.org/

Poisonous Plants of the Region Trek

PIN OAKAlpine ShopBelleville Optometry, Ltd.Clinton County SWCDDavey Resource Group, Inc.Farm Credit IllinoisGori Julian & Associates, P.C.Pufalt-Pauley Insurance Agency, Inc.SunCoke Energy GCOWalker & Williams, P.C.

Thank You to Our Sponsors (as of 4/3/19)

POST OAK

CHINKAPIN OAK

RED OAK

SAPLINGCivil Design, Inc.Illinois American WaterMadison County SWCDRandolph County SWCDScott Credit UnionSt. Clair County Farm Bureau

Help Celebrate HeartLands’ Anniversary with “$30 for 30”This is a big year for HeartLands Conservancy—our 30th anniversary! Since 1989, we have preserved 9,000 acres of land and wildlife habitat, worked toward cleaner drinking water in 10 watersheds, planned thousands of miles of trails, and educated thousands on the benefits of nature.

We have only been successful because of the generous donors and volunteers who care deeply for our region.

In honor of our 30th anniversary, we’re asking you to donate 30 dollars for 30 years (or another amount meaningful to you) to accelerate the impact of conservation in the Metro East for the next 30 years and beyond.

To donate, simply fill out and return the enclosed envelope or visit our website. Thank you for helping to preserve nature in the St. Louis Metro East.

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COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Madison Co. Planning & DevelopmentVillage of SwanseaCity of BellevilleCity of CarlyleCity of CollinsvilleCity of ColumbiaCity of Fairview HeightsCity of GreenvilleCity of HighlandCity of LebanonCity of MascoutahCity of O’FallonCity of Red BudCity of TroyCity of WaterlooEast St. Louis Park DistrictMetro East Park & Recreation DistrictVillage of BethaltoVillage of FayettevilleVillage of FreeburgVillage of Glen CarbonVillage of HamelVillage of HeckerVillage of MarineVillage of New BadenVillage of ShilohVillage of SmithtonWaterloo Park District

Save the Date! Upcoming HeartLands Conservancy Events

Interested in becoming a sponsor? There are a variety of ways you can support our conservation efforts. Contact Kim O’Bryan (618-566-4451 x 10, kim.obryan@heartlandsconservancy.org) to learn more about HeartLands Conservancy’s sponsorship opportunities.

3 N High Street Belleville, IL 62220(618) 566-4451www.HeartLandsConservancy.org