Help Plant Wildflowers, Grasses and Sedges Around Long Lake

Learn about flowers, sedges and grasses with strange names like Monkeyflower, Prairie Dropseed, Foxglove Beardtongue, Steeplebush and Hoary Puccoon at a planting event at Long Lake Marsh Saturday, June 5 beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Participants of all ages will have an opportunity to:
• Help improve biodiversity, ecosystem functions and water quality of the marsh.
• Help serve their community.
• Help beautify the area.

Bring a trowel and gloves; and wear sunscreen and bug spray — and stay as long as you can. Meet where Diana Rd. intersects with Diana Ct. Organizers of the event include Susan MiHalo from the Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board and Gerry Lehmann from the Beautification Committee.

An RSVP would be appreciated, but is not required. Contact Susan MiHalo at 763-4871 or via e-mail at smihal763@verizon.net.

Following is a list of some of the plants that will be planted as small plugs ordered through JF New, Spence Restoration Nursery and the greenhouse of Save the Dunes. Different species have been selected that are adaptable to wet, moist as well as dry conditions.

• Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica shrevei):
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/blueflag.htm
• Bluejoint Grass (Calamagrostis canadensis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CACA4
• Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LOCA2
• False Aster (Boltonia asteroides recognita): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/false_aster.htm
• Field Oval Sedge (Carex molesta):
http://eol.org/pages/1123889
• Foxglove Beard Tongue (Penstemon digitalis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PEDI
• Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SYER
• Hoary Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/hry_puccoonx.htm
• Marsh Blazingstar (Liatris spicata):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LISP
• Monkeyflower (Mimulus ringens): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/monkeyflower.htm
• New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliaeh): http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SYNO2
• Prairie Alum Root (Heuchera richardsonii):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HERI
• Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SPHE
• Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis spectabalis):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ERSP
• Spotted Joe Pye Weed (Eupatoriadelphus maculates): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sp_joepye.htm
• Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa rosea):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SPTO2
• Stiff Goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/stf_goldenrodx.htm
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnate): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sw_milkweed.htm
• Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sw_rsmallow.htm
• Tall Coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/tl_coreopsisx.htm
• Wild Bergomot (Monarda fistulosa): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/wld_bergamotx.htm
• Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata):
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RAPI

Native seeds were planted around the marsh on Wednesday, May 26. Included in the mix was a cover crop of Annual Rye that will sprout first. The full benefit of the seeding and planting will not be realized until Summer 2011; however some species should bloom this year. The native plants will not only beautify the area, they will also help filter stormwater run-off before it enters the marsh, improving ecosystem functions and biodiversity.

The long roots of some of the plants are also much more effective at holding soil in place, and the plants are more resistent to climate change than traditional grasses and plants. Finally, the height of some of the plantings will help discourage geese from populating the area.

This project is being undertaken with a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Additional funding has been provided by the Ogden Dunes Community Fund and the Indiana American Water Co. Save the Dunes and the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department are also partners in this project.

Wildflowers on Show at Pollywog Pond

Now that much of the Phragmites is under control at Pollywog Pond, a number of native species are making an appearance right now. These include:

• Purple-leaved Willow Herb (Epilobium Coloratum)
• Upland White aster (Aster Ptarmicoides)
• Purple Gerardia (Gerardia Purpurea)
• Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
• Kalm’s Lobelia (Lobelia Kalmii)
• Water Horehound (Lycopus Americanus)
• Bushy aster (Aster dumosus)
• Common Bog Arrowgrass (Triglochin Maritime)
• Hardstem Bulrush (Scirpus Acutus)
• Smooth Sawgrass (Cladium Mariscoides)
• Juncus (Juncus spp.)

If you go out to enjoy them, please be careful not to trample them and leave them for others to enjoy.

Unfortunately, there are still, and will always be, some invasive species that need constant vigilance and control, including:

• Phragmites
• Reed Canary Grass
• Foxtail Grass, which is a popular ornamental that is now invasive
• Bull Thistle

The success of this project is key to the ongoing achievement and improvement associated with Ogden Dunes' participation in the Clean Community Challenge sponsored by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.