February on the Marsh

February can be a difficult time for gardeners. So much brown and so little green in the
landscape. The cold weather seems to linger on, and winter keeps people inside more than they
want to be. One by one the seed catalogs have arrived in the mailbox, and it is a time of
dreaming and planning for spring and summer gardens. If you are experiencing a bit of cabin
fever, now is a great time to learn about and plan additions to your landscape. Keep in mind that
native plantings offer so much more to birds and insects including butterflies and bees in your
yard or garden.

A few years ago, members of CEI, the Friends group at Collins Marsh, met and planned a native flower and butterfly garden to enhance the area around the nature center and provide much needed habitat for pollinators at Collins Marsh. The native plants were selected based on bloom time and their beneficial characteristics for pollinators. Color of bloom and size were also selected for aesthetic qualities to make the garden attractive for humans as well. This was a huge undertaking which required hours of planning, preparation and planting. The funding came from a grant from the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin Pollinator Protection Fund.

Now is a good time for you to think about and plan to add native plants to your yard or garden. With a few simple steps you could make a difference in your yard by increasing biodiversity as well as beauty. If you already have areas with flower beds, plan to skip the annuals that you must purchase every year at a retail greenhouse and instead put in some native plants which will flower every year. This could save you time and money in the long run while also making a better habitat for native bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds in your yard.

How do you get started? How will you know what plants to choose and where to buy
them? There are many resources available online. If you have decided to add a native planting
to your yard there are a few factors that you need to consider. What type of soil do you have? Is
it a dry or wet area? Will the planted area be in full sun, partial sun or shade? Are you planting
to help monarch butterflies, native bumble bees or birds? These are all things to think about
before you select and purchase plants.

It is easy to do research yourself. There are many organizations that offer tips to help
you plan, prepare and pick out plants for your native garden. Some nurseries specialize in
native plants, and you can even purchase garden kits with planting guides as well as plant
selection. I have purchased plants from both Prairie Nursery and Agrecol, two Wisconsin native
plant nurseries, and have been very satisfied with their online resources as well as their plants.
Check out their websites for lots of information and a great online catalog of native plants
including pictures that help you visualize the garden that you are planning.

If you were to add only a few native plants to your yard this year, I would suggest a
variety of milkweed or butterfly weed to provide monarch butterflies with a place to lay their
eggs. Bergamot would be my second choice as both butterflies and bees cannot resist it. Anise
Hyssop is also a wonderful nectar plant and if you leave the seedheads in fall, the birds love to
eat them. There are many kinds of goldenrods to choose from and my favorites include showy
goldenrod and stiff goldenrod, a late bloomer that the bees love. Native grasses are also
important for pollinators. Little bluestem or prairie drop seed are good choices. Don’t forget to
put in some New England asters for late season color and a terrific nectar plant for migrating
butterflies. The choices are nearly endless, but these are a few that I really enjoy.

Be sure to stop in at Collins Marsh and visit the native plant garden and butterfly garden
by the nature center during the growing season this summer. Consider adding a native planting
to your yard. Native trees, shrubs and flowers will certainly increase biodiversity, make your yard
a refuge for pollinators while adding color wherever you plant them. Native plants thrive with
little maintenance once they get started because they are suited to the conditions in our area.
Now is a great time to plan your native garden and spring will be just around the corner.