Journey: Small Wildflower Area
Vision: Turn a random entrance into a compact wildflower garden.
Plant Wish List: Wildflower seed mix. No shrubs here.
About the Small Wildflower AreaIn the proposal, we originally called this the Random Lawn Area. The sidewalk is not in active use. The walk and the brick walls are features left from when this was a residential site. They persist because Southeastern does not have the budget for demolition and repair. This section of the grounds is the second most-visible, least-noticed area, remarkable only for the cognitive dissonance of an entrance that goes nowhere.
Our original plan included clearing the plant material and just letting this go back to lawn for ease of maintenance. However, after the demolition phase, we realized that this area could be a demonstration of how to prepare and plant a small area with wildflower seeds. The size and layout of the area might be analogous to what local libraries could do to establish pollinator-friendly habitats. We will use a native wildflower seed mix to visually tie this area to the rest of the landscape.
Left: Small Wildflower Area in October 2024
Practical Notes: This bed gets full sun, some possible road salt in winter, and it can be watered relatively easily. The brick walls provide a little micro-climate of warmth. Maintenance next to the walls is with a string trimmer; otherwise, the area is mowed. The leaves from the large shade tree are small and should not be a smothering problem.
Activity Log: Small Wildflower Area
Planned:
- Site Preparation: Remove 2 plants; Transplant 4 plants
- Outreach: Incorporate signage about project on / around brick walls.
Actual:
- Site Preparation (March 2025): Removed 2 Dwarf Alberta spruce
- Site Preparation (May 2025): Transplanted 4 daylilies
- Outreach (April-May 2025): The random entrance was actually not a good place to put the banner about the project. It was not directly opposite from the Lowe's driveway. And, it called attention to the poor condition of the walls. So, we placed the sign to be in a visual line with the Lowe's driveway.
- Site Preparation (June 2025): We will solarize this small area and plan to put in wildflower seeds in the fall.
May 20, 2025. Installing the project banner.
Small Wildflower Area, May 20, 2025. Viewed from the Lowe's driveway, the project banner is visible without turning your head. To the right, the Small Wildflower Area still has four day lilies but has been cleared of the spruce.
About Small Wildflower Area
Dimensions: 30' L x 13' W
Sq ft: 390
Exposure: East, South
Light: Sun
Soil pH: TBD
Soil Texture: TBD
Access: walk-up; drive-in (Elting Rd)
Other: water spigot access available
Baseline Plant Survey: Small Wildflower Area
Keep
Mint (sidewalk border): 10-15'
Turfgrass: 25’L x 13’W
Remove
Dwarf Alberta spruce: 2
Transplant
Daylily: 4