Healing Gardens

Prairie Garden Site Front

Prairie Garden Site Side

So since we are creating this prairie essentially from scratch, the best we can hope for in regards this area as a functioning ecosystem is related to whether we can use weeding torches to encourage regrowth of the prairie plants specifically, and keep out the weeds. The thistle and reed canary grass might not mind. We could also help harbor migrating butterflies and support prairie bug life and microrhizae. Keeping these plants together would be nice too, especially if they could function together. All to often native plant landscaping gets treated like any other landscaping of perrenial shrubs separated by bark dust and ground cloth. I like the idea of this planting because herbaceious plantings are rare, and you can't really separate wildflowers like you can bushes. I would like to see a bunch of color shiver in the breezy sunlight of a quiet Evergreen summer.

Bench and Pathway

This is really where this Garden Site can shine. This is such a unique ecosystem in Washington that it will immediately appeal to the eye, especially if managed for weeds well. I am sort of sorry that this garden site is so hidden, but perhapse we could have other prairie gardens once there is more protocal on how to plant and manage them. I would like to have signage, with common, scientific and Salish names if available. I would like there to be a big board with a diagram of the geology and maybe some stories. The log is nearly always soggy, and having a bench in the middle instead would encourage the sitting of people in the area on more than just completely dry spans of time.

Ammend Soil

Complete Planting

Research/Design Signage

Complete Signage

Maintain Planting

Take pictures and document results

Have completed plant journals by the end of christmas break

Remove branch that blocks southern exposure:

Southern Exposure With Branch

Remove leaves

Remove turf

Ammend soil with sand and compost

sow plants and seeds: lable what is where well!

Plant edge plants within 6-8 feet of current woodland edge

camas prairie plants in exposed areas

mulch plantings sterileish mulch

Research/Design Signage

Spring Quarter Plans (Draft)

Replace photos online with pictures that I and other group members take from our site and the prairies for legit use of the college

Document results of plantings

Upload any past info into Drupal

Complete Signage

Maintain Planting