Good Shepherd’s Pollinator Prairie: A Blooming Vision for Creation Care
Since 2023, the Pollinator Prairie at Good Shepherd has been a work in progress. The area, roughly 35’ x 135’, was sprayed to kill weeds, and hand seeded with 80% wildflowers and 20% short grasses (see full list below). Tall grasses and invasive prairie plants (i.e. Cup Plant, etc.) were not planted to maintain overall height and variety. The size is a total 4,500 sq. feet. or about .11% of an acre on the Good Shepherd property.
The project was created and implemented by Good Shepherd members Jim and Liz Fritz through their Mission Green LLC company. Member Charilyn Hover also made a significant donation to the project.
The Pollinator Prairie requires no carbon usage (no mow) and provides plants for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, etc. It provides a natural buffer from the nearby condominiums. The Prairie has bloomed extensively this spring, partly because it is maturing and also has been the recipient of much needed spring rains. However, it will take a full 5 years before all seeds have germinated. During that time the Prairie will be mowed short each fall. After 5 years it will be burned to stimulate growth and seed germination. We will then enjoy its full bounty!
A full pictorial history of 30 photos showcasing the Pollinator Prairie can be found on the Good Shepherd Flickr site.
Plant varieties:
Grasses: Little Bluestem, Sideoat Gamma (both approx. 3’ tall)
Wildflowers: Golden Alexanders, Alum Root, Anise Hyssop, Upland White Aster, New England Aster, Foxglove Beardtongue, Large-flowered Beardtongue, Black Eyed Susan, Dense Blazingstar, Prairie Blazingstar, Royal Catchfly, Purple Prairie Clover, Lance Lear Coreopsis, Echinacea: Pale Purple Coneflower/Purple Coneflower/Yellow Coneflower/Orange Coneflower, Cream Gentian, Riddel’s GoldenRod, Showy Goldenrod, Ironweed, Leadplant, Great Blue Lobelia, Rattlesnake Master, Butterly Milkweed, Rose Milkweed, Common Milkweed, Dotted Mint, Nodding Onion, Evening Primrose, Rosinweed, Prairie Phlox, Prairie Sage, Prairie Smoke, Maryland Senna, Western Sunflower, Ox-eye Sunflower, Ohio Spiderwort, Canada Milk Vetch, Wild Bergamot, Wild Columbine, Wild Geranium, Wild Blue Indigo, Wild White Indigo, Wild Lupine, Wild Petunia, Wild Quinine, and Yarrow (no Cup Plant, Canada goldenrod, or Oxeye Sunflower – invasives)
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