Prairie and Pollinator Gardens
The following was written by Tom Smith, Avon resident, who planted a Pollinator Garden. The photos you see on this page are all from the garden he planted.
The prairie was designed by Mr. John Blakeman, Ohio Prairie Assocation. Tom used a a grass killer, HDX concentrate, from Home Depot to treat the area. A picture shows the protective equipment worn during the application. He ordered the seed packets from Ohio Prairie Nursery. The seed included Ohio Spiderwort, 1 oz., Septic Field Mix for 1/10 acre, and True Colors Native Seed Mix for 1/10 acre. Planting was done on December 2, 2017. The first three years the prairie went through a succession of plants until finally established. Pollinator gardens can be any size and have great importance to insects and birds that utilize these native plants. There are many resources available to assist in design and selection of types of native plants to grow in the garden. The Ohio Prairie Nursery, Prairie Nursery (Wisconsin), Lorain County Conservation District, and Lorain County Metro Parks can be good sources of information. There are many other organizations that also will assist in native plantings. The Ohio Prairie Association website is a good place to learn about prairies.
