Restoring Bottomland Prairie: May 2015, Part 3

Field Buffer, planted in 2008
Previous & current year's grasses shown,
with shrub.  

We planted the Creek Field in 2013, using a forbs-first strategy.  That was to counter the effect discovered by prairie restorationists elsewhere--that over time, grasses push out the forbs, causing a loss of biodiversity.   Hoping to avoid that result, we gave the forbs a head start!  

However, there is a source of native grass seed  all around the Creek Field in the field buffers, planted in 2008.

The field buffers were planted with a regular CRP native-plant mix, including grasses and native shrubs.  

The photo above shows the field buffer, looking west.

Hedge Parsley, May 2015,
(Torilis arvensis)
Looking like a Monoculture.
Non-native annual.  Volunteer.

 At the beginning of May 2015 some parts of the Creek Field looked like a monoculture of Hedge Parsley, a weedy, non-native annual.  

Monoculture was not what was going on, however, as perennials were breaking through the parsley blanket.   

A lovely sedge was one of the first to appear.

Woodland Sedge, Carex blanda,. a native perennial, 
appears in the midst of the parsley.
Male & female flowers depicted here.
Carex blanda is a volunteer.

Eastern Gama Grass (Tripsacum dactyloides), foreground.
Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa), mid-ground.
Native perennials.  In 2013 seed mix.

Eastern Gama Grass (which one of our prairie gurus persuaded us to include, despite our "forbs-first" strategy) became noticeable this year, as depicted in the foreground of this photo.  Bee balm, highlighted here by the setting sun, was present from the very first growing season and came on strong again in May 2015.  

The dead stalks in the photo are from last year's Hedge Parsley, as well as other annual weeds.  

Note the new growth of Hedge Parsley around the base of these perennials.  

Foxglove Penstemon
 (Penstemon digitalis)
Native perennial.  In 2013 seed mix.

Foxglove Penstemon's
gorgeous flowers!

 Also acting as if the Hedge Parsley weren't even there, Foxglove Penstemon made its debut on the Creek Field stage.

How excited I was to see for the first time dozens of Penstemons dotting the field! 

One practitioner tells me there is a Foxglove Penstemon "phase" to prairie restorations.  

If so, I hope it lasts a long time!  

Not having to brush Hedge Parsley aside, because they went for bare spots along the edges of the buffers and the Creek Field, were the hardy Drummond's Asters.   Thanks to Jeff Hansen for helping me to identify the new leaves!  

New leaves of Drummon'd Aster
(Symphyotrichum drummondii)
Native Perennial
Volunteer.

The winged petiole (leaf stalk)
helps to identify Drummond's Aster.
Thank you, Jeff Hansen!

It will be interesting to see if the burn of the Creek Field on March 17, 2016 will set back the Hedge Parsley!