Chippewa NF Creates Native Plant Garden

The Blackduck Ranger District on the Chippewa NF created a native plant pollinator garden. The garden will be used as an educational tool.

In 2008 the Blackduck Ranger District on the Chippewa National Forest initiated the creation of a native plant pollinator garden. The garden is located at the Blackduck administrative site and will be used to educate the public about uses of native plants in landscaping and their value to wildlife, particularly those that rely on flower nectar for food.

In 2008 District staff met with three landscape companies who shared their ideas and expertise on using native plants in landscaping. The plan that was implemented has 26 varieties of wildflowers, seven varieties of flowering and fruiting shrubs. A tall and grass prairie ecosystem located adjacent to the office driveway was seeded.

This year with additional funding, interpretation of the garden will include signs and plant markers, a brochure about the garden and working with a local bee keeper to have a hive near the prairie gardens.

Youth Conservation Corps and Beltrami County Workforce Enhancement summer employment crews will be caring for the garden and planning and installing interpretive signs. The brochure will also be produced by the youth.

2009 will be the first full growing season for the gardens and this year will require extra tending to assure a diverse and vibrant landscape.

Benefits of the pollinator garden are many. Lawn mowing at the office will be reduced by 1/2 acres. Butterflies, birds and bees will benefit from the variety of flowers and flowering shrubs. The entrance to the office has been improved and there are many opportunities to interpret the gardens to our visitors and local residents.

This public garden will be a place for everyone to learn about these benefits and hoepfully build these concepts into their own yard.