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RE: looking for info about easy-to-grow prairie plant

I would also recommend as a seed source Applied Ecological Services / Taylor
Creek Restoration Nurseries. They are excellent, but then maybe, just maybe
I am biased. :)
Corrie

Corrine Daniels, Nursery Manager
Applied Ecological Services, Inc
corrine@appliedeco.com


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-prairie@mallorn.com [o*@mallorn.com]On
Behalf Of Tom Schneider
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2001 11:46 AM
To: prairie@mallorn.com
Subject: Re: looking for info about easy-to-grow prairie plant


John,

I've done school plantings for the past two years.  Both years we bought and
stratified the seed.  However, a couple I could recommend that should work
are
Redbeckia triloba (Brown Eyed Susan) and Monarda fistulosa (Bergamot).  Both
germinate pretty readily without stratification.  I have had good success
with
both purple and pale purple coneflower too.  I suspect you could still be
successful with these plants without stratification.  These all assume the
planting is indoors with the kids growing them until weather permits out
planting.  Someone mentioned hardening off and that may be the biggest
challenge.  Make sure they slowly move the plants outside for a few hours
each
day before planting them.  That way they will have a higher survival rate.

If this is truly sowing them in the field outside then I think you are safe
to
plant whatever you want since you will certainly have 4 weeks of cold moist
weather left.  You're quite lucky in Wisconsin to have a number of native
seed
vendors that could help you.  Give Prairie Nursery or Prairie Moon Nursery a
call, I'm sure they would help with recommendations.  Other sources of seeds
that may already be stratified would be a local park district, arboretum, or
native plant society.

Good luck and congrats to your friend on reinforcing the native plant
concept
to school kids.  They truly are the future decision makers.

"J. A. Raasch" wrote:

> Hello All:
>
> A friend of mine would like to have a group of  children sow prairie plant
> seeds --  just one species as a learning activity -- for eventual
> transplant to a school garden.  The problem is she wants them to sow the
> seeds next week!  If only I had more notice. I told her this might be very
> difficult because of  stratification requirements, low germination rate,
> slow initial growth rate, and other challenges. She also has to be able to
> purchase the seeds locally so she can get them as soon as possible.
>
> Well... maybe someone has a viable suggestion. Is there an easy-to-grow
> native southern Wisconsin prairie (or savanna) plant the children might
> grow from seed?
>
> Thank you for your suggestions.
>
> John A. Raasch
> Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
> J. A. Raasch
> University of Wisconsin - Madison
> Plant Biotechnology Laboratory
> UWBC 425 Henry Mall
> Madison, WI   53706
>
> Phone: 608-265-4485
> E-mail: jaraasch@facstaff.wisc.edu
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--
Tom Schneider, Fernald Project Manager
Ohio EPA
Office of Federal Facilities Oversight
tschneid@offo2.epa.state.oh.us
http://offo2.epa.state.oh.us/FERNALD/fernald.htm


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