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Re: Retention Pond Tree Recommendations

s.lenhart:   i believe the fish you are thinking of is gambusina (native)
not gambusia (exotic).    an avid mosquito larva eater.                don't
overlook the common 'goldfish' (carp ?)

other good grasses for water edge are phragmites, florida paspalum,  and
cordgrass.
and for swamp-loving forbs, try silphium perfoliatum:  majestic

geoff

-----Original Message-----
From: slenhart@texas.net <slenhart@texas.net>
To: prairie@mallorn.com <prairie@mallorn.com>
Date: Monday, October 30, 2000 12:44 PM
Subject: Re: Retention Pond Tree Recommendations


>Fred, from my notes, here are recommendations from David Mahler, recognized
in
>central Texas (at least) as an authority on wetland/retention pond/native
>species issues.  I've visited several of his projects and seen these things
in
>action:
>
>- A large amount of plants provides a lot of surface area for
microorganisms,
>which effectively filter run-off.  The plants themselves serve to absorb
and
>slow flood waters, and provide erosion control.  From a grass perspective,
good
>choices include switch grass and Eastern gama grass, which can be used on
the
>edges.  Most plants of this type can grow aggressively, which is not a bad
>thing.  There are many showy plants that could be mixed in:  swamp
milkweed,
>ironweed, marsh fleabane.
>
>- For mosquito control, native "mosquito fish" are essential (genus:
>gambusia?).  Also provide vertical surfaces for dragonflies, whose primary
food
>is mosquitoes.  Horsetail is an excellent native for this, and I believe it
has
>a very large range.  I've noticed that ponds (or any place with quiet
water)
>attract mosquitoes - the trick here is to ensure that they don't reproduce.
>The site then serves as a "black hole", always providing their predators
with a
>meal but not allowing them to increase.
>
>I read some info recently about Ohio "prairie fens" in the
>Canadian "Wildflower" magazine (it was mixed into the article about dodder
and
>other parasitic plants).  This might serve as a model for the pond.
>
>,,Scott
>central TX
>
>> I am a member of the North Liberty Trees Forever committee and would
>> appreciate any suggestions anyone has on native plantings around an urban
>> retention pond.
>
>
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