Restoring Gladstone Savanna

Restoring Gladstone Savanna. . , In 2014 returning Gladstone Savanna to its pre-settlement open grassland began in earnest. 1) Brush and selected trees were removed. 2) Portions of the site were capped with two to three feet of soil to diminish the effects of industry contamination. 3) After existing vegetation was killed with herbicide three different mixes of prairie plants were seeded across the Savanna., Grassland plants vary based on soil type and shade. Gladstone Savanna's sandy soils are perfect for short-grass prairie cover like the blue grama (aka eyelash grass). Taller grasses like big bluestem (aka turkey foot) can be found near the Savanna's western edge. Beyond grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and even trees have their place in this Savanna. Hazelnut is a well known shrub commonly found on the savanna. Bur oaks, with their corky bark and twisting branches, are also savanna icons., Prairie Wildflowers , Native prairie wildflowers provide important food for butterflies, bees, birds and a variety of animals. Several of these flowers are easily recognizable and have been planted in abundance on the Savanna. Wildflowers begin blooming in April and continue deep into the fall. Come back again during another season and enjoy new blooms amidst the trees and grasses., These four wildflowers (prairie phlox, coreopsis, blazing star and goldenrod) are present at different times of the year (spring, summer, late summer, fall). See if you can find each of them on the Savanna., Prairie Remnants , Prior to restoration there were a few patches of native prairie grasses and flowers at Gladstone Savanna. Those not impacted by soil remediation and trail installation were protected. Today thee prairie remnants thrive giving clues to a bygone landscape., Pictured is one of two prairie patches identified at Gladstone Savanna before restoration., Little bluestem, a favorite for prairie restoration, has roots stretching five to seven feet underground. This gives it good drought tolerance, growth habit and wildlife appeal., Leadplant, a prairie shrub, is also called shoestring because of the snapping sound made when a plow cuts its tough roots., Deep Roots, Good Soil , When settlers first gazed upon Midwestern grasslands they believed the soil poor because few trees were growing. They soon realized their error. Prairie plants have deep roots, portions of which decompose each year and enrich the soil. Centuries of this process created soils perfect for planting, if the dense top grasses could be broken.