02/28/2001 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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St. Jude Medical -- Restoration and Prairie Gardens on a Corporate Site Page 5 of 7 • because of construction and grading. An herbicide was sprayed where necessary to kill existing vegetation. The areas were then tilled and firmed. Seed was both drilled and hand broadcast. After seeding, the site was mulched with little bluestem straw. Since some species do not establish well from seed, over 2500 seedlings were then planted. Fifteen species were planted as seedlings, including forbs such as Amorpha canescens (lead plant), Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed), and Phlox pilosa (prairie phlox). The site was not irrigated. A crew from Prairie Restorations, Inc. manages the prairie. It was mowed once the first season (1994) and spot sprayed for thistle. In spring of 1995 and 1996, the prairie and savanna were burned. A two to five year burn cycle will begin in 1997. During the summer of 1995, Rudbeckia and a few other forb species bloomed in the prairie. The planting was still sparse at this time and bare soil was visible. It looked "weedy" but was on track for such a young planting. THE CREEK AND POND To meet the goal of handling storm water on -site, a holding pond was designed. There were seasonal wetlands on the site and one of these was cleared of vegetation, deepened, and reshaped. All runoff from the building roof, parking lots, and sidewalks are channeled to the pond through underground drain tiles or into the landscaped and prairie areas. The pond is in the prairie and savanna so the vegetation around the pond includes wet prairie grasses and forbs. Water from the pond is pumped up to a small pool near the building and flows down a stone creek bed back to the pond. The pump aerates the water in the pond and it is hoped that this aeration will help keep the water clean. The creek, with its two small pools, was installed as a typical small -scale water garden, using plastic liners, landscape fabric, cobblestone and boulders. The vegetation around the pool nearest the building includes Hemerocallis (daylilies) and Hosta. As the creek travels away from the building more native vegetation is prevalent. EVALUATION It is not clear whether there was a formal evaluation process for this project. But the designer continues to visit the site and watch it mature. He receives informal evaluations on the project since his crew maintains the gardens. It is obvious that employees at St. Jude Medical enjoy the grounds. A letter of thanks from the plant manager to Hagstrom expresses the company's enthusiasm: "... thank you for really doing an outstanding job on the Woodridge facility. We receive nothing but complements on the aesthetics of the facility especially of late as things are in full bloom. The Woodridge facility is truly a showcase for St. Jude Medical and we bring many surgeons, public officials, and other dignitaries through this facility and all comment on the aesthetics of our landscaping." Such a complement, of course, says nothing about the success of the restoration of the natural areas. Prairie Restorations, Inc. is satisfied with the progress the prairie is making. Because the landscape is so young, the ecological accomplishments of the project are difficult to assess. It is possible, however, to evaluate whether the designer's goals for a sustainable landscape have been achieved. 1. Requires minimal or no irrigation. The plants in the gardens are drought tolerant. Watering was done the first year to ensure successful establishment, but is no longer necessary. The prairie, savanna, and woodland cover well over 3/4 the site and are not irrigated. Only the turf areas (approximately 1/2 acre) require regular watering. 2. Handles storm water on -site. Thus far, it seems this goal has been met. The holding pond http: / /www.hort. agri. umn .edu /h5015 /96papers /gayner.htm 2/22/01