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Prairies, wetlands, woodlands, shorelines... What makes Not all native landscapes alike a lant community native? p Y There is a native plant community for every site. extend the period of vulnerability, requiring some Native landscapes consist of diverse, indigenous While Minnesota ecologists recognize 58 separate special measures such as: cover crops of oats or species that have adapted, over thousands of ears to types, many have been greatly altered from their wheat, and/or light mulching with clean oat, wheat y ,ears extremes and local soils. Minnesota has four natural state and present serious challenges for or prairie straw primary plant communities restorationists. While the methods for restoring some sites may be obvious,other situations present High-traffic areas present special problems. unique challenges requiring special considerations. While native plantings are ecologically sound and • Prairies are open grasslands that occur in require less heavily shaded -` ° -�- ess ma � relatively dry climates where precipitation levels are., nance than turf, generally areas competition ti '� they are not a good g y inadequate for optimum tree growth.The from tree roots Vii' a solution in areas of grasses and wildflowers of some prairies are tall and dense while other prairies—depending upon soil and presents a difficult heavy foot traffic. moisture conditions—are sparsely covered with short challenge, requiring A balance between Savanna - an enchanting mix of trees and prairie. grass and Flower species.While pre-settlement woodland wildflow- turf areas and Minnesota included nearly 18 million acres of prairie, ers and other natural areas works shade-tolerant best, the ratio being today only about 150,000 acres remain. native p lants. Prairie determined by grasses and flowers individual needs • are sun-loving plants � � site constraints and Savannas usually provide the transition between that can adapt to open prairie and woodlands, occurring where precipi- P design objectives. tation can support widely scattered,drought-resistant edge areas and the Generally,a higher trees. While prairie grasses and wildflowers dominate partial shade of percentage of natural the ground cover, scattered bur and pin oaks are not open woodlands but area works well on uncommon. PRI's headquarters near Princeton is should not be used larger sites while located on the Anoka Sand Plain in an area that was in fully-shaded sites. small, residential In close proximity sites may be most once savanna. to shallow-rooted successful when less trees like maple and than half the avail- • Woodlands include the mixed conifer forests of basswood,deep- able area is natural. northern Minnesota and the deciduous hardwood rooted prairie forests of the central and southeast. Forest communities species are not the Designed areas Woodland — a rich maple—basswood forest right choice. also exhibit diverse characteristics that are dependent g often require ongoing on climate, moisture and soil conditions. PRI's However, they are maintenance to hold enhancement work in woodlands often begins with well suited to land- the desired patterns, scapes with scattered textures and colors removal of the aggressive exotic, buckthorn. deep-rooted oaks. of the design. In erodible areas While non-native • Wetlands can occur within any plant community ornamentals can be prairie grasses and Prairie smoke (Genum triflorum) seed heads in June, included in these and include plants that adapt best to saturated soil or wildflowers are an standing water. Wetlands include marshes, fens and the designs, native banks of rivers,streams and lakes. Wetland plant excellent solution. Deep root systems hold soil and plants provide an interesting, more natural, less communities are essential to a healthy environment, low-maintenance prairie perennials provide ongoing intensively managed alternative. PRI does not use primarily because of their storage and filtering protection from water and wind. However,any non-native ornamentals in designed settings, but we capacities, and great efforts are necessary to define, planting on a steep area is vulnerable to washouts occasionally work with other contractors who do. protect and restore them. Increasingly, PRI is participat- and the slow top growth of prairie perennials may ing in significant shoreline stabilization projects,as well as the restoration of conventional basin type wetlands. Wetland— a central Minnesota marsh; includes Joe—pye weed(Eupatorium maculatum) and giant sunflower(Helianthus giganteus). 3