| February 2009 | |
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February 2009 text. |
| January 2009 | |
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January 2009 text. |
| December 2008 | |
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Prescribed burning simulates historical processes that once maintained prairies and savannas, providing a cost-effective tool in native plant community management. Burning helps to create optimal environmental conditions for many native plant species, while enhancing the overall health of the prairie and savanna community. |
| November 2008 | |
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Woodland streams play an important role in the production of energy flows, which promote the health of a stream's ecosystem. During autumn, biofilms form on fallen leaves, which are important components of food chains to aquatic invertebrates and fish. |
| October 2008 | |
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Black Oak (Quercus velutina) is a common, medium-size to large oak growing in the Eastern and midwestern United States. It grows best in moist, rich, well-drained soils, but it is often found on poor, dry sandy or heavy glacial clay hillsides. Hearty annual crops of acorns provide wildlife with food year after year. |
| September 2008 | |
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Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and varieties of Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) and Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) grow within a high-quality native plant community. Such natural communities help reduce carbon outputs by pulling toxins out of the air and storing them in their biomass. This promotes a deeper-root plant system and stable soil columns. |
| August 2008 | |
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Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) and Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) make a stunning show in any garden setting from late spring to late summer. These hardy native plants adapt well to full sun and dry-to-moist soils, and attract a host of butterflies and birds all season long. |
| July 2008 | |
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Emergent wetlands are typically characterized by shallow water (1”-18”), allowing for a variety of wetland species to thrive including Arrow Arum (Peltandra virginica), Common Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia), Bulrush (Scirpus spp.) and Bur Reed (Sparganium spp.). Emergent wetlands are excellent habitats for frogs, toads, turtles, waterfowl, wading birds and a variety of other wildlife. |
| June 2008 | |
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Common Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) is a water-loving plant. Its long, arrow-shaped leaves produce small, eye-catching white flowers about 1” in diameter. The flowers grow in petals of three, with multiple flowers on a single, stout stalk. The stalks have male flowers above and female flowers below. Growing in water depths of 1 ½', this plant blooms in early summer to late summer, prefers full to partial sun and grows up to 4' tall. |
| May 2008 | |
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Common Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) and Lupine (Lupinus spp.) grow alongside an inner-city, bioengineered filtration swale. Vegetating swales with native plants helps slow stormwater runoff and improve uptake of water contaminants. |
| April 2008 | |
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Restoring a shoreline using bioengineering and native planting materials is helpful when looking to prevent shoreline erosion and improve water quality. Creating natural buffer zones will filter pollutants from runoff, reduce sedimentation and provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. |
| March 2008 | |
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It is easy to see why the Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica) is a favorite woodland wildflower. Its most distinguishing feature is the noticeable bell-shaped flower, which is usually blue or violet in color; flowering in spring from March to May. These plants grow best in moist, rich and loamy soils, and can be found in upland forests, floodplain forests, wetlands and on bluffs. Preferring slight to full shade, the Virginia Bluebell ranges in height from 12-24". |
| February 2008 | |
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A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, and is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings and an elongated body. They are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae (nymphs) are aquatic. They are valued as a predator, helping control the populations of harmful insects, such as mosquitoes. |
| January 2008 | |
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Build a sustainable community by implementing natural waterscapes vegetated with native plants. Not only are these sites aesthetically pleasing, but they also provide food and habitat for pollinators such as butterflies and bees as well as frogs and toads. |
