This is Part III of a 3-part solutions journalism series on wildflowers. Part I published on March 23. Part II published on March 24.
MANSFIELD — When it comes to downtown, Mansfield’s parks master plan recommended Central Park be designated as an integral part of the city’s park system, as downtown offers “the opportunity for community activity and festivity” as well as “passive recreation,” an “extremely positive contribution to the character of the community.”
But could that downtown character include more wildflowers?
America In Bloom 2019 Evaluation Report
A 2019 evaluation report from America In Bloom says, “As the downtown area evolves and continues to attract investment, it is critical to review and enforce ordinances covering landscaping for new development. Green space requirements should include use of native plants.”
America In Bloom also recommended increased naturalization on the OSU Mansfield/North Central State campus, and reduced mowing at nuisance properties owned by the Land Bank to allow the interior of the lots to naturalize and become pollinator plots.
“We recommend that resources involved in mowing land bank lots be reduced by mowing strips around the perimeter on a regular basis and leaving the interior of lots to naturalize. This will maintain a look of tidiness and intent,” the report says.
“When the taller growth on the interior un-mown sections becomes too aggressive, perhaps 2-3 times a year, address the issue. In the meantime, you have created a kempt look, provided wildlife habitat, saved labor costs, and reduced unhealthy emissions.”
One town near Denver, Colorado even turned a former brownfield site — not unlike the former Westinghouse property — into a park that, along with wildflowers, grasses, and gardens, has walking trails, a play area for children, and a pond to help prevent localized flooding.
Once a dumping ground for trash and industrial pollution in Globeville, the development of Platte Farm Open Space was a million-dollar, 14-year journey — a collaborative effort between the community members of Globeville, the city of Denver, and Groundwork Denver, a nonprofit organization that works to create green spaces to help improve community health.
Through a process of remediation, contaminated land was replaced with fresh layers of topsoil, and is now home to prairie habitat that attracts foxes, rabbits, birds and butterflies.
“Platte Farm Open Space really is the epitome of a community-led project,” said Cindy Chang, executive director of Groundwork Denver.
“This was a unique process because the community was at the table for almost every design meeting, almost every construction stage, and they even helped decide which kinds of trees would be planted. They were involved in the details in a way that Denver has almost never designed a park before.”
In addition, a growing body of evidence shows that access to green space in urban areas can bring considerable benefits to the health and well-being of city residents. These benefits may include improved cognitive development and functioning, reduced symptom severity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, reduced obesity, and positive impacts on mental health.
For Becky Scheidler, she’d be happy with even a small step towards embracing wildflowers in Mansfield.
“I would like to see community wildflower gardens or vegetable gardens, kids being taught how to garden and how to be self-sufficient, how to take care of the environment…I’m looking for community building and flower gardens,” Scheidler said.
“The ecosystem is so important for us, because if we don’t have the pollinators to pollinate the vegetables, we don’t have food to eat, and if they don’t keep the soil healthy we won’t have produce,” she continued. “And if we have flower gardens in urban areas, maybe we can inspire other cities and maybe even the state to do more.
“We should know the purpose and where our food comes from and what we rely on, and how it’s not just us that we have to worry about on this planet. Without them, there wouldn’t be an us.”
Plant flowers native to your area. Installing native plants not only supports pollinators and other species in your region — they’re easier to grow, too, because they’re already adapted to your climate and don’t require loads of fertilizer or pesticide. Local garden centers, university extension programs, and nonprofit organizations can be great resources for finding the best plants for where you live. The U.S. Forest Service cautions against picking or digging up wildflowers on public land, however, which is illegal and does more harm than good.
Aim for a diverse mix of flowers. One of the mistakes people often make when they plant flowers for wildlife is they buy plants that bloom all at once — in a healthy grassland, you have plants that grow throughout the season. By thinking over the course of a year, you’ll be rewarded with a burst of colors and scents that unfold over the course of several months. In addition to planting a range of flowers that flourish at different times, think about complementary species too. For example, flowers and other plants can help control pests in a vegetable garden.
Be active in your community. You don’t need your own big plot of land. All you need is a pot, a window box, or another small space to plant wildflowers. But no matter how much space you have, also consider seeking out a community garden or local nature reserve where you can volunteer and help support the planting of native species. Pay attention to policies that affect natural ecosystems, such as the U.S. Farm Bill, which funds grasslands conservation programs.
Pay attention to the environment. No matter where you decide to plant, make it a habit to visit regularly and watch what’s happening. Which plants are thriving? Which ones are having trouble? What insects and birds do you notice? What do the flowers smell like?
From National Geographic.
