Lakescaping with Natives 101 Vern Stephens Sue Tangora

Increased phosphate, nitrogen and pesticide levels Increased vegetation growth Increased water temperatures Decreased oxygen

Why Native Grasses and Wildflowers? Native grasses are important to many different ecosystems in

Switch Grass Big Bluestem Indian Grass Little Bluestem

Ostrich Plume Royal Cinnamon Interrupted

Culver’s Root Bergamot Boneset Cardinal Flower Blue Vervain Blue Lobelia

False Dragonhead Queen of the Prairie Michigan Lily Foxglove Beardtongue Ironweed

Joe-Pye Weed Marsh Blazingstar Cluster Monkey Flower New England Aster Riddell’s Goldenrod

Sneezeweed Swamp Milkweed Sweet Flag Spiderwort

Thimbleweed White Turtlehead Wild Geranium Wild Iris

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Lakescaping with Natives 101 Vern Stephens Sue Tangora Designs By Nature, LLC 9874 Chadwick Road Laingsburg, MI 48848 designsbynature@hotmail. com 517. 651 -6502 517. 230 -2923 (cell)

Increased phosphate, nitrogen and pesticide levels Increased vegetation growth Increased water temperatures Decreased oxygen levels Decreased desirable fish populations Loss of critical cover for wildlife Open invitation for problematic species

Why Native Grasses and Wildflowers? Native grasses are important to many different ecosystems in Michigan * Can adapt to poor quality soils because of their extensive root systems * Are drought tolerant * Out compete weeds, yet are not aggressive * Require less maintenance * With proper installation practices, establishment may be less than 2 years Native grasses improve water quality * Extensive root systems filter out nutrients and provide erosion control * Require no fertilizers or pesticides that could impact water quality * Tests show that the root systems do not interfere with agricultural tiles Native grasses improve air quality * Fix carbon from the air reducing global warming * Less maintenance reduces carbon monoxide input from machinery Native grasses provide wildlife benefits * Grasses attract insects that are food sources for game and song birds * Provide nesting and resting areas * Provide escape cover from predators * Serve as areas of thermal protection during winter * Seed heads become food sources for many species of wildlife * Grasses are high in nutrients as forage for grazers