Native Seed Ball Workshop Recap
On October 22nd, we hosted our first ever Native Seed Ball Workshop. With dozens in attendance at both sessions, we wanted to offer this resource as a follow up guide to future native seed plantings and seed ball assembly. Included here are the notes from our presentation, copies of the recipe cards, and seed mix contents (which include linked buttons for where to purchase). Thank you to everyone who came out, we’re already excited to host this event again!!
Native grasses & flowers are important to many different ecosystems in Michigan:
Can adapt to poor quality soils because of their extensive root systems
Drought tolerant
Out compete weeds, yet are not aggressive
Require less maintenance
With proper installation practices, establishment may be less than 2 years
Native plants improve water quality:
Extensive root systems filter out nutrients and provide erosion control
Require less fertilizers or pesticides that could impact water quality
Tests show that the root systems do not interfere with agricultural tiles
Native plants improve air quality:
Pull carbon from the air which reduces global warming
Less maintenance reduces carbon monoxide input from machinery
Native plants 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
Dwarf Cornflower/Bachelor Button, Candytuft, Sweet William, Indian Blanket, Prairie Coneflower, Mexican Hat, Tall Cornflower/Bachelor Button, Red Corn Poppy, Lance Leaf Coreopsis, Mixed Red Poppy Shirley, Wild Cosmos, California Poppy, Blanket Flower, Black Eyed Susan, Wild Perennial Lupine, Purple Coneflower, Russel Lupine, Planes Coreopsis, Siberian Wallflower, Blue Flax, Scarlet Flax, Annual Red Phlox, Sulphur/Orang Cosmos, Gloriosa Daisy (Mix contents are subject to change).
Sideoats grama (local, vns) (0.5), Bluestem, Little (VNS) (1.5), Partridge Pea (0.3), Prairie Clover, Purple (0.2), Milkweed, Common (0.03), Milkweed, Butterfly (Butterflyweed) (0.03), Coreopsis, Lanceleaf (sand) (0.3), Coneflower, Purple (0.25), Sunflower, Maximillian (0.3), Sunflower, False (Oxeye) (0.25), Bergamot, Wild (Prairie Beebalm) (0.02), Evening primrose, Common (0.05), Goldenrod, Stiff (Rigid) (0.02), Coneflower, Grayheaded (Yellow) (0.05), Susan, Black-eyed (0.174), Aster, New England (0.02), Vervain, Blue (0.05), and Alexander, Golden (0.05).
