posted: Mar 9, 2010

The sagebrush buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus) is out on Paradise Ridge and that usually means that spring is just around the corner!  We have had some unusually warm days around the Palouse which puts us all in the mood to get out and start our spring work both on the seed increase plot and on the ridge. 



For those folks interested in doing in a spring seeding now is the time!  And for those interested in a fall seeding go ahead and start preparing your ground now.  Good site preparation is the key to a successful native planting!

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posted: Mar 8, 2010

One of our favorite parts about providing native seeds to our customers are the times when we get to see the seeds in action. Last week we visited Maynard Fosberg to deliver more native plants and seeds, and we were treated to a tour of his seeding project. In the fall of 2008 we seeded wildflowers into Dr. Fosberg's land in Moscow, Idaho, and through the years and seasons he has gradually been adding more native grasses and wildflowers to his property.


Maynard Fosberg and Brenda on his Palouse Prairie restoration area, March 2010

The wildflowers were seeded into the native grass stand once the broadleaf weeds were under control. Wildflowers were then added with the hope that these native flowers would fill in and occupy the spaces that the non-native plants once thrived in. During our visit last week we saw Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum), Grand Collomia (Collomia grandiflora), Taper-leaf Penstemon (Penstemon attenuatus), and Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis), just to name a few,  coming up in the inter-spaces between the native bunchgrasses. It was encouraging to see that the seeds, which were seeded into the grass stand with a no-till drill, are coming up nicely. Maynard continues to add plants and seed to his property and wisely plans on expanding the patch gradually.  This gradual expansion allows him to keep on top of the weeds which will in turn increase the chances for a successful restoration. 


Wayne using the no-till drill "Flower Power" on Maynard's property in the fall of 2008

The grasses have filled in nicely over the past two summers and we excitedly anticipate the increasing number and size of the wildflowers through the years.

Maynard Fosberg is a retired soil scientist professor from the University of Idaho. Dr. Fosberg may have retired in 1989 but he hasn't slowed down as he continues to serve the university and soils community in a variety of ways.  He commits much time and land to Palouse Prairie restoration and we learn so much from him and the restoration techniques he uses.

We would like to wholeheartedly thank Dr. Fosberg for his dedication and hard work.  It gives us hope that others love native plants as much as we do.  Thank you!