posted: Oct 22, 2009

Fall is an excellent time to plant natives and we took advantage of one of our beautiful October days to do a native planting/seeding at the Moscow Public Library. 

The library removed a large patch of old juniper shrubs near the entrance and expressed the desire to see this area planted with Palouse natives.  We agreed that this would be a great way to showcase natives in the landscape and to demonstrate a low water use and low maintenance planting.  With the help of a few great volunteers we prepped the site and planted about 150 plants in one afternoon.   We planted a variety of wildflowers and grasses from the Palouse.  Among these planted are Prairie Smoke, Wyeth's Buckwheat, Idaho Fescue, Bluebunch Wheatgrass,  Little Sunflower, Lava Alumroot, Prairie Gentian, and Sticky Purple Geranium, just to name a few!



We also seeded a couple of small areas with annuals like Elk horns clarkia (Clarkia pulchella) and Grand collomia (Collomia grandiflora) and a few long lived perennials such as our Lomatium species and Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata).



We received many positive comments from library patrons as they entered and exited the library.  Some were pleased to hear that these plants are natives and therefore low water use.  Others were simply pleased to see the junipers gone!  No matter the reason we are glad that others are excited about the potential of this site and with all the traffic this spot gets we are encouraged by the educational opportunities this native planting presents. 



In the future we hope that signs will help tell the story of these plants and the Palouse Prairie.



Thanks so much to Gerry Queener, Jake Osborn with Cobblestone Landscaping, Marla Schwartz and Carson, and the folks at the library for all your help!  This spot will be a beautiful and educational spot for all of the community to enjoy.