Want More Wildflowers In Your World?

Because we have delineated wetland habitat out back between the house and Silver Creek we have to obtain DNR permits to manage invasive species and conduct prescribed burns.  Because we're both unqualified to do this ourselves we utilize professionals at NES Ecological Services to perform necessary land management practices.  If you visit their website you would learn that among other things they are a natural resource consulting firm focusing on wetlands, native habitat restoration and wildlife.  They're a division of the civil engineering firm, Robert E. Lee and Associates, and work with everyone from municipalities, utilities commercial and non-profit businesses, state agencies and individuals throughout Wisconsin.  They are not a landscaper as most people understand the term.

Several years ago we hired them to begin the process of restoring more of our yard to pollinator habitat.  Native wild flowers to be exact.  And as a consequence we've converted about an additional acre of turf grass into permanent natural cover.  It is truthfully a pollinator paradise, great to look at; and best of all, no mowing.

Anyway, a couple of days ago the crew was in the neighborhood to spot-treat last fall's planting which was formerly our big vegetable garden.

My vegetables are now grown in raised beds and I'm done with gardening on my hands and knees.  The previous year's project - the ancestral (and buried) house foundation - is coming-along really nice.  The Missus tells me a woodchuck has taken-up residence somewhere in there.  That's fine; as long as it's not the septic mound or the barn foundation.

And (not pictured) is a location along the side of the road; presently nuked turf grass that will be tilled and seeded this fall.  Our expectation is that by the summer of 2028 it will be spectacular to anyone driving-by.  And if you don't like beautiful roadside wildflowers there might be something wrong with you.  You might even be one of those godless communists or jihadists some of my acquaintances are getting themselves all lathered-up over.  

So, stay-tuned for periodic progress reports and how you might consider a professional habitat specialist, instead of a traditional landscaper, for naturalizing your landscape.  I wish I'd done it sooner.

You can learn more about NES Ecological Services here.

Post-Burn Update

There's an old saying about the grass being greener on the other side of the fence.

On May 10th of this year we conducted a prescribed burn on the seven acres of pollinator habitat out back.

And at the seven weeks point post-burn things are greening-up rather spectacularly.

View east, north-east....

 

 

 

Scorched Earth Policy

Last Wednesday afternoon, on very short notice, and with the window of opportunity rapidly closing it dried out sufficiently for us to conduct a prescribed burn.

You're probably scratching your head over the notion of someone deliberately setting something on fire beside a BBQ grill.

Drip Torch

Over several generations it has been an accepted practice to suppress Ma Nature's use of fire to maintain the natural order.  While suppressing fire will bring a smile the face of Smokey Bear it also has unintended consequences.  Without the impact of fire combustible fuel accumulates on the landscape making any fire event more dangerous.  Witness the devastating wildfires in California, Colorado and other states.  

 

So, at usually three year intervals, we have a professional burn crew set fire to the seven acres of grassland  wildlife habitat that constitutes our backyard.  This removes combustible material that is close to the house and has other benefits that I'll enumerate.  

Our local BUG Fire Department authorized the burn and both their leadership team and county dispatch is kept informed of the timing.

A controlled burn accomplishes a number of things.  Included among them are:

1. Fire removes excess fuel (built-up thatch) thereby reducing the risk of an out-of-control wildfire.
2. Fire returns valuable nutrients to the soil
3. Fire kills undesirable woody vegetation, invasive plant species and the blackened earth warms-up quickly in the spring sunshine stimulating the growth of desirable native plants
4. Following the application of fire the resulting flush of desirable plant regrowth is a benefit to wildlife – including insects, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds.

Photos and video clips.....

 

Burn crew

 

Back burning against the wind

 

 

 

Setting the head fire with the wind

 

 

 

Resulting blackened surface

 

 

Before and After a Prescribed Burn

Six weeks following our prescribed burn there was this:

View east - northeast

View south towards the house

Surface of the turf

And a follow-up on some persistent reed canary grass today

This Burn is for the Birds

Monday afternoon, on very short notice, and with the window of opportunity rapidly closing it dried out sufficiently for us to conduct a prescribed burn.

You're probably scratching your head over the notion of someone deliberately setting something on fire beside a BBQ grill.

Over the years we have suppressed Ma Nature's use of fire to maintain the natural order.  While suppressing fire will bring a smile the face of my pal Smokey Bear it also has unintended consequences.  Most recent among them have been the devastating wildfires in California and other states.  So, at usually three year intervals, this practice is performed by a professional burn crew on sensitive wildlife habitat.  Plus it removes a boatload of combustible material that is close to the house.  

BUG Fire Department authorized the burn and was in the loop at all times.

A controlled burn accomplishes a number of things.  Included among them are:

1. Fire removes excess fuel (built-up thatch) thereby reducing the risk of an out-of-control wildfire.
2. Fire returns valuable nutrients to the soil
3. Fire kills undesirable woody vegetation, invasive plant species and the blackened earth warms-up quickly in the spring sunshine stimulating the growth of desirable native plants
4. Following the application of fire the resulting flush of desirable plant regrowth is a benefit to wildlife – including insects, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds.

Photos and video clips.....

Burn Crew

Starting to back burn from the west

 

Continuing the back burn

Commencing the head fire from the south

Letting it rip with head fire from the east  

Prime contractor does terrific work

  
The aftermath on our Tuesday morning walk - blackened, scorched earth.  I'll perform some touch-up work with my new Mini Dragon.