Whiskey Island

Prairie Grass and Wildflower Garden

In late 2007, a native Ohio prairie grass and wildflower garden was planted on about 2½ acres on Wendy Park at Whiskey Island. A colorful array of wildflowers and native prairie grasses were selected for the site to be used as an outdoor learning laboratory. Because prairies take several years to become established, the site is still a work-in-progress.

While the prairie garden is a joint partnership between Cuyahoga County and the Wendy Park Foundation, the Davey Resource Group with the help of the Ohio Prairie Nursery (OPN) had been the primary consultant managing the project. Davey and OPN provided the technical assistance necessary for the site preparation, installation and initial maintenance of the prairie grass and wildflower garden. A grant from the Cargill Foundation provided financial assistance for the project.

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Although a prairie garden was not original to the Wendy Park site, prairie ecosystems were once abundant in the Great Lakes basin and throughout the Midwest. Very few native Ohio prairies still exist, so Cuyahoga County is taking this opportunity to create this sustainable landscape and educate park visitors about biodiversity, sustainability and regeneration.

Why a Prairie?

Prairies are a low-maintenance alternative to traditional turf landscapes. Once established prairie plants do not need fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or watering, saving both time and money. Because of their extensive root systems, prairies absorb significant amounts of rain and water and help to reduce runoff and erosion by holding soil on steep or wind-blown sites.

Prairie grasses and wildflowers also help to create an attractive landscape that support a diversity of wildlife. On average, the use of native plants attracts three times as many different pollinators as non-native species of plants. Increased butterflies and birds, insects, and wildlife help to increase ecological diversity on-site and nearby the Park.

Most prairie plants are perennial, which means they will not die at the end of one growing season, but will continue to grow for many years. In general, prairie gardens provide a beautiful, hardy, drought resistant, low maintenance landscape while benefiting the environment.

Establishing the Prairie at Wendy Park

Before Cuyahoga County took possession of Whiskey Island in late 2004, the prairie area and much of Wendy Park was covered with non-native, invasive plants and grasses including five-foot tall Japanese knotweed. A series of herbicide treatments were necessary to eliminate much of these invasive weeds in order to give the native grasses and wildflower seeds a competitive advantage to establish themselves on-site.

In November, 2007, the prairie garden was installed using a "frost-seeding" method which takes advantage of the natural freezing and thawing of the soil surface. The Ohio Prairie Nursery planted the native grasses and wildflower seeds along with a cover crop of annual rye in order to control erosion and limit the competition from invasive weeds while the prairie seeds slowly establish themselves. Very little top growth had been visible in first few years as the prairie plants spread their roots below ground first.

The biggest challenge to the site while the prairie struggles to become established, has been controlling weeds. As such, a rigid schedule of mowing has been used to prevent weeds from out-competing the native seedlings. A combination of spot herbicide treatments and hand pulling of weeds have also been necessary to control and eliminate both perennial and annual weeds at the Wendy Park prairie. Walking paths are also mowed throughout the prairie garden in order to allow and encourage pedestrian access through the prairie and around Wendy Park.

Next Steps

A prescribed burning will also be used at the Wendy Park site in order to maintain the prairie and keep it healthy. Occasional fires help burn off old vegetation, warm the ground to help jumpstart germination of the native species, and control the growth of invasive weeds. A test plot prescribed burn is being planned for Fall, 2010 and a full burn of the entire prairie is being scheduled for Spring, 2011.