Land Stewardship at Open Door Bird Sanctuary

On Nov. 14, volunteers Sue Smith, head landscaper at Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, and Amy Hults spent the afternoon planting native Wisconsin wild flower and prairie grass seed at Open Door Bird Sanctuary (ODBS). Thousands of seeds were collected and donated to the sanctuary by Bob Hults from his prairie in the town of Erin in southeast Wisconsin. The seeds gathered and planted included Purple Prairie Clover, Black-Eyed Susan, Foxglove, Golden Alexander, Pale Coneflower, Gray Headed Coneflower, Purple Coneflower, White Culvers Root, Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Daisy, Compass Plant, and Indian Grass. The areas for planting were mowed and raked to slightly expose and loosen the soil. The seeds were hand sown, and worked onto the surface of the ground. The soon-to-be-arriving winter snows will cover the seed and prepare it for natural germination in the spring. These plants will, for many years, brighten and diversify the natural landscape at the sanctuary. They will be used by the native insect and animal residents, as well as enjoyed by the many visitors coming to hike the trails and visit the birds at ODBS.