Meadow

We can all picture a warm, sunny meadow brimming with life. Meadow wildflowers are nectar sources, attracting a variety of butterflies and pollinators. Meadows provide feeding and nesting areas for songbirds. They provide shelter for frogs and small mammals, which in turn attract hawks and owls.   But beyond habitat value, a properly implemented and maintained meadow can reduce landscaping maintenance costs, act as an interim measure to repair damaged or disturbed sites for future reforestation, and offers a multitude of educational opportunities. Follow the links below to learn how to successfully create, utilize and maintain a native meadow project:

Meadows: How-To

• For Teachers - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide
• For Students - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide
• Meadows - MSDE Conserving & Enhancing the Environment Guide
• Maintaining your meadow - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide

Meadow: Native Plants

•    Determining number of plants needed - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide
•    Native Plant Choices: MEADOW - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide

Meadows: Native Seed Mixes:

Note: Be sure to purchase a native seed mix from local sources. Seed mixes from other states or chain retailers often contain a great deal of filler and seeds of invasive or non-native plants. Plan for 50-80% of the seed to be native grasses, which will provide food and cover for wildlife, crowd out weeds and prevent soil erosion.

•  Developing a meadow seed mix - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide
•  Meadow mixes for Mid-Atlantic region - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide
•  Native Nurseries offering customized seed mixes:
      …  Ernst Conservation Seeds, LLP
      …  Chesapeake Native Nursery

Miscellaneous:

• Visiting a Meadow Habitat: An Introduction to Field Study - Wildlife Habitat Council
• Maryland Dept of Natural Resources: Wild Acres Program Habitat Factsheets, Plans & Tips
  

Also See:
Long Term Connections: Curriculum
How to Create a Habitat Project
How to Avoid & Overcome Common Obstacles
How to Choose & Find Native Plants



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