We planted small flowering plants in wire hoops and "stakes". (scroll to bottom for interim results)
The hoops protect small plants from rabbits and deer. We make the hoops from chicken wire and hula hoops. The small plants will become flowering additions around benches. We select the plants to match the amount of sun and water for the spot. 2024
The "stakes" are sticks a foot long that we cut from successful dense growth nearby. For example, elderberry plants offer food for birds and grow well, so we use that. The stakes also hold down cardboard, which we use to suppress reed-canary grass. 2025
We plant trees, shrubs and ground flowers
In fall of 2018 we planted trees on ground that was cleared of dead ash trees, stumps and slash. (Thank you PRCS for doing the heavy lifting.) In spring and fall of 2019 we planted more.
In 2024 we planted "little" plants -- native shrubs and ground plants to fill in areas no longer overwhelmed by invasives. These will also help take up water draining in from Spring Street.
Back in November 2018 we planted 400 'whips' in one morning. "We" is the RPCS department plus a whole slew of Racine people. Note how bare the ground was after the dying ash trees and the slash and stumps were removed.
This red oak is now going strong
It was planted 1 or 2 years ago, and will soon (in tree terms!) add to the tree canopy in the park.
