2023 #Grownativevancouver seed mixes
It all begins with an idea.
Beginning Saturday September 30, we will be offering two native wildflower seed mixes from Heritage Seedlings and Liners. Sponsored by Clark Conservation District, our Hardy Urban Meadow Mix puts an emphasis on tough plants that can grow in urban soils like parking strips. This mix is offered for free while supplies last so make sure and come see us at the Vancouver Farmers Market on Saturday September 30 to get your seeds or to one of our events in October celebrating fall meadow planting. Here is some information on the mix:
Hardy Urban Meadow Mix Sponsored by Clark Conservation District
(tough plant emphasis, blooms April-June - broadcast seed fall for best results)
MOW LATE-SUMMER OR FALL NO LOWER THAN 4 INCH
287,399 seeds/lb 4-6 PLS lb/ac = 26-40 seeds/ft2
50% Graminoids, 50% Forbs
Carex pachystachya, Carex tumulicola, Danthonia californica, Festuca roemeri, Luzula comosa, Achillea millefolium, Allium amplectens, Collinsia grandiflora, Eriophyllum lanatum, Lomatium nudicaule, Perideridia oregana, Plectritis congesta, Potentilla glandulosa, Prunella vulgaris var lanceolata, Ranunculus occidentalis, Sidalcea malviflora ssp. virgata, Viola praemorsa
We will also be featuring a custom Showy Meadow Mix that is comprised of all the tall, showy meadow favorites that we get asked for. This mix features many of the Native Plant Picks for Bees highlighted by OSU Extension. This mix will be a total pleaser and the pollinators will love it. This mix will be a suggested donation of $5/packet. This mix features the following:
Showy Meadow Mix
91,444 seeds/lb, 10-14 lb/acre = 21-30 seeds/ft2
Achillea millefolium - Western Yarrow, Asclepias speciosa - Showy milkweed, Brodiaea coronaria - Crown brodiaea, Clarkia amoena - Clarkia, Collomia grandiflora - Collomia, Gilia capitata - Blue field gilia, Iris tenax - Oregon iris, Prunella vulgaris var lanceolata - Self Heal, Ranunculus occidentalis - Western Buttercup, Madia elegans -Showy tarweed, Perideridia oregana - Oregon yampah, Plectritis congesta - Seablush/Rosy plectritis, Sidalcea malviflora ssp. virgata - Rose checkermallow/Dwarf checkerbloom, Solidago elongata - Meadow/Canadian goldenrod, Symphyotrichum (Aster) hallii - Hall's aster, Eriophyllum lanatum - Oregon sunshine, Phacelia heterophylla - Varileaf phacelia, Grindelia integrifolia - Gumweed.
SOWING INSTRUCTIONS: Mix seed with slightly moistened sand, vermiculite, or sawdust. Broadcast seed by hand onto weed-free mulch or prepared seed bed. Press into soil and cover with a light dusting of sifted soil. - SOW IN THE FALL FOR BEST RESULTS. All seed commercially grown in Oregon from wild-collected Willamette Valley seed.
SITE PREPARATION IS KEY. HERE ARE SOME RESOURCES:
Northwest Meadowscapes
(Check out the Common Questions section)
Meadowscaping Handbook
(Check out Site Preparation starting on page 24 of the PDF - From West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District)
Non native grass is not your friend! The more you can remove before you seed the more successful your meadow will be. Planting in large pots works well!