The small colorful smorgasbord of Spring wildflowers unfolds here at EEC Forest Stewardship. Seeds hand cast in April, germinated through May, and are now bursting with colorful blooms. This mix of Northwest native verities like Nemophila maculata and Collinsia heterophylla pictured above, offers familiar species of pollination crops with their intended pollinators. Note- just because something flowers, does not mean it’s feeding the bees and hummingbirds. Many cultivar decorative landscaping plant verities look abundant with blossom, but no charming summer insect buzz abounds.
This patch of diverse wildflower spread covers last summer’s earthwork swale project. There’s a lot of glacial till around here- down slope from what was a shallow glacial lake. Compacted clay mixes with the last vestiges of old growth loam, most of which can now be found filling in Puget Sound. The pebbled surface created an abundance of micro climates in a larger water catchment space specifically designed to slow and sink water. The clay dominate soils sheet water down any slope, preventing retention at the surface, which allows water to permeate deeper into the ground. These wildflower seeds found the right mix of sun, moisture, and shade to make a go of it. Bare open ground and a few days of rain summon seeds sewn in April of this year to live. Flowering has continued through most of June, and at the start of July, and our summer heat, we’ll expect to say farewell to these gems for the rest of summer. Perhaps, if there’s another good rain in the next few weeks, we’ll enjoy a revival. Tune in for more bright color and blooming fancy here at EEC Forest Stewardship.
EEC Forest Stewardship 