The Mount Vernon Sustainability Group’s prairie rehabilitation project continues in the area north of First Street —near the gazebo— in planting prairie seeds.
Darrow Center, of the sustainability committee, is ask- ing for people to help disperse or plant seeds for native plants beginning in October.
Lists of the wanted native species to be planted include:
- Purple Prairie Clover – Dalea purpurea
- New England Aster – Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- Smooth Blue Aster – Symphyotrichum laeve
- Butterfly Milkweed – Asclepias tuberosa
- Prairie Onion – Allium stellatum
- Ohio Spiderwort – Tradescantia ohiensis
Anyone who is dispersing seeds is asked to do so from the top of the hillside on the north side of First Street overlooking the gazebo.
The City of Mount Vernon will also use donor funding to purchase native seeds that will also be dispersed along that stretch of hill.
“Along the roadside is vulnerable to rainwater washing seeds down the hillside, and vulnerable to road salt from snow plowing,” Center said. “Additional seeds [dispersed by volunteer seed enthusiasts] along the top of the road will increase chances of survival of the eventual native plants.”
The prairie rehabilitation project along that stretch of First Street is a multiple-year project for the sustainability group. The goal is to reintroduce native plants to our community: to help with soil quality and erosion, to encourage plant diversity and pollinator habitat, and to eliminate the need for mowing.
If people have questions about this volunteer opportunity — please contact the Sustainability Committee.
Good Neighbors Iowa
Gretchen Reeh-Robinson, the Pet Nanny, is asking those who do not use pesticides or lawn killers to post a sign from Good Neighbor Iowa, an initiative in the state to recognize less pesticide uses.
Those who are not utilizing pesticides and want to post a small sign about the non use of pesticides are encour- aged to contact Reeh-Robinson at 319-535-1033 and leave a voicemail.
“I’m happy to deliver in Mount Vernon and Lisbon. The signs I have say Healthy Pet Zone: No lawn weed killers used here, in turquoise green. Also, Good Neighbor: No lawn weed killers used here, in yellow and purple.”