5. Early Migrating Bird Project PlansPlanting Area #1 – Erickson Ball Field
Plant List, Quantity, and Benefits
Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier Laevis) – 1
Needs sun to part-shade. The fruit is on the plant from June-July. Grows 30’ high x 18’-
24’ wide. Promotes tree-dwelling insect habitation. Attracts 58 wildlife species including:
Cardinals, Chickadees, Crows, Eastern Bluebirds, Grosbeaks, Jays, Mockingbirds,
Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers,
Woodpeckers, and Wrens. It is a nectar and host plant for butterflies. It has showy
flowers and Fall color.
Little Blue Stem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – 4
Used mainly for cover by birds, resilient to drought, 3’, needs full sun.
Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya) – 7
Liked by: Hummingbirds, Mockingbirds, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers, Vireos,
Waxwings, and Wood Warblers.
Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa) – 3
Needs full sun or partial shade. Fruit from August-September, making it a good Fall food
source. Grows to 9’ high x 9’ wide. Attracts 42 wildlife species including: American
Robins, Cardinals, Chickadees, Crows, Eastern Bluebirds, Grosbeaks, Jays,
Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings,
Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, Wrens, and Yellow-Rumped Warblers. Provides nectar
for butterflies, has showy flowers, has Fall color, and is a nesting- and shelter plant.
Planting Area #1 – Erickson Ball Field
Planting Diagram
Blue Circle - Location of the Allegheny Serviceberry.
Yellow Lines – border on the west side of the planting area.
The planting area starts at the ball field sign and extends past the chain-link fence.
Planting Area #1 – Erickson Ball Field
Planting Diagram, continued
Four smaller shapes (two on each side of the Allegheny Serviceberry)
mark the location of the Little Blue Stems.
The stars are where the Prairie Blazing Stars will be planted.
(They will be between each of Little Blue Stems.)
The three Gray Dogwoods will be placed in front of the fence.
They will fill in the remaining section of the fence which is lined with lilacs.
(As a side note, the offshoots of lilacs provide quality cover for numerous birds and animals.)
The blue shapes are Little Bluestem and the stars are Prairie Blazing Stars.
Planting Area #2 – Hay Lake Park
There were many dragonflies at Hay Lake Park when visiting it on June 12, 2020. So, plants
were selected not only for their benefit to early-migrating birds as well as birds and wildlife in
general, but for dragonflies.
Plant List, Quantity, and Benefits
Existing Plants:
Potentilla (Potentilla fruticose ‘Klondike’) – 4
Special Value to Native Bees (Recognized by pollination ecologists as attracting large
numbers of native bees.)
Ash – 1
Used by many types of wildlife. Mature trees offer feeding sites for woodpeckers,
nuthatches, and chickadees, and nesting sites for great blue and green herons, and
Cerulean warblers.
Proposed Additional Plants:
Note: Those marked with a “**” mean that they are recommended by two websites about how to
attract dragonflies to one’s garden.
Center Garden in front of Potentillas and
to the Immediate Right and Left of the Center Garden:
**Black-eyed Susan Little Goldstar (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Little Goldstar’) – 3
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: June to September
Bloom Description: Yellow to orange-yellow rays and dark brown centers
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Birds (finches, chickadees, northern cardinal, sparrows, nuthatches, towhees,
and titmice), Bees, and Butterflies
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) - 3
Height: 1.00 to 2.50 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Yellow/orange
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Birds (Cardinals, Chickadees, Crows, Finches, Grosbeaks, Hummingbirds, Jays,
Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings,
Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, and Wrens) and Butterflies
Blanket flower (Gaillardia) - 3
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: June to September
Bloom Description: Yellow, orange, red with maroon to orange banding at petal bases
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya) - 7
Height: 2.00 to 5.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: July to August
Bloom Description: Lilac-purple
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy, Good Cut
Attracts: Birds (Hummingbirds, Mockingbirds, Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers, Vireos,
Waxwings, and Wood Warblers) and Butterflies
Tree focal point area
River Birch (Betula nigra) - 1
Place this tree near the Ash tree. This tree will eventually be the main tree in the corner
are when the Ash tree is overcome by the Emerald Ash Borer and needs to be removed.
Height: 40-60’, with some up to 85’ and Spread: 30-50’
Its spring ripening makes it particularly valuable. This tree hosts 411 species of moths
and butterflies whose caterpillars eat the foliage. The caterpillars include butterflies such
as Mourning Cloak and moths including Luna, Io, Polyphemus, and Cecropia. Birds in
turn feed on these caterpillars, especially during spring migration and the summer
breeding season.
In the fall and winter, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, turkeys, grouse,
and other small birds eat the birch seeds. Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatch, and
others search the loose bark for insects and spiders.
The tree offers shelter and nesting places for birds as well.
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) - 3
Height: 3 - 4 ft.
Location: Plant in full sun; will tolerate partial shade.
Wildlife Feature: Large snow-white berries are eaten by a variety of birds. Small pinkish-
white flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds and bumblebees. Its blue green leaves are
a favorite food of the clearwing hummingbird moth caterpillars. Its thin stems eventually
form dense low growing thickets that provide cover for winter birds and wildlife.
Soil: Requires well drained soils and will tolerate drier sites.
Special note: Not preferred by deer.
Shrub row planted left to right in this order so that the heights go from short to tall and then
back to short again:
Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
Height: Up to 8 ft.
Location: Plant in full sun to partial shade.
Wildlife Feature: Fruit from August-September, making it a good Fall food source.
Clusters of small white berries are eaten by at least 42 species of birds, including
American Robins, Cardinals, Chickadees, Crows, Eastern Bluebirds, Grosbeaks, Jays,
Mockingbirds, Northern Flickers, Nuthatches, Orioles, Ruffed Grouse, Sparrows,
Thrashers, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, Wrens, and
Yellow-Rumped Warblers.
Soil: Grows best on moist well drained soils but will tolerate a range of soils including
drier sites.
Special Note: Its small white berries grow on short red stems that remain most of the
winter providing contrasting color against the snow. An excellent shrub for a visual
screen or landscape border. Grey stems with auburn colored fall leaves. Not a preferred
deer browse
American Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)
Height: 10 – 13 ft. x 12’ wide
Location: Plant in full to partial sun in open areas or along woodland edges; will tolerate
some shade.
Wildlife Feature: 34 wildlife species use this plant. Tart fruits are not palatable to most
birds and so persist on the shrub throughout winter providing a late-winter food source
for songbirds, grouse, pheasants, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbits and
small mammals. Birds prefer the berries after freezing has sweetened them. Branches
provide nesting sites for warblers. Also attracts butterflies with its nectar.
Soil: Well drained to moist or medium moist areas. Do not plant on droughty soils.
Special Note: Attractive white flowers in May turn to large, bright orange clusters of
berries in September. Has Fall color. Makes a nice, thick hedge; provides secluded
nesting sites. Make sure not to plant the alien European highbush cranberry Viburnum
opulus.
Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) - 3
Height: 2-3 ft.
Location: Plant in full sun to partial shade.
Wildlife Feature: Tubular-shaped sulfur yellow flowers bloom in late spring and early
summer attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. The low growing shrub provides dense
ground cover for song birds.
Soil: Prefers moist well drained soils but tolerates drier soils.
Special Note: Dark green leaves turn an attractive orange-red in fall. Spreads by root
sprouting and a good choice for eroding slopes. Fragrant flowers produce a small fruit
that forms a long dry seed cluster rather than a berry. Make sure to ask for the native bush
honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera. Many honeysuckles are very invasive, non-native shrubs.
Another American Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)
Another Gray Dogwood
2 mini-gardens at each end of the River Birch/Snowberry area with one plant type per area:
Phlox – Any Variety (Phlox) – 9 (south side)
Height: 2.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Description: Lavender-pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flower: Showy, Fragrant
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Bee balm (Monarda didyma) – 9 (north side)
Height: 2.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: July to August
Bloom Description: Red
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
Flower: Showy, Good Cut
Leaf: Fragrant
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies, and Pollinators
2 mini-gardens at each end of the shrub row (starting by the Gray Dogwoods) that would have
a diversity of plants (number of plants represents total amount which would be divided
between the two mini-gardens):
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) - 6
Height: 2.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Description: Scarlet red, white or rose
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies (especially Swallowtail Butterflies), and Bees
Catmint (Nepeta) 2
Height: 2.00 to 2.50 feet
Spread: 2.50 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: April to September
Bloom Description: Lavender blue
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Fragrant
Attracts: Bees, Pollinating Insects, and Butterflies/moths
**Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) - 10
Height: 2.00 to 5.00 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Purplish pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy, Good Cut
Attracts: Birds (especially Hummingbirds) and Butterflies
**Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – 6
Height: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Yellow
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flower: Good Cut, Good Dried
Leaf: Fragrant
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies, Bees, Beneficial Insects, Birds
Row of Grasses between Potentillas and Snowberries/Phlox and Monarda Mini-Gardens:
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) - 7
Type of native grass. Used mainly for cover, resilient to drought, 3’, needs full sun.
Filler Plants to Densely Pack the Garden to Reduce Weeding (all in 1-gallon pots) – 20
flowers from the following list will be chosen based on availability:
Available from Prairie Restorations in 1-gallon pots:
- Aquilegia canadensis - Wild Columbine – attracts pollinating insects, butterflies, and
hummingbirds. 2’ - 3
- Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Flower/Butterfly Milkweed – liked by Cardinals, Chickadees,
Crows, Finches, Grosbeaks, Hummingbirds, Jays, Mockingbirds, Nuthatches, Orioles,
Sparrows, Thrashers, Thrushes, Vireos, Waxwings, Wood Warblers, Woodpeckers, and
Wrens. 1-2’
- Geum triflorum - Prairie Smoke – attracts insects. 6-8”
- Liatris ligulistylis – Meadow Blazingstar – attracts butterflies and birds 2-5’
- Liatris pycnostachya - Prairie Blazing Star– liked by: Hummingbirds, Mockingbirds,
Orioles, Sparrows, Thrashers, Vireos, Waxwings, and Wood Warblers. 3-4’
- Physostegia virginiana - Obedient Plant – attracts pollinating insects 1.5-4’
- Polemonium reptans - Jacob's-Ladder – attracts insects. 12-14”
- Sporobolus heterolepis – Prairie Dropseed – a grass that attracts birds. 1-3’
-
Available from Abrahamson’s in 1-gallon pots:
- Achillea millefolium – Yarrow – attracts butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects. Larval host
of Painted Lady Butterfly
- Delphinium New Millennium 'Stars' – New Millennium Stars Delphinium – attracts
butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees
- Digitalis - Candy Mountain Foxglove – attracts hummingbirds
- Digitalis - Dalmation Purple Improved Foxglove – attracts hummingbirds
- Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus Superior' – Magnus Superior Purple Coneflower – attracts birds
and butterflies
- Echinacea purpurea ‘Pow Wow White’ – PowWow White Coneflower – attracts butterflies
and birds
- Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ – Totally Tangerine Prairie Smoke – attracts bees, hummingbirds,
and butterflies
- Helenium autumnale Mariachi ‘Fuego’ – Fuego Helen’s Flower/Sneeze Weed – attracts
butterflies and hummingbirds
- Lupinus polyphyllus Mini Gallery Series – Blue Lupine – attracts butterflies, hummingbirds,
and bees
- Lupinus polyphyllus Mini Gallery Series – Pine Lupine – attracts butterflies, hummingbirds,
and bees
- Lupinus polyphyllus Mini Gallery Series – Yellow Lupine – attracts butterflies,
hummingbirds, and bees
- Lychnis arkwrightii 'Orange Gnome' – Orange Gnome Maltese Cross – attracts
hummingbirds
- Penstemon digitalis 'Blackbeard' – Blackbeard Beardtongue – attracts hummingbirds and
pollinators
- Penstemon 'Prairie Dusk' – Prairie Dusk Beardtongue – attracts hummingbirds and bees
- Physostegia virginiana 'Pink Manners' – Pink Manners Obedient Plant – attracts
hummingbirds
- Rudbeckia fulgida Little Goldstar - Black Eyed Susan Little Goldstar – liked by finches,
chickadees, northern cardinal, sparrows, nuthatches, towhees, and titmice. Nectar and habitat
for butterflies. Also attracts bees.
Planting Area #2 – Hay Lake Park
Planting Diagram
Diagram of the planting area at Hay Lake.
The area within the yellow circle is the planting site.
The area within the yellow circle is the planting site.
The planting area is at a higher elevation and avoids the ditch area.
In front of the four potentillas (the orange area), there will be colorful, native flowers.
Planting Area #2 – Hay Lake Park
Planting Diagram, continued
Behind the 4 potentillas, there will be 7 Little Bluestems (blue shape).
On the far left and right sides, there will be a combination of native grasses and wildflowers.
The semi-circle to the sides and behind the potentillas is 6’.
The area in front of the potentillas is 12’ wide by 2.5’ deep.
The deepest part of the front garden is 4’ wide
The orange section would have a variety of colorful wildflowers.
The gray circles are the gray dogwoods.
Planting Area #2 – Hay Lake Park
Planting Diagram, continued
This point marks about 12’ from the Potentillas where the River Birch (in yellow) would be planted.
From this view, there would be the Gray Dogwoods (gray shapes) about 6’ from the Potentillas,
American Highbush Cranberry shrubs (red shapes), Monarda patch (purple shape),
the three Snowberry shrubs (white shapes), and Phlox patch (pink shape).
Almost all of the Little Bluestems (area in blue) would be visible.
The orange sections will have a variety of wildflowers that are all 3’ and shorter.
Prepping, Planting, and Maintenance
Prepping
- I will need help with all of these tasks:
- Have the grass areas where the gardens will be planted sprayed with Round-up.
- Adam has offered to do this. There is $100 in the budget to cover the cost of Round-
up. I did not include the cost for his time.
- Have the sod removed and tilled.
- Dan Lee has offered to do this at no cost.
- Get the plants from the nursery to the sites.
- Terry Gorham has offered to use his truck to pick up and deliver plants from the
nursery at no cost.
Planting
- I will ask for volunteer help from 4-H, the Scandia-Marine Lions Club, Friends of Scandia Parks &
Trails, Scandia Parks & Recreation Committee, community members, family, and friends.
- It would be nice to have Adam present at one or both of the planting sessions to instruct volunteers how
to best transplant the shrubs, flowers, and grasses.
- There will be bagged compost integrated into the soil prior to planting.
- All of the plants will be watered and mulched. Ideally, a tank of water will be available for volunteers to
use. I will need help with securing a tank of water.
Maintenance
- Weeding should be at a minimum since the garden areas will be heavily-planted and there will be little
area for weeds to grow.
- My family and I will be available to help with watering the plants for at least a year after installation to
make sure they do well. If a tank of water is available and can be transported to the sites, we would be
happy to do the watering of the plants.
Watering Equipment to be Used During Planting and Maintenance
- The watering equipment will be used on planting day (in late-August) as well as during September and
early-October. It will not be needed again until late-Spring/Summer 2021. The plants selected for the
project are all low maintenance, with the exception of a couple wildflowers.
- The water equipment can be used with other community-led planting projects (current and future) as well
as at the Scandia Veterans Memorial, the pollinator garden at Lilleskogan, the plantings at County Road
3/Highway 97.
- The equipment will give the volunteers the tools they need to make their projects a success as well as
ensure that trees, shrubs, and flowers planted throughout the city receive the care they need to live.
- The cost of the watering equipment would include:
- Trailer $300
- License plates $200
- The tank and watering wand already is owned by the City of Scandia. So, there is no cost for
these items.
Planting Area #1 – Erickson Ball Field
Plant List and Prices
Prairie Restorations
Items Size Quantity Cost Cost
Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier Laevis) 5 gallon 1 $43 $43
Little Blue Stem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
1 gallon 4 $13 $52
Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)
1 gallon 7 $13 $91
Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
5 gallon 3 $30 $90
$276
Planting Area #2 – Hay Lake Park
Plant List and Prices
Plants from Prairie Restorations:
Items Size Quantity Cost Cost
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) 1 gallon 3 $15 $ 45
Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya) 1 gallon 7 $13 $ 91
River Birch (Betula nigra) 5 gallon 1 $43 $ 43
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) 2 gallon 3 $20 $ 60
Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
5 gallon 2 $30 $ 60
American Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum
trilobum)
5 gallon 2 $35 $ 70
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
1 gallon 7 $13 $ 91
$460
Plants from Abrahamson’s:
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
1 gallon 6 $13 $ 78
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
1 gallon 10 $15 $150
Blanket flower (Gaillardia) 1 gallon 3 $13 $ 39
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
1 gallon 6 $13 $ 78
Catmint (Nepeta) 1 gallon 2 $13 $ 26
Black-eyed Susan Little Goldstar (Rudbeckia
fulgida ‘Little Goldstar’)
1 gallon 3 $13 $ 39
Bee balm (Monarda didyma) – 5 (north side)
1 gallon 5 $13 $ 65
Phlox – Any Variety (Phlox) – 5 (south side) 1 gallon 5 $15 $ 75
$550
Planting Area #2 – Hay Lake Park
Plant List and Prices, continued
20 flowers from the following list will be chosen
based on availability:
1 gallon 20 $13 $260
From Prairie Restorations:
Aquilegia canadensis - Wild Columbine
Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Flower/Butterfly
Milkweed
Geum triflorum - Prairie Smoke
Liatris ligulistylis – Meadow Blazingstar
Liatris pycnostachya - Prairie Blazing Star
Physostegia virginiana - Obedient Plant
Polemonium reptans - Jacob's-Ladder
Sporobolus heterolepis – Prairie Dropseed
From Abrahamson’s
Achillea millefolium – Yarrow
Delphinium New Millennium 'Stars' – New
Millennium Stars Delphinium
Digitalis - Candy Mountain Foxglove
Digitalis - Dalmation Purple Improved Foxglove
Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus Superior' – Magnus
Superior Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea ‘Pow Wow White’ – PowWow
White Coneflower
Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ – Totally Tangerine Prairie
Smoke
Helenium autumnale Mariachi ‘Fuego’ – Fuego
Helen’s Flower/Sneeze Weed
Lupinus polyphyllus Mini Gallery Series – Blue
Lupine
Lupinus polyphyllus Mini Gallery Series – Pine
Lupine
Lupinus polyphyllus Mini Gallery Series – Yellow
Lupine
Lychnis arkwrightii 'Orange Gnome' – Orange Gnome
Maltese Cross
Penstemon digitalis 'Blackbeard' – Blackbeard
Beardtongue
Penstemon 'Prairie Dusk' – Prairie Dusk Beardtongue
Physostegia virginiana 'Pink Manners' – Pink Manners
Obedient Plant
Rudbeckia fulgida Little Goldstar - Black Eyed Susan
Little Goldstar
Scandia – Budget for 2 Sites
Plant expenses
Erickson Ball Field $ 276
Hay Lake – from Prairie Restorations $ 460
Hay Lake – from Abrahamson’s $ 550
Hay Lake – from both PR and A – filler plants $ 260
Total Plants $1,546
Other Expenses
Item Size Quantity Cost Cost
Site 1: Composted Manure (1/2” added to
soil)
Composted Manure - .75 cu. ft.
Model Number: 2667815 Menards® SKU:
2667815
.75 15 $2.50 $37.50 + $3 =
$40.50 round up
to
$41
Site 1: Mulch
Wood Ecology's® Best Natural Wood
Mulch - 2.0 Cu. Ft.
Model Number: 1803051 Menards® SKU:
1803051
1 bag/2
cubic feet
60 $2.19 $131.40+$10.50=
$141.90 round up
to
$142
Site 2: Composted Manure (1/2” added to
soil)
Composted Manure - .75 cu. ft.
Model Number: 2667815 Menards® SKU:
2667815
.75 30 $2.50 $75 + $6 =
$81
Site 2: Mulch
Wood Ecology's® Best Natural Wood
Mulch - 2.0 Cu. Ft.
Model Number: 1803051 Menards® SKU:
1803051
1 bag/2
cubic feet
135 $2.19 $295.65+$23.50
=
$319.15 round up
to
$320
Compost and Mulch Delivery $250
Round-up for both planting areas $100
Total Other Expenses $934
Plant Total $1,546
Other Costs Total $ 934
Less $600 from Tropical Wings grant -$ 600
Grand Total for Planting 2 Gardens $1,880
Upkeep - City of Scandia - Capital Expense
Utility trailer for water tank $300
License plates for trailer $200
Grand Total $500