By Topf Wells

Jim Hess, Justin Haglund, and some SWTU and Nohr volunteers made life better for brown trout and bumble bees a few weeks ago. Justin worked with a landowner to convert 3 or so acres of row crops along Conley Lewis creek on a DNR easement from row crops to a buffer. This change has multiple benefits: less runoff to the stream, less pesticides in the stream, less erosion, and more bugs along the stream.

You’ll see this area for yourself on our April 27 work day with the Nohr Chapter on this site. Besides brushing, we’ll sow native grass seeds for the buffer. The buffer also needed some native wildflower seeds to function better and to add some beauty to the countryside. But wildflower seeds are demanding. They have to be sown so that they are subject to freezing, snow and rain to germinate.

With the help of some good friends, SWTU swung into action. The Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly Madison Audubon) provided lots of seeds of 20 different species, mixed with sawdust and ready to spread, at bargain costs. Nohr helped pay for them.

On March 8, SWTU and Nohr volunteers sowed the seed. At that point we were in a hot, dry spell and could only hope that we had the seeds out in time. Since then, we’ve had some very cold temps, snow, and rain. Those might have spoiled some fishing trips but our wild flowers are off to a great start.

The grass seeds do not depend on that cycle of weather to germinate so our April 27 sowing will be just fine. Huge thanks to Jim, Justin, SWBA, and the our band of volunteers. Photos courtesy Dyan Lesnik.