Betty Learmouth
In an article that Bill Balkwill wrote for the Fall 2004 Volume 1, Number 2 Canada South Land Trust Newsletter, Bill described the efforts that went into a tallgrass prairie restoration on agricultural lands on the Balkwill family farm within the Town of Kingsville. A prairie restoration site was suggested by neighbor Ken Hunter and then Essex County Stewardship Network coordinator Mark Emery as Bill and his brother Jack considered a pond restoration project.
The prairie site was measured Fall 2001 in a location south of the pond restoration site. In Spring 2002, the site was sprayed with roundup as suggested by Mark Emery. Planting of prairie grass seed was undertaken with some prairie flower seeds planted after the initial prairie grass seed. The total area of the pond and prairie restoration site is 2.130 acres, with the prairie site occupying approximately two thirds of the site.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Biologist Don Hector provided a list of prairie plant species within the seed mix: Canada Wild Rye, Big Blue Stem, Indian Grass, Yarrow, Whorled Milkweed, Heath Aster, New England Aster, Tall Coreopsis, Boneset, Sweet Ox-eye, Wild Bergamot, Smooth Beardtongue, Hairy Beardtongue, Virginia Mountain Mint, Gray-headed Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Gray Goldenrod, Ohio Goldenrod, Riddell's Goldenrod, Stiff Goldenrod, Blue Vervain, Culver's Root, Cylindrical Blazing Star, and Joe-Pye Weed.
Additional species not listed in the original planting but identified by Bill Balkwill as growing in the prairie include Little Blue Stem, Compass Plant, Prairie Dock, Tall Sunflower, Partridge Pea, Blue-eyed Grass, Butterfly Weed, Swamp Milkweed, Ironweed, Showy Tick Trefoil and Round-headed Bush Clover. Seed source for the tallgrass prairie restoration was through Pterophylla Nursery of South Walsingham, Norfolk County, Ontario.
In late fall 2002, a few patches of grasses had emerged. By late May 2003, rows of spindly grass and some of the wildflowers had germinated. By fall 2004, the grass species were improving and many of the wild flowers had bloomed.
On April 17, 2008, a Low Complexity Prescribed Burn was held on the Balkwill Lands Prairie Restoration site. The weather was perfect for the burn with gentle winds. Prescribed burns carried out on prairie habitat remove the previous season's dead woody debris, allowing the sun to heat the soil, which stimulates plant growth. Nutrients are returned to the soil as a result of the fire. The blackened earth absorbs the warmth of the sun with green plant shots soon appearing. Prairie habitat needs full sun if it is to flourish.
When monitors visited the Balkwill Lands on July 22, 2008, Bill Balkwill mentioned that the prairie plants were growing exceptionally well this summer with at least six stalks of Blazing Star newly discovered. Monitors could see Compass Plants towering over the prairie grasses.
The accompanying photographs were taken on August 3, 2008.
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)
The most frequently encountered tallgrass in the Balkwill prairie restoration site is Big Bluestem which is sometimes known as Turkey Foot. Big Bluestem is a perennial, growing to a height of five or six feet. It is at its most colourful from August to October when it flowers, then turns various hues of reddish brown as the growing season ends.
Within Essex County, Big Blue Stem may be found on the Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve within the City of Windsor. On Ontario Nature's Stone Road Alvar Nature Reserve located on Pelee Island, Big Bluestem grows near the walking trail, although not visible from the trail. Big Bluestem flourishes on the Walpole Island prairies. Big Bluestem is found from Quebec to Saskatchewan, south to Florida and Arizona.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Black-eyed Susan is well known for its colourful blooms. Bright yellow and orange-yellow flower rays contrast with each blooms dark disk.
Black-eyed Susan is a widespread common plant, although in Essex County and the Municipality of Chatham/Kent, this plant is mainly restricted to the Ojibway Prairie, the Stone Road Alvar, and prairies of Walpole Island. This species ranges from Nova Scotia to Manitoba and southward, blooming from June through October.
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Boneset grows up to five feet tall with clusters of grayish-white flowers. Leaves are opposite and broad-based which provide a distinctive leaf that is readily recognized. This species is found on the Ojibway Prairie, the Stone Road alvar and the Walpole Island prairies. Boneset ranges from Nova Scotia to Manitoba and southward.
Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum)
Linda Kennette stated in her Canada South Land Trust monitoring report for July 22, 2008, that "at least thirty Compass Plants were standing tall" in the Balkwill Tallgrass Prairie restoration site. Compass Plant leaves are large, coarse and deeply indented. The flower stalk may grow up to ten feet tall with showy yellow blooms.
Compass Plant is found on prairies from North Dakota, Minnesota and Michigan south.
In Ontario, Compass Plant may be found along rail lines where it has been introduced, such as hundreds of plants found on Elgin County's Dutton prairie along an abandoned rail line in that community. Access to the area is north along Coyne Road from Highway 2.
Gray-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
Gray-headed Coneflower has a distinctive bloom with long, dropping yellow petals. The central gray disk is elongated, producing a scent when bruised that resembles anise seed. Leaves of this plant are deeply cut. Within Essex County, Gray-headed Coneflower may be observed at both the Ojibway Prairie and on Pelee Island's Stone Road. On the alvar, a spectacular display of this species may be seen from mid July into August. Good rains in June encouraged this species to bloom in profusion as occurred during Summer 2008.
Gray-headed Coneflower grows on dry soils from southern Ontario and western New York to Minnesota and southward.
Prairie Dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) has heart-shaped leaves with the texture of sandpaper which are found at the base of the plant. Its numerous yellow blooms appear on a stalk that may grow to 10 feet in height.
Prairie Dock may be observed in several locations on the Ojibway Prairie, particularly in moist swales. This species is found on the Walpole prairie. Prairie Dock is found on prairies from Ohio and southern Ontario southward.
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)
Whorled Milkweed has narrow leaves which grow in whorls of 3 to 6 leaves along its stem. Flowers are greenish-white which often grow in clusters in the leaf axis.
This milkweed may be found on the Stone Road alvar where it grows in several locations close to the trail on Ontario Nature's Stone Road Nature Reserve. Whorled Milkweed is uncommon is southern Ontario although upon its establishment the plant becomes weedy.
Whorled Milkweed is found in dry locations from southern Manitoba, Wisconsin, Michigan, southern Ontario, New York, Massachusetts and southward.
Dense Blazing-star (Liatris spicata)
Bill Balkwill remarked several times over Summer 2008 that he had newly discovered five or six stalks of Dense Blazing-star, noting the numerous narrow grass-like leaves on the plant's long stem which may grow up to five feet. This species has taken six growing season's to establish itself, finally producing stalks and blooms in late July 2008.
This species is found on the Ojibway Praririe in wet meadows as well as on certain Walpole Island prairies. Dense Blazing-star is found from Wisconsin, Michigan, southwestern Ontario, Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey and southward.