02-21-23-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Some indications that the project is successfully supporting pollinators would be the presence of the following: • Rusty Patched Bumble Bees (Bombus affinis) o "A survey from 1994-1995 of 464 bumble bees at Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton, Minnesota found 98 rusty patched bumble bee individuals. A survey during the summers of 2007 and 2008 at the same park of 593 bumble bees found no rusty patched bumble bees." -Xerxes.org o I am fairly certain that I spotted ONE rusty patched bumble bee in the summer of 2022, a quarter mile south of the park. I think it is important that we do what we can to support what is left of the population. • Oil Bees (Macropis spp.) • Small Carpenter Bees (Ceratina spp., which nest in soft, woody shrubs such as elderberry, which is present in other areas of the park) • Black Swallowtail Butterflies Timeline May: • Examine existing vegetation to see if any other desirable species are present; • Apply herbicide to non-native grasses and forbs; • Repeat the herbicide application a few weeks later to any herbaceous weeds that were not killed with the first application. June: • Pick up plant orders; • Set up a water barrel; • Begin planting, with possible volunteer assistance; • Protect planted shrubs with wire cages. July: • Continue hand -watering as needed throughout the summer; • Monitor and weed twice/month; • Remove the buckthorn and use herbicide to treat the stumps. Aug/Sep: • Plant additional donated seedlings when they're well -rooted and as the weather allows. October: • Plant seeds, if ordered. Short -Term Maintenance A newly planted area will require watering during periods of dry weather. It will also require frequent weeding during the first few years since soil disturbance will expose weed seeds that are in the seed bank; that should be minimal after the plants become established and fill in gaps. Long -Term Maintenance • Spring (May/early June): o Visual inspection to look for invasive species and removal of any found. o Optional trimming of tall vegetation by hand to a height of 18-24". • Late Summer/Early Fall o Visual inspection to look for invasive species and removal of any found. o Removing tall plants that are coming up too close to the trail. I can't predict right now how much time this will take. A visual inspection would probably take about half an hour. If weeds are present, the time required to remove them would depend on how well they've become established. That is why I recommend monitoring twice per year —in the spring to prevent any garlic mustard from going to seed (if it 11