Meadow Life

Although it may look as though grounds keepers missed some areas here, the plot in front of you is indeed a meadow. The tall grass from meadows provides food and shelter for many species of plant and animal. Insects depend on the plants for food and nursery habitat for their larvae, and in turn aid many plants in pollination. Ground-nesting birds (like many sparrow species) and others unable to seek shelter in trees use the grasses for protection, and some species will create nests and breed under the protection of the grasses and wildflowers. These beneficial habitats provide resources for many species, including flora: Joe Pye Weed, Boneset, Great Blue Lobelia; and birds: Common Yellowthroat, Coopers Hawk, and Bluebirds.

There are so many more species that we have left out, so help us by submitting your meadow pictures and sketches to the Trail gallery!

Below is the beginning of our meadow restoration project, photo from early 2020:

Here are Just a few of the Species that Meadows Support:

Eastern Bluebird

Some people are lucky enough to have Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) spend the winter feeding at their home, nibbling on mealworms and other goodies put out by...