Pollinator plots draw butterflies and other pollinators and provide habitat for the insects and other wildlife. By the entrance to Lewis & Clark Recreation Area, two plots of wildflowers and native grasses are now dormant. Yankton students snow-casted flower seeds last spring.
Shelby Bertsch, who helped plant wildflower seed for the plot stands with her dad. Shane Bertch is District Park Supervisor at Lewis & Clark Recreation Area. The pollinator plot is in view behind them.
Coreopsis was one of the long-blooming wildflowers from this first season.
Coreopsis attracted many pollinators.
Prairie cone flower bloomed well the first season at the pollinator plot. Blue gramma native grass can also be seen in the plot.
Rudbekia or Black-eyed Susans were a favorite of Shelby Bertsch when she visited the plot this summer.
Zinnias were an attractive border and a butterfly attracter at the state park this season.
Education about what is happening here is intentional at the pollinator plots. Park naturalists and Pheasants Forever members provide information at outdoor events at Lewis & Clark Recreation Area
See highlights of plants from the first season, see what a student from the project thinks about it now, and read about South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks management and Pheasants Forever education events by the plots the first season at this link:
http://www.yankton.net/river_city/article_cd6081c6-973c-11e6-b31f-6b5d86fcb78d.html