b"t 51 a B laCklaNdP rairieM ix tMi n a Be m gy s T MSoc species By 1900, the Blackland Prairie was mostly under cultivation, being recognized as one of the foremost cottonEproducing regions of the world. Many grand old Victorian homes in the cities and towns still existas reminders of the fortunes made in those times. Cultivation was a catastrophic disruption of the prairie ecosystem. It was a common farmers joke to tell the story of a Native American elder who, having seen a plowed fieldfor the first time, said to the farmer, Wrong side up. The story was taken to be an illustration of the Native Americans ignorance, but in fact when the native grasses are turned under and the soil aerated, the organic matter decomposes faster. This creates a flush of nutrients available to cultivated crops, but when the crops are harvested, nutrients are removed with each harvest and the soil continues to be depleted year after year. Todays dependence on chemical fertilizers is evidence that perhaps theres more wisdom in that elders statement than was recognized at the time.Thankfully, many are restoring original native plant communities. But potential pitfalls do exist in todays restoration seed world. For example, if you ever plant Plains Bluestem in a showy Blackland prairie or anywhere else, youd be interested to learn how this enticing folksy plant-named alien grass is made up from 30 different strains of Old World Bluestems a.k.a. yellow bluestems. These aggressive bunchgrasses originate from Eurasia, China and Africa. The infamous KR Bluestem (see p.96) also falls in this group of eco-illogical pitfalls. Once you've got 'em, like Bermuda grass, they've really gotten to you.It's really, really hard to get these weeds out to ever again make room for natives.Our local native prairie grasses are structurally quite different than alien 'improved' pasture grasses. For example, Texas' pasturelands are primarily planted to bermudagrass introduced from Africa. This alien grass creates a dense, tangled, matted turf. Native prairie grasses, by contrast, are typically bunch forming. This characteristic allows for wildlife to construct micro-trail systems under the grass canopy by traveling around the crowns of the root bases. Prairie birds such as quail and many small mammals rely on this structural type of prairie habitat for their basic patterns of reproduction and mobility. The over-story grass canopy provides protection from soaring hawks and other predators by keeping big portions of the micro-trails out of view. Nesting also occurs under this canopy or directly in the clumped bunchgrasses. Use well-spent tax dollars at plants.usda.gov to learn more. Native and non-native plant names coupled with integrity are essential to restoring the land accurately. Native American Seed.helping people restore the earth.Sand Dropseed, Green Sprangletop, Black-Eyed Susan, Tall Dropseed, Purple Prairie Clover, Lemon Mint, Little Bluestem, Plains Bristlegrass, Virginia Wildrye, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Indiangrass, Sideoats Grama, Big Bluestem, Hooded Windmill Grass, Standing Cypress, Pink Evening Primrose, Tall Goldenrod, Broomsedge Bluestem, Smooth White Penstemon, Buffalograss, Purpletop, Prairie Wildrye, Winecup - Annual, Partridge Pea, Prairie Goldenrod, Rattlesnake Master, Waco Indiangrass, Illinois Bundleflower, Plains Coreopsis, Maximilian Sunflower, Switchgrass, Prairie Verbena, American Basketflower, Texas Yellow Star, Texas Cupgrass, Sand Lovegrass, Indian Blanket, Cutleaf Daisy, Swamp Milkweed, Inland Seaoats, Cane Bluestem, Stiff Goldenrod, Showy Milkweed, Clasping Coneflower, Texas Bluebonnet, Eastern Gamagrass, Mealy Blue Sage, White Rosinweed, Spiderwort, Winecup - Perennial, Butterfly WeedIf you know of native remnants suitableBlackland Prairie Mix Item #2800for large-scale harvest sites, please advise.Open Space 12 lbs / acre 25+ lbs $41.51 / lbWe appreciate your interest in our work. Lawn & Garden10,000 sf$220 / 5 lbs 2,000 sf $ 44 / 1 lb400 sf $ 25 D-Pak24n ativEa MEricanS EEd 800 728 4043"