Each year, community locals and visitors enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature’s masterpiece: the blooming native wildflowers along the west side of Lake Massena. However, in recent years, many have noticed those blooms slowly dwindling. Fortunately, two local groups chose to reseed the area, bringing back the native beauties for many years to come.
Oft prematurely mowed, the wildflowers could not reseed themselves, and several groups noticed. Two of those groups, Bristow Wildflower Run and Rotary Club, decided to invest the money, time, and effort in seeding and reseeding the area to beautify the park once again for the community to enjoy. In the last week, Bristow Wildflower Run’s own Dr. Chip Cooper scattered native seeds purchased by the organization, ensuring the park will be fragrantly adorned as early as May of next year. In fact, the wildflowers are expected to bloom from May 1st through September annually.
Bristow Wildflower Run reseeded the area with its invested $500 of native perennial wildflower seeds, which will grow and reseed themselves each year. The seed mix contained at least twelve species and varieties of native wildflower seeds. Varieties include primrose, Indian blanket, coneflowers, coreopsis, and scarlet sage among others. Bristow Wildflower Run challenges park visitors to identify all species of wildflowers. Additionally, the growing and mowing practices of Tulsa’s Gathering Place inspired Dr. Cooper and the group to discuss best mowing practices with the City of Bristow in hopes the wildflowers will be allowed to grow and reseed themselves each year.
Like Bristow Wildflower Run, dwindling numbers of wildflowers inspired Carole Ellis of the Bristow Rotary Club to learn more about them and how best to support their growth. Since reseeding lies at the heart of their survival, she, too, addressed city officials with her concerns. Carole also consulted Olivia Toothman from the Creek County Extension Office, learning more about identifying, seeding, growing, and mowing native wildflowers. She shared some of her findings and conversations with city officials and Rotary Club President Kristin Weaver, who agreed that seeding the wildflowers could be a nice club project.
Although both groups decided to sow seed in areas along the west side of the lake, each group made a different plan. Bristow Wildflower Run reseeded an area that Dr. Cooper had previously seeded in years past. That area sits between the road and lake from the pine trees near the south end to the country club entrance last week. They also held discussions with the city regarding best growing and mowing practices. Alternatively, Bristow Rotary Club began its seeding effort by first learning about wildflowers, meeting with city officials and Ms. Toothman, purchasing $1500 in seed, and planning its seeding event, which also involves coordination with the Bristow Fire Department. The club will seed an area not previously seeded.
Carole explained that the Rotary Club learned the native wildflowers may best grow when seeds are sown a few weeks following a controlled burn. Mayor Rick Pinson noted the need for the fire department to supervise such a burn, and the plan started coming together. For its part, the Rotary Club will be seeding the area between the road and golf course and adjacent to the area reseeded by Bristow Wildflower Run. Available club members will sow the seeds, which the group has already purchased.
Next spring, as wildflowers sprout from the seeds being sown this fall, get out and meet the challenge: identify as many species and varieties as possible. Be sure to take a moment to enjoy their beauty and thank all those responsible when given the opportunity.