On January 21, I will be leading a Prairie Seed and Plug Planting Day at the Harrison Avenue Prairie restoration site, City Park, New Orleans, La. 

Pastorek Habitats/Meadowmakers is providing about seven hundred seedling plugs of native grasses, Mamou, and Hibiscus(three different species), all of which were grown by a local grower, from seed collected in the Cajun Prairie restoration site, Eunice, La. We are also donating about 150 pounds of high diversity seed collected from this same site. The fun will start about 8 o'clock and will go until all plants are planted, which I expect will be about noon or earlier if a good showing of people make it out to help. The effort is taking place to add to the seeding and plugging that was done at the site already, but also to connect interested people to one another and to the prairie-meadow itself.

So far, there have been about fifty species of prairie plants identified in the nine acre planting since its original construction in November 2009. About 90 species were seeded and plugged in the original work. Although you may have passed and wondered about what you were seeing, it is developing as expected; at a normal pace.

We will hope for good weather and hope to see you there. City Park has been kind enough to mow the area so that we will be working on a comfortable, unobstructed plain. The soil at the site is typical New Orleans marsh soil and is pretty tough digging but the plugs are small and those of you who don't mind doing physical work, will be much appreciated if you are able to help. The seeding part is easy to do and takes very little energy to accomplish; mostly walking around tossing/distributing seed through the field.  

Choose your weapon!

Bring the kids and/or the Grandparents. BYOS (Bring Your Own Shovel) if you are inclined to dig. If you don't feel like working but are just curious, come anyway and visit with the folks.

The Harrison planting is just across from The Cotourie Forest on Harrison Avenue, just east of Marconi Drive, and south of Harrison. 

Hope to see you there! Please pass this on to anyone who you think may be interested.

   Thanks!                         

   Marc Pastorek