***If you’re interested in donating to this or other pollinator habitat projects at Interstate State Park, please continue reading about our project and instructions for donating. We thought you’d love to hear about our new Friends’ of Interstate and Straight Lake Parks project – turning the grass medians along the road into our WI-side Interstate Park. Several folks on our Friends’ group board, members, and community members are passionate about native plants and when we heard that the ash trees were being cut down due to the spreading emerald ash borer infestation, we suggested turning them into pollinator prairie pockets – and we’d be their “pocket protectors”! Through partnership with Wild Rivers Conservancy and Alex Bouthilet, we began our process by gaining access to native seeds that have been hand-collected locally as well as access to their expertise on all things prairie restoration. 
First, we prepped the areas in varying ways – a bit of a working research project on what seems to work best for this area going forward in coming years. Then we broadcast pounds of diverse native plant seed by hand. 
Lastly, we planted nearly 300 plugs or semi-mature plants, and flagged them for reference while they get established. Some of the more mature plants were donated by Nancy Graden of local Red Clover Apothecary Farm as well. Signage to help visitors understand the project and the stage we’re in with it has been installed. Now, patience. We’ll tend to the plants and help them through their first years as they spread and establish themselves. We’ll learn about seed collection and collect seed at the appropriate time. And, in turn, broadcast it. Over winter, we might see birds perched on seed heads, while we look inward putting together programming to help visitors understand the prairie ecosystem, pollinators, and/or how they might do something similar in their own backyard. Additional work looking for funding through grants and donations will also be underway, so programming, signage, and additional planted areas can be established around the park.
We recently installed a Pollinator Plant Demonstration Garden in front of the Ice Age Interpretative Center. This garden showcases specific plants with their names on small signs. In time, we hope to show in signage what insects have a special host or pollinating relationship with each plant. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to plant some of these in your own yard!
If you’d like to donate to our pollinator project(s), please note that in the memo of your check or donation through programs like GiveBig that happen annually, by mailing in directly at the address below, or in person at our Ice Age Interpretive Center Gift Shop (we use Square for purchases/donations). Friends of Interstate Park P O Box 703 St. Croix Falls, WI 54024