The Joy of a Mini Meadow

It is often in August that the earth’s flowers are singing their loudest. Cosmos, zinnias, self-seeding annuals and native perennials have taken this long to reach their full potential and offer their nectar as a sweet treat to the flocks of bees and butterflies that are drawn to them. 

The meadow is like that. Flowers and grasses intermingle in an open expanse and August finds it quiet, calming, but buzzing with activity. What if we could experience the joy of meadows close to home? What if we each planted a mini meadow - a little patch of colorful flowers in our yards? 

A mini meadow does not require much: a patch of earth and a handful of annual and perennial seeds. It does not have to be, and should not be, manicured, but rather a loose, informal style as found in nature. A mini meadow could be as small as a container on your deck, or as large as your entire backyard. It is not time-consuming because once established, they require little maintenance. 

MINI MEADOW BASICS

1. It’s most economical to start with seeds rather than plants, but a combination of both can be implemented. 
   
2. A wildflower mix can be used, but it’s more fun to create your own mix of seeds. Do your research and learn about life-cycles of  different flowers. Annuals will bloom from seed the first year, but only last one season unless they have self-sowing tendencies. Perennials will take two years to bloom from seed, and will come back every year. It’s a good idea to have some of both in your mini meadow. 
   
3. Mix the seeds together, then mix with sand to make sure the seed is distributed evenly. This also helps you see where the seed has been spread.
   
4. Watering is vital for germination and for seedlings to establish strong roots. Once your mini meadow has been growing for a while, watering requirements are much less.
   
5. It’s best to leave the current year’s growth through the fall and winter as it provides valuable habitat for beneficial insects, so cut down debris in the spring.
   

WHAT TO DO NOW
Late summer is not the time to plant except for perennial transplants. However, it is the time to plan and prep for next year’s mini meadow. 

• Select a location and prep the site. 
  
• Do your homework and learn which flowers will do well in your selected spot. There are options for part-shade and for other challenges like deer, hillsides, and black-walnut trees. 
  
• Begin to gather seeds from self-sowing annuals in the garden or from the seed racks at the garden center. Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
  

PLANTS TO CONSIDER 
Annuals: Bachelor Buttons, Borage, Calendula, California poppies, Cosmos, Feverfew, Sunflowers, Zinnias
Perennials:  Black-eyed Susans, Butterfly weed, Coneflowers, Coreopsis, New England Asters, Liatris, Vernonia 
Grasses: Prairie Dropseed, Little Bluestem, Switchgrass

The best part of mini meadows is what they teach us: to loosen our grip of order and control in the landscape, to embrace nature’s free spirit of intermingling plants, and to do our part on our own bit of earth. They also offer this:

In the meadow I found my place, In serenity and silence of grace
My spirit calm, I linger in the breeze Under the rays of sun, I found peace. - Alexis Kho

LEARN MORE 
Mini Meadows by Mike Lizotte is the best book out there on the subject. His detailed lists and the beautiful photography by Rob Cardillo will inspire you to create your own mini meadow.  

Tracy Hankwitz is a Horticulture Adjunct at Gateway Technical College and owns Bella Botanica, LLC in an old church located  at 1787 Walworth Street, Springfield, WI. You can learn more at www.bellabotanicaboutique.com.