Memory Triangle Conversion to Native Habitat
Memory Triangle Conversion to Native Habitat Meadow
You may have noticed that in the spring of 2024 the Memory Triangle lawn was "uprooted" as a result of the county sewer project. The City recognized this literal uprooting as blank-slate-opportunity to make a meaningful investment in the ecological diversity of Mountain Brook!
The 12,000 square foot traffic island was previously limited to three trees and grass. Grassy lawns do little to support ecological foods webs, and even less to slow down stormwater run-off since its roots are roughly 6 inches deep. Native plants, on the other hand, have roots that are 12-15 feet deep! This means that native plants are superbly equipped to stabilize soils and sequester carbon (pulling pollution out of the air and putting it deep into the soil, where it actually nourishes the underground microbial world)! Also due to their deep root systems native plants need no irrigation, as they have been trained over centuries to thrive in our southeastern climate and weather patterns!
Memory Triangle is to be planted with a native plant seed mix that will stabilize the soil, prevent run-off, and provide perinneal native vegetation that will support a wide variety of pollinators and birds (see below for specific ecological benefits of each species in our meadow!). The seed mix has been specifically designed for the Triangle by Roundstone Native Seeds, the same company that the city used to help design the seed mix for the recent Jemison Park restoration.
Proposed is a 10-foot wide semi-formal grassy turf strip around the perimeter of the triangle (native Buffalo Grass). The interior of the island will contain a seed mix of native long-grasses (season 1) and native windflowers (blooming in season 2). See the pdf slide show below for a visual of all proposed plants!
This change in vegetation for the Triangle will have a more relaxed (less formal) look to it than what has traditionally grown in this location. Watch us grow, and Root for the Meadow by sharing it on your favorite form of social media!
Hashtag #RootForTheMeadow, #MBeeAL
Proposed Native Plant Species and their Ecological Benefits
Already established:
Trees:
3 Blackgum trees – host to 26 species of butterflies, moths and skippers. Attracts thrushes, mimids, woodpeckers, tanagers, waxwings, and over 30 species of song and game birds. The flowers of this tree provide a rich source of nectar for bees. Hollow trunks and limbs provide homes for bees and cavity-nesting birds.
To be installed mid-summer 2024, per Council resolution approved on April 8, 2024:
Native Long Grasses:
Purple Love Grass - larval host plant for grass moth, and is popular with insect herbivores like leafhoppers. Birds use the dry panicles for nesting, and the grass also supports butterflies and bees. The seeds have high nutritional value and are a valuable food resource for song birds and small mammals. Resilient to roadside conditions, has superior establishment (erosion control), and requires less water once established.
Side Oats Grama – Benefits and attracts: Thrushes, waxwings, wood warblers, finches, mockingbirds & thrashers, chickadees & titmice, orioles, cardinals & grosbeaks, crows & jays, sparrows, nuthatches, vireos, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and wrens. Provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife.
Flowering Natives:
Butterfly Milkweed – larval host for monarch butterfly. Important source of nectar for many butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial pollinating insects.
Lance Leaved Coreopsis - Many different species of native bees and butterflies will visit lance-leaf coreopsis. Its nectar and pollen is attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. A host plant for the caterpillars of several moth species. Its seeds are eaten by songbirds. As many as 22 native bee species rely on Coreopsis.
Plains Coreopsis - Visited by long-horned bees, small carpenter bees, leafcutter bees, cuckoo bees, and sulphur butterflies.
Blackeyed Susan - 18 species use Coneflowers as a host plant. Several species of birds will feast on the mature nutritious seeds of the flower heads if left intact at the end of the growing season. A host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly caterpillar and the Bordered Patch butterfly caterpillar.
Heath Aster - Host plant for many species of butterfly larvae, including: Pearl Crescent, Banded Woolly Bear, Silvery Checkerspot, and Painted Lady.
Gray Goldenrod – Supports 115 butterfly and moth species, and 11 native bee species. Also provides important food resources for monarch butterflies during their fall migration. Butterflies that will frequent goldenrod include the Monarch, Hairstreaks, and Painted Ladies. Birds also feast on their seed heads, including sparrows, chickadees, juncos, and downy woodpeckers.
Slender Mountain Mint – Larval host for several butterflies and moths: Gray Hairstreak butterfly, Wavy-lined Emerald moth, Regal Fritillary butterfly, Delaware Skipper butterfly, Hermit Sphinx moth, and Curved Tooth Geometer moth.
Maryland Golden Aster – Support native butterflies, as well as a variety of native long-tongued bees — including green metallic, sweat, leafcutter, bumble and mining bees — are attracted to the plant’s nectar. The flowers bloom in spring, summer and fall, which also helps migrating monarchs.
Indian Blanket – Laval host for Buckeye and Checkerspot butterflies.
Violet Lespedeza – Larval host for the Eastern-Tailed Blue butterfly and the Grey Hairstreak butterfly. Attracts bees, butterflies, and skippers, and its seeds are eaten by songbirds.
Slender Lespedeza - Larval host for the Eastern-Tailed Blue butterfly and the Grey Hairstreak butterfly. Attracts bees, butterflies, and skippers, and its seeds are eaten by songbirds.
Spotted Beebalm – Larval host to moths and butterflies, a nectar plant for hummingbirds and insects, a seed source for hungry little winter birds.
Appalachian Beardtongue – Larval host for the Common Buckeye butterfly. Hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators are attracted to the blooms.
Ohio Spiderwort – Larval host to several native moth species, including the Golden Looper Moth.
