Sometimes, churches get it right. I’m pretty pleased to be a part of this project to restore native plants to a strip of land near our church. The area was completely overgrown with invasives that would have choked out all the wildflowers and shade trees. That’s a lose for everyone. The congregation loved shade (and the and the energy savings that came with it). The neighbors loved the wall of green that protected their homes from street noise (and increased their property values). The drivers on the parkway enjoyed the tall trees and greenery that make that particular stretch of Menominee River Parkway one of the prettiest, drives in Milwaukee. (Seriously. Driving that road will drop your blood pressure.) So what are we doing about it? We’re teaming up with the county, and with master gardeners around town, to reintroduce native plants. The process is already started, with most of the old stuff gone, and some new plants already taking root.
And now we’re getting good press for it. Tom Heine posted a story about it in his blog for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Thanks to Mr. Heine for the article, to the county for the help, to the workers for slogging through mud and rain, and to everyone who has donated money to get this project started. We’re not done yet! You can help by donating time, native plants, or money. Interested parties may contact the church.
