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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStillwater Greenway Corridor - 2001MEMORANDUM To: Joint Board From: Sue Fitzgerald, Planner Date: January 17, 2001 Subject: Stillwater Greenway Corridor Attached is the Landscaping Recommendations for the Stillwater Greenway Corridor (Manning Ave. starting at Highway 36 going to County Road 96, from County Road 96 to County Road 95) for your review and approval. Stillwater Greenway Corridor Landscaping Recommendations Guidelines for Greenway Landscaping: Coordination with Existing Terrain Features Use of Naturalistic Plantings and Native Plants Enhancement of Wildlife Habitat Blending Into Residential Landscaping Provision of Screening Where Appropriate Incorporation of Rest Stops & Parking Coordination with Existing Terrain Features: Effort should be made to coordinate the plantings with the existing terrain features, such as slopes, low areas and wetlands. Plants will be chosen which will grow in the existing terrain and will be planted so as to enhance vistas seen from both the roadway and the trail. Use of Naturalistic Plantings and Native Plants: It is desired that the plantings have a natural look which blends into the surrounding landscape features so as to enhance the aesthetics of the trail. Planting trees and shrubs in groups, rather than in rows, will help achieve this effect. Trees and shrubs may also be planted at a closer spacing than for formal landscaping. The use of native plants will provide a more natural look and will also ensure that the landscaping requires little maintenance after it is established. Enhancement of Wildlife Habitat: Planting native plants along the greenway corridor will enhance wildlife habitat by providing food, cover and nesting sites for mammals and birds. Predation of plants by deer, rabbits and voles can be a problem, so some plant species will be chosen which are not as palatable to these animals. Habitat will be enhanced mainly for songbirds and ground nesting birds such as pheasants. Blending Into Residential Landscaping: Where the greenway is near residential areas, the plantings will be changed slightly to blend more with the residential landscaping. Use of improved cultivars of native trees and shrubs, as well as hardy perennials and ornamental grasses will be appropriate for these areas. Provision of Screening Where Appropriate: In some locations, particularly in areas where there are residential developments, some type of screening may be desired to create more privacy for both trail users and development residents. In these areas, raised berms as well as use of evergreens for year-round screening may be indicated. Incorporation of Rest Stops & Parking Areas: Use of the trail will be enhanced by placement of several rest stops and parking areas within the greenway corridor. These areas will facilitate picnicking, trail access and loading and unloading of bicycles. Landscape Recommendations for Specific Site Categories: "Old Field" - these are areas which were previously cropped or grazed but which now are no longer used for agriculture. Some areas contain native wildflowers and grasses but most of the dominant plants consist of introduced, non-native species. Some old field areas contain fast-growing, pioneer tree species. These treed areas could be interplanted with other native species such as oak to increase species diversity and longevity. The open areas would lend themselves very well to planting of prairie wildflowers and grasses. Some of the open areas could be used for rest stops and parking areas for trail access. Trees could be planted to provide shade for picnickers and vehicles. Residential Areas - some areas along the trail have already been developed as residential areas with single-family homes. More development is likely along the greenway corridor. In these areas, improved cultivars of trees and shrubs could be used. These cultivars usually have better form, flowering and fruit production than the native plant species. Perennials and ornamental grasses could also be used. Attached are plans and plant lists for landscape designs for: Suburban Garden, Native Shade Garden, Evergreen Shaded Garden, Wet Meadow Garden, Prairie Garden, and Lakeshore Upland Garden. These designs utilize native plants and are planned for aesthetics, low maintenance, erosion control and enhancement of wildlife habitat. Natural Areas with Trees - in some areas there are already trees within the greenway corridor. Many of these trees have been planted, but some are natural stands. Even when trees have been planted, they have not been regularly maintained as landscape trees and are growing more like a native woodland. It is recommended, where trees exist within the corridor, that the minimum amount of trees be removed for trail construction. Trees and shrubs could be planted in and near the treed areas to increase diversity of native plant material. Shrubs which provide berries, seeds and nuts would increase populations of songbirds, ground nesting birds, and small mammals. Wetlands - there are several areas within the greenway corridor which contain wetlands. Trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses which tolerate saturated soils could be planted near the wetlands to increase the diversity of species and improve habitat quality. Additional Landscape Elements: features such as fencing, boulders, and stone walls add rural character to the corridor and provide a tie-in to both the historic and the future land uses. These elements could be preserved where they occur within the corridor, or they could be constructed at appropriate locations. 2 0 BENCH: Y WILDFLOWERS PLANTED TREES A. OLD FIELDS TREES Old fields are areas which were previously cropped or grazed but which are now no'longer used for agriculture. Some areas contain native wildflowers and grasses but most of the dominant :NIC TABLE plants.consist of introduced, rift -native spices. Some old field areas contain fast-growing, pioneer tree species. These treed areas could be inter -planted with other native species such as oak to increase species diversity and longevity. The open areas would lend themselves very well to planting of prairie wildflowers and grasses. Some of the open areas could be used for rest stops and parking areas for trail access. Trees could be planted to provide shade for picnickers and vehicles. A. OLD FIELDS Plant Recommendations for Soil Types: The soils in the greenway corridor vary from silt loam to sandy loam and from clay to coarse, gravelly areas. For this reason, plant material selections will include plants which can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions. The most specific plant recommendations will be those for wetland areas. "Mesic" sites with good drainage and moderate moisture: Prairie Wildflowers and Grasses Common Name Scientific Name Wildflowers Yarrow Achillea species Leadplant Amorpha canescens Butterfly weed Asclepias tuber osa (var. clay) heath aster Aster ericoides New England aster Aster novae-angliae silky aster Aster sericeus sky blue aster Aster azureus stiff tickseed Coreopsis palmata purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea Rattlesnake master Eryngium yuccifolium prairie smoke Geum triflorum showy sunflower Helianthus laetiflorus blazing star Liatris aspera dotted blazing star Liatris puctata Lobelia Lobelia spicata Bergamot Monarda fistulosa large -flowered beardtongue Penstemon grandiflorus purple prairie clover Petalostemum purpureum prairie phlox Phlox pilosa yellow coneflower Ratibida pinnata black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Compass plant Silphium laciniatum 3 stiff goldenrod Solidago rigida blue vervain Verbena hastata prairie violet Viola pedalifida golden Alexander Zizia aurea Grasses Quercus macrocarpa prairie dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis Indian grass Sorghastrum nutans big bluestem Andropogon gerardi little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula Trees Common Name Scientific Name red oak Quercus rubra No. pin oak Quercus ellipsoidalis white oak Quercus alba bur oak Quercus macrocarpa bicolor oak Quercus bicolor red maple Acer rubrum sugar maple (only for well -drained soils with good organic matter content - dark loam) Acer saccharum Hackberry Celtis occidentalis Basswood Tilia americana white ash Fraxinus americana black ash Fraxinus nigra paper birch (north -facing slopes, well- drained soils with good organic matter content) Betula papyrifera river birch Betula nigra Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus Ironwood (only for well -drained soils with good organic matter content - dark loam) Ostrya virginiana white pine Pinus strobus red pine Pinus resinosa white spruce Picea glauca densata Shrubs Common Name Scientific Name Chokecherry Prunus virginiana Am. Hazelnut Corylus americana Highbush cranberry Viburnum trilobum Juneberry Amelanchier laevis gray dogwood Cornus racemosa red -osier dogwood Cornus stolonifera pagoda dogwood (shady sites) Cornus alternifolia 'Regent' serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia Allegheny serviceberry Amelanchier laevis black chokeberry Aroma melanocarpa Vines Common Name Scientific Name river bank grape Vitis riparia Bittersweet Celastrus scandens Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia PK PL. PLANT. FLOWERING TREES HOUSE B. RESIDENTIAL AREAS Some areas along the trail have already been developed as residential areas with single -Family homes. More development is likely along the greenway corridor. In these areas, improved cultivars of trees and shrubs could be used. These cultivars usually have better form, flowering and fruit production than the native plant species. Perennials and ornamental grasses could also be used. B. Plants for Sites Near Residential Areas: Perennials, Ferns and Ornamental Grasses Common Name Scientific Name Perennials Yarrow 'Coronation Gold' or 'Cloth of Gold' Achillea filipendulina Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii Rudbeckia 'Herbstsonne' Rudbeckia lady's mantle Alchemilla false spirea Astilbe false indigo Baptisia australis Thread -leaf Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' or'Golden Showers' Coreopsis verticillata fern -leaf bleeding heart Dicentra eximia Cranesbill or hardy geranium Geranium coral bells Heuchera Lupine Lupinus perennis Blazing star Liatris Phlox Phlox paniculata Siberian iris Iris Golden groundsel Ligularia Hollyhock mallow Malva alcea var. fastigiata bee balm Monarda Balloon flower Platycodon grandiflorus Lungwort Pulmonaria Sage Salvia x superba Goldenrod 'Fireworks' or 'Golden Fleece' Solidago Speedwell 'Sunny Border Blue' Veronica or'Goodness Grows' Ferns Scientific Name lady fern Athyrium filix femina Ostrich fern Matteuccia struthiopteris Cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea Interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana Maidenhair fern Adiantum pedatum Ornamental Grasses Acer saccharum feather reed grass Calamagrostis blue fescue Festuca glauca blue oat grass Helictotrichon sempervirens Maiden grass Miscanthus sinensis Trees Common Name Scientific Name red oak Quercus rubra white oak Quercus alba bur oak Quercus macrocarpa Bicolor oak Quercus bicolor red maple (cultivars: 'Northwoods'; 'Autumn Blaze'; 'North Fire'; 'Autumn Spire' (for narrower spaces) Acer rubrum sugar maple (only for well- drained soils with good organic matter content - dark loam) (cultivar: 'Green Mountain') Acer saccharum Hackberry Celtis occidentalis river birch Betula nigra Basswood (cultivar: 'Redmond') Tilia americana Weeping willow ('Prairie Cascade') Salix x 'Prairie Cascade' Showy mountain ash Sorbus decora Thornless Cockspur Crataegus crus-galli hawthorn Viburnum trilobum Flowering crabapple Malus species (cultivars: 'Prairiefire'; Cornus racemosa 'Thunderchild'; 'Donald Wyman'; Cornus stolonifera 'Indian Magic';'Indian Summer'; Cornus sericea 'Red Jewel'; 'Snowdrift'; 'Spring Cornus alternifolia Snow' (fruitless) Amelanchier alnifolia white pine Pinus strobus red pine Pinus resinosa white spruce Picea glauca densata Arborvitae (cultivar;'Techny') Thuja occidentalis Shrubs Common Name Scientific Name Highbush cranberry Viburnum trilobum Juneberry Amelanchier laevis gray dogwood Cornus racemosa red -osier dogwood Cornus stolonifera 'Isanti' red -twigged dogwood Cornus sericea Pagoda dogwood (shady sites) Cornus alternifolia 'Regent' serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia Allegheny serviceberry Amelanchier laevis dwarf bush honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera Fragrant sumac 'Gro -Low' Rhus aromatica hardy roses (cultivars: 'Carefree Delight' ;'Belle Poitevine; 'Country Dancer'; 'Hansa'; 'Meideland Red') Rosa species Azalea (Northern Lights series) - require acid soil amendments Rhododendron hybrids Vines Common Name Scientific Name Clematis Clematis paniculata Trumpet creeper Campsis radicans Honeysuckle `Dropmore Scarlet' Lonicera x brownii Bittersweet Celastrus scandens EXISTING TREES TRAIL NEW TREES C. NATURAL AREAS WITH TREES In some areas there are already trees within the greenway corridor. Many of these trees have been planted, but some are natural stands. Even when trees have been planted, they have not been regularly maintained as landscape trees and are growing more like a native woodland. It is recommended where trees exist within the corridor, that the minimum amount of trees be removed for trail construction .Trees and shrubs could be planted in and near C. NATURAL AREAS WITH TREES red oak Quercus rubra No. pin oak Quercus ellipsoidalis white oak Quercus alba bur oak Quercus macrocarpa Bicolor oak Quercus bicolor red maple Acer rubrum sugar maple (only for well -drained soils with good organic matter content - dark loam) Acer saccharum Hackberry Celtis occidentalis Basswood Tilia americana white ash Fraxinus americana black ash Fraxinus nigra paper birch (north -facing slopes, well- drained soils with good organic matter content) Betula papyrifera river birch Betula nigra Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus Ironwood (only for well -drained soils with good organic matter content - dark loam) Ostrya virginiana white pine Pinus strobus red pine Pinus resinosa white spruce Picea glauca densata 10 N WETLAND qtr LVD PLANTINGS A WETLANDS Trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses that tolerate saturated soils should be planted near the wetlands to increase the diversity of species and improve habitat quality. D. WETLAND AREAS (saturated soil conditions) Prairie Wildflowers and Grasses Common Name Scientific Name Wildflowers blue flag iris Iris versicolor Cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata Turk's cap lily Lilium michiganese Turtlehead Chelone glabra Monkeyflower Mimulus ringens Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum bottle gentian Gentian andrewsu Prairie blazing star Liatris pycnostachya Marsh betony Pedicularis lanceolata Mountain mint Pycnanthemum virginianum Riddell's goldenrod Solidago riddellii Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum Grasses Prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans big bluestem Andropogon gerardi blue joint grass Calamagrostis canadensis Rattlesnake grass Glyceria canadensis dark green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens wool grass Scirpus cyperinus bottlebrush sedge Carex comosa pointed broom sedge Carex scoparia 11 Trees Common Name Scientific Name tamarack Larix laricina sand bar willow Salix exigua balsam fir (more upland where Abies balsamea soil remains moist but is well - Cornus amomum drained) Alnus rugosa No. pin oak (more upland Quercus ellipsoidalis where soil remains moist but is well -drained) bicolor oak (more upland where Quercus bicolor soil remains moist but is well - drained) river birch (more upland where Betula nigra soil remains moist but is well - drained) Shrubs Common Name Scientific Name winterberry (good wildlife shrub; plant away from trail, berries are showy but poisonous) Ilex verticillata pussywillow Salix discolor red osier dogwood Cornus stolonifera silky dogwood Cornus amomum speckled alder Alnus rugosa 12