Summer 2007: Volume 28, Number 3 - Missouri Prairie Foundation

The complex was designed by the landscapearchitectural firm of Oehme, van Sweden andAssociates, Inc. The design included five palettes—differentassemblages of plant species forprairie, savanna and bottomland forest areas—forthe Deer Lake area and eight palettes for theSteinberg area. The plantings were installed byDJM Ecoscapes, Restoration and Management.Before planting, glyphosate was applied toexisting vegetation in September 2002 and thenative seed was installed in February 2003 usinga no-till Truax seed drill. Shade-tolerant specieswere seeded based upon tree shade patterns.Several thousand plugs were also planted includingcommon boneset, rough blazing star, sweetconeflower, swamp milkweed, golden ragwort,and switchgrass, as well as sedges, rushes andwetland emergent plants. Today, the complex isvisually stunning, with drifts of wildflowers andgrasses blooming throughout the growing season.Location: Forest Park is 1,293 acres in the City ofSt. Louis. It is bounded by Oakland Ave./Hwy.40/64 to the south, Skinker Blvd. to the west,Lindell Blvd. to the north and Kingshighway to theeast. For more information, contact Forest ParkForever at 314-367-7275.21