INDOT, Evansville group join forces to plant wildflowers | News

The Indiana of Department of Transportation and Keep Evansville Beautiful have announced the beginning of a new partnership project with roadside wildflower plantings.  This is the first partnership between the two entities of this kind.

“INDOT is thrilled to work with KEB to find a way to continue their beautification projects in the Evansville area” stated Rusty Fowler, INDOT Vincennes District Deputy Commissioner.  “This project is unique and based on its success will hopefully be the first of several for the area.”

The project is located in the median area of U.S. Route 41 immediately south of the intersection of State Road 57.  The plots will be considered Adopt-A-Spot areas and will be maintained by KEB and its volunteers.

“KEB continues its efforts in improving the entrances to the City of Evansville” said Cheryl Musgrave, President of KEB.  “INDOT has been very understanding and cooperative with our efforts to the area.  We cannot say thank you enough for their help in our projects.”

The first area will be planted with a unique blend of native wildflower plugs and edged with buffalo grass.  The second and third areas will be filled with buffalo grass.  The plugs that will be used were grown at an Indiana Department of Corrections facility.  Some of the most popular plants used in the program include New England Aster, Butterfly Weed, Gayfeather, Perennial Lupine, Planis Coreopsis and Purple Coneflower.  Prairie grasses are also part of the program, and include Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Blue Grama and Sideoats Grama.  Plantings selected are low-lying species to allow for clear sight distance in this area.

This project is also a part of the Hoosier Roadside Heritage Program whose primary goal is promoting and incorporating native plants and wildflowers into Indiana's roadside landscape.  According to KEB, this provides benefits such as: enhancing the beauty of the environment, reducing erosion, minimizing costs associated with mowing, lessening storm runoff, controlling invasive plant species, and improving soil quality.

Plantings are scheduled to be installed in the Spring of 2013.

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