News you can use
News you can use
From Havre Daily News staff
Hill County Conservation District representatives will be distributing wildflower seed again this spring, and seed packets, which cover 100 square feet and 1,500 square feet, will be distributed starting Saturday at Pepin Park.
As a participant of the Montana Association of Conservation Districts pollinator program, Hill County Conservation District passes out free wildflower seeds to the community to beautify the county and support native and production pollinators.
All the wildflower species are native to the area and specialized for the Hi-Line climate. Montana is one of the top honey producing states and floral resources are vital for honey production.
Distribution locations and times
• Saturday, May 4, Pepin Park, 10 a.m.-noon, 100 sq. ft. and 1,500 sq. ft. packets.
• Friday, May 17 and 24, Triple Dog Brewing, 675 First St. W., 5-7 p.m., 100 sq. ft packets.
• Weekdays, Havre USDA Building, 206 25th Ave. W., 8 a.m.-1 p.m., all packets and bulk seeds.
• Business hours, Farmer’s Union, Rudyard, 100 sq. ft. packets, while supplies last.
• Business hours, Stone Child College Library, 8294 Upper Box Elder Rd., 100 sq. ft. packets, while supplies last.
2024 Packet Options
Ditch Mix
The ditch mix is made up of incredibly hardy wildflowers with high drought tolerance. They have low care needs, and once established can manage in most spaces with little to no input.
The mix includes:
• Maximilian Sunflower
• Western Yarrow
• Lewis Blue Flax
• Rocky Mountain Beeplant
Sunflower and beeplant can bloom their first season, but yarrow and flax may take a year to get established. Planters are warned, though, that the hardiness of these flowers, especially the yarrow and sunflowers, means once they’re planted they’re there to stay for generations.
Shorty Mix
This packet is designed for people looking for a more manicured look. These wildflowers are more low-growing, and are less inclined to get leggy. Some of the included species, especially blanketflower, require a little more love to get going. Prep your bed and water often for the best results.
• Blanketflower
• Upright Prairie Coneflower
• Blazing Star
• Bee Balm.
Super Mix
The Super Mix is for people looking for an adventure It has all of the available species except for the aggressive flowers found in the Ditch Mix. Pick up a guide packet to watch for which sprouts come up and learn about the many plants that call Hill County home.
• Blanketflower
• Purple Prairie Clover
• Upright Prairie Coneflower
• Showy Milkweed
• White Prairie Clover
• Bee Balm.
For the best results with this packet, prep the bed and water once a week, especially as the seedlings are starting off.
Bulk Mix
The bulk mix is for landowners planning to fill larger spaces, and who may have mixed uses for their space. Species were selected for range suitability and forage value. All flowers are palatable to horses and cattle. Seeding rates were determined using USDA standards.
Application for the custom amounts through the Bulk Seeding Program closed in August of 2023, but residents can ask about any remaining stock or to get on a list for the 2025 season.
HCCD is requiring that the bulk mix is either seeded into existing grass or accompanied by a grass mix. Empty spaces are vulnerable to invasive species, and mechanical removal on a large scale is incredibly time consuming. Grass cover is essential to out-compete invasive species, preserve the soil, and provide essential habitat to many of the native pollinator species.
• Purple Prairie Clover — natural fertilizer
• Upright Prairie Coneflower
• White Yarrow — good for soil structure
• Boreal Sweetvetch
• White Prairie Clover — another natural fertilizer, sometimes mistaken for Death Camas
• Maximilian Sunflower — aggressive, can be removed upon request
Grass Mix
Supplemental mix for bulk plantings. Leftover seed will be available to general participants from May onward.
• Slender Wheatgrass
• Canada Wildrye
• Western Wheatgrass
• Prairie Junegrass
• Blue Grama.
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