Willow harvesting season is in full swing here at ESRS. We started a couple of weeks ago and have been going full steam. We've harvested thousands of willows each year for the last 5 years. These get used in various bio-engineering projects in and around Calgary.
Willow stakes being bundled after harvesting
Table of foothills rough fescue (Festuca campestris)
We started up the greenhouse in February and it is alive with little growing plants right now. We have thousands of foothills rough fescue (Festuca campestris) and plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii) growing. A portion of these will be going down to a site in southern Alberta and some to a reclamation site outside of Calgary. We do have extras though so feel free to contact us if you’re looking for some.
We’ve also started a variety of native flowers that have germinated. To name a few we have sticky purple geranium (Geranium viscosissimum), brown eyed Susan (Gaillardia aristata), dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata), a variety of asters and more. These are the 2019 plants. We also have some one year old plants still hiding under the snow outside. These will likely flower this year. Some perennial flowers will flower their first year but most won’t flower till their second season or longer.
Dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata) seedlings
Silky lupin (Lupinus sericeus) seedling
We also have a variety of shrubs, willows and wetland species for spring but more on those later!
Steven and Eileen Tannas of Eastern Slopes Rangeland Seeds will be at the Spruce Meadows Garden Show April 8th, 9th, and 10th so be sure to stop by and visit them.