Commons Area Water Management Landscaping Project
July 15, 2023
We started this page with the purpose of highlighting our Commons area water management landscaping project. Over the next 4-5 years we will provide updates with new information, pictures and descriptions.
Since the Summer of 2022 we have worked closely with Native Roots, LLC. to develop and execute our water management landscaping design. We started with several structural repairs and cleanup work on several culverts and outlets. Then we continued with the installation of bioswales, rain gardens, prairies and pollinator gardens to improve water absorption and filtering in various areas of need around the Commons space.
At the bottom on the page, you will find additional project documents and informational resources about utilizing native plants, and their many benefits, in your own landscaping. This includes our informational Power Point from the 2023 HOA meeting, reviewing the project and it's various elements more in depth.
Summer Wind entry sign, installation of native plant flowerbed and solar lighting.
It has been our long-standing goal to create a flower bed around our Summer Wind entrance sign. We voted at our annual meeting on 2022 to hire Native Roots, LLC. to create a design with a mix of native perennials and grasses. It offers benefits to both the Summer Wind community and wildlife surrounding us. Although not directly a part of the Commons area project, this was our first collaboration with Danielle Bell, owner of Native Roots, LLC.
Design by Native Roots, LLC. Installed by Heather Dall, HOA Vice President
Native Perennial Species:
Cream Indigo (a Species of Concern in WI), early spring bloom
Prairie Smoke - late spring bloom
Purple Cone Flower - summer/early fall bloom
Rough Blazing Star - late summer/early fall bloom
Sky Blue Aster - fall bloom
Native Grass Species:
Prairie Dropseed
Little Bluestem
Commons Water Management Project - Overview
Areas impacted by heavier rainfall will be targeted with a blend of culvert structural work and a landscaping design that utilizes native plant interventions to aid in water management through increased absorption and filtering. Additional benefits the landscaping design includes water runoff filtering before flowing into the marsh, pollinator and wildlife/bird food sources and habitat, mosquito control, walking nature trails and wildlife viewing. In the future we also hope to register some Monarch Waystations and add educational stations/signs. Much of the Commons space will also remain open to recreational use.
Documentation of Flooding/Standing Water Concerns
The first phase was to formally document areas of concern within the Commons where flooding and ground saturation was occurring. Documentation occurred throughout 2022 in the form of several walk-throughs that included residents, board members and professionals, photographs/pictures, and resident feedback through a survey.
June 15, 2022 - South End
July 23, 2022 - South End
Sept 12, 2022 - Commons walk through after rain
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More pictures and videos via link.
https://home.mycloud.com/action/share/36911fdd-3676-45a7-9dc6-99540ef1c16b
(Contact the board, Attn: Heather Dall, if link not working. Pictures have comments to describe locations but appear not to be showing to others.)
During this phase, structural work was also started. Two culverts were repaired to create swales, improving water flow out and into the Commons area away from residential lots. Additionally, the city came to clear out debris and improve flow to the south end outlet. Later work was also done on a third culvert to improve grading and flow.
Landscaping Design Development
Below are both the preliminary concept design and final design, created by Native Roots, LLC. to help address the areas experiencing the most water saturation and standing water in the Commons space. The designs include a variety of native plant intervention features including some elements of Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure approaches, to manage rain runoff, increase ground absorption and increase filtering before water flows into the surrounding marsh through the north and south outlets. This design was also reviewed and supported by both the Hartford City Engineer and local DNR for the many community and environmental benefits it offers.
Interventions include:
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Rains Gardens
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Bioswale
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Short prairies
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Tall prairies
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Sedge meadows
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Pollinator gardens
1st Draft
2nd Draft
Native plants offer many benefits for both water management needs as well as make positive additions to any landscaping design or garden! They have evolved to the local ecology, soil and climate where they naturally occur. Native plants have deep roots growing as long 15ft. These help with water absorption, filtering, erosion control and ground compaction. As a result, native plants need very little if any watering once established. Native plants also provide much needed habitat and food sources for local pollinators, birds and wildlife. They do not require fertilizers or mowing, which helps to reduce pollution and pesticides.
Turf grass -->
Sample pictures/examples of the native plants species and seed mixes that will be included in the various design elements.
Rain Garden Species Custom Mix:
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Perennials: Meadow Anemone, Blue Flag Iris, Golden Alexander, Cardinal Flower, Swamp Milkweed, Meadow Blazing Star, Turtlehead, Brown Eye Susans, Riddell’s Goldenrod, White Indigo
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Sedges/Grasses: Brown Fox Sedge, Porcupine Sedge, Palm Sedge, Common Rush, Bebb’s Sedge
Rain Garden Swale Mix:
Short Sedge Meadow Mix:
Tall Basin Prairie Mix:
Short Prairie Mix:
Pollinator Garden Species:
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Perennials: Swamp Milkweed, Prairie Dock, Ohio Spiderwort, Meadow Anemone, Purple Coneflower, Blue Lobelia, Marsh Blazing Star, Riddell’s Goldenrod, Golden Alexander
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Grasses: Switchgrass, Brown Fox Sedge, Bebb’s Sedge, Long Beaked Sedge
Native Trees/Shrub Species:
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Trees: Swamp White Oak, Basswood, Musclewood, River Birch,
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Shrubs: Buttonbush, Glossy Black Chokeberry, Red Oiser Dogwood, American Hazelnut
Design and installation completed by Native Roots, LLC. Neighborhood volunteers and board members are installing the trees and shrubs.
Landscaping Design Progress
Middle Culvert Bioswale, Pretty Darn Quick Seed Mix
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Structural Work/Culvert Repairs - Summer '22
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Seeded - Nov. '22
Progress...
South End - Short Sedge Meadow and Tall Basin Prairie
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City came to clean out the Southern Outlet to improve flow - Fall '23
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Trees/Shrubs planted - Oct. '23 *Thank you to all the neighborhood volunteers!
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Seeded - Nov. '23
Progress...
Culvert Rain Gardens, Custom Seed Mix
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Structural work/Culvert Repairs - 2022-2024
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Seeded Nov '23 - Spring '24
Progress...
North End - Short Sedge Meadow and Tall Basin Prairie
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Outlet clean up Winter '23 - Spring '24, Summer '24
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Tree planting Fall '24 *Thank you neighborhood volunteers!!
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Seeding Nov/Dec '24
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Remaining trees and shrubs planted Spring '25
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Shout Out to Johnson's Nursery!! Our project was approved for their Community Tree Program. They are supplying all remaining native plants for our project at a discounted rate!! Staff also joined us for this planting event to provide a lesson on native plants and how to plant them.
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Another Shout Out to the 20 HUHS students and staff who volunteered to help us plant!! This was part of the schools' volunteer day, and they all worked really hard.
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Thank you for all the neighborhood volunteers!! Several people came to help support the students and assist with planting.
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Michael Carlson, HOA President, spent much of the year clearing out the shrubs and brush clogging the north outlet area. He also built a rock perimeter.
Progress...
Progress...
Pollinator Gardens (Commons Area)
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Tree and Shrub planting Fall '25
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*Thank you neighborhood and Hartford Cub Scout Pack 3794 volunteers! Over 30 cub scouts and their families joined us, both from our neighborhood and the community. We also had several new and past neighborhood volunteers come to help out.
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Heather Dall, HOA Vice President, gave the cub scouts a lesson about Monarchs and provided each child with a milkweed plant, the Monarch caterpillar's only host plant, to take home. The kids explored our completed prairies areas and even spotted a Monarch chrysalis!!
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This was our final planting event!!!
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Seeding Jan '26
Progress...
Commons Entrance - Pollinator Gardens and Short Prairie
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Tree and Shrub planting Fall '25
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*Thank you neighborhood and Hartford Cub Scout Pack 3794 volunteers!
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Seeding to occur in Fall/Winter '26
After this the Design will be complete!!
Progress...
Project Documents and Landscape Design
(in order of development)
Preliminary Design
Community Feedback Survey Form
Summer Wind Facts Sheet - Project Overview
(available upon request)
Final Design
Project/Survey Updates and Next steps Power Point '23
Resources
Low Impact Development/Green Infrastructure
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EPA’s website: Nonpoint Source: Urban Areas | US EPA
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The Role Of Native Plants In Stormwater Management: A Guide For Homeowners - Will work for water
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Green Infrastructure: How to Manage Water in a Sustainable Way (nrdc.org)
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Prairies and Native Plants | Land and Water Resources Department (countyofdane.com)
Gardening with Native Plants
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A Presentation by Doug Tallamy – Nature’s Best Hope (youtube.com)
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“The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden,” Rick Darke and Douglas W. Tallamy, Timber Press, 2014
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“Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants,” Douglas W. Tallamy and Rick Darke, Timber Press, 2009
Where to Buy Native Plants/Seeds
Local:
Johnson's Nursery, Meno. Falls
Prairie Future Seed Company, Meno. Falls
Shady Acres Perennial Nursery, New Berlin
Pollinator Friendly Nursery, LLC, Delafield
Wisconsin DNR Nurseries
Spring native plant sales and fundraisers: at Nature Centers - Wehr Nature Center, Lac Lawrann Conservancy, Riveredge Nature Center, Schlitz Audubon, Washington County Nursery Native Tree, Shrub and Seed Sale, etc.
Online:
Native Plants | Prairie Nursery
Prairie Moon Nursery: Storefront