More greenery surrounds courthouse

Staff

Published Friday, July 29, 2005

By Ann Austin, Tribune staff writer

Just like most home owners, county officials keep finding ways to improve their surroundings at the government center downtown.

The most recent improvement comes as a garden to the east of the historic 1887 building.

Instead of cement or sod, there are wildflowers, trees and shrub roses. "We felt that would be a better application for the area," said Andy Henschel, Environmental Services watershed technician.

Mirroring the garden planted by the License Center, native plant species were preferred for the area and include butterfly milkweed, native rose and native aspen tree.

Henschel helped select these plants for their color and varying bloom times during the year.

But the native plants don't only provide beauty, they help stabilize the soil.

"The root systems are a lot longer. Native plant's root systems can be up to ten feet long," Henschel said.

And there is also a message to convey.

"The garden is there to show people that there's an alternative to shoreland restoration other than rock riprap," Henschel said. "Native vegetation can be just as beautiful as annuals that you buy from a floral shop."

There has also been talk of expanding native gardens to other areas of the courtyard, perhaps incorporating them into the Veteran's Memorial that is under way.

(Contact Ann Austin at ann.austin@albertleatribune.com or 379-3435.)

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