Volunteers from the Kalamazoo
Area Chapter of the WildOnes
Native Landscapers planted a plot of native riparian vegetation
along Axtell Creek in the Autumn of 2002. The law office of Benefiel,
Farrer & Glista, located on the northeast corner of Howard
Street and Crosstown Parkway, agreed to work with the WildOnes
to naturalize their portion of the Axtell Creek riparian corridor.
Native vegetation will require little maintenance (i.e., mowing,
watering) and will provide valuable wildlife habitat. This area
will be an integral part of a naturalizing riparian ecosystem,
as a no-mow zone has been installed along
the creek banks in this Stretch. The bottom two photos were taken
in July 2003 and display cardinal flower and other native plants
in bloom. The sign in the foregound of the bottom left photo is
a part of a series of educational signs installed
along Axtell Creek. Native vegetation
has also been planted upstream of this stretch.
