The Bower features an extensive and constantly evolving native meadow over the six acres of open ground on the property.
The meadow is a former hay field that has transitioned to a native meadow over more than 20 years. As the field was allowed to grow and only mowed on an annual basis, native plants began to take over from the hay field non-native grasses. Drifts of varying heights of perennial grasses and forbs have been added to enhance the meadow. The meadow is managed with late winter mowing or burning. A variety of native trees reside at the meadow’s edge, intentionally planted or self-planted as the forest encroached.
Little Bluestem Grass (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)
Broomsedge Bluestem (Andropogon virginicus)
Purpletop Grass ITridens flavus)
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Partridge pea (Chamaecrita fasciculata)
Hyssop Leaved Boneset (Eupatorium hyssopifolium)
Smooth Aster (Aster laevis)
Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Early Goldenrod (Solidago juncea)
Coreopsis (Coreopsis lancelota)
Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea)
Blazing star (Liatris spicata)
Smooth blue aster (Symphotrichum laeve)
Northern Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa)
Nodding Pink Onion (Allium cernuum)
Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa)
Black Eyed Susan (Rudbekia fulgida)
Gray Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis)
Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)
Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Wild Bergamot "Claire Grace" (Monarda fistulosa)
Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)
Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida)
Tawny Ironweed (Vernonia glauca)
Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
Rough Blazing Star (Liatirs aspera)
Big Leaf Mountain Mint (Pycanthemum muticum)
Purple Lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis)
Prairie or Northern Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
bower (noun) 1. a pleasant shady place; 2. a retreat or sanctuary