The Marquette County Conservation District is helping residents install native wildflowers on a hill that had been overrun with invasive spotted knapweed.

Spotted knapweed is native to Europe and was introduced to the U.S. in the late 1800s, likely accidentally through contaminated seed or ballast, according to information compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Invasive Species Information Center.

“We took on the project of removing knapweed,” Lost Creek resident Lorraine Leidholdt said. “What happened, of course, you pull on the knapweed, the sand started shifting, and the hill started losing its integrity.”

So, residents put rocks on the hillside, with the ultimate goal of putting in wildflowers.

Lost Creek resident Leidholdt and Elise Desjarlais, the Marquette County Conservation District’s invasive species coordinator for the Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, work on a hillside this morning at the senior living community. (Journal photo by Christie Bleck)

Leidholdt said white and red clover seeds as well as annual rye seeds already had been sown prior to a work session that took place this morning with the conservation district.

However, she and resident Bernie Ash began planting flower plugs several weeks ago.

Remember, though, the spot is a hill, and that means planting flowers while balancing is precarious.

Other challenges face them, too.

“Nature hasn’t cooperated with rain lately,” Leidholdt said. “We have to drag 400 feet of hose.”

Non-native flowers — oxeye daisies — were left in the hill to help hold it together.

Unfortunately, weeds continue to show up.

“We can’t keep up with it,” Leidholdt said.

Fortunately, the conservation district is there to help.

The residents still planned to forge ahead with putting in wild lupine, brown-eyed Susan and lance-leaved coreopsis plants, with wildflower seeds to be put in as well.

It also helped them financially that Lost Creek gave them enough money to buy two trays of flower plugs, plus there were donations.

Elise Desjarlais, the conservation district’s invasive species coordinator for the Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area, led a district crew this morning to help the residents with the planting.

“It’s been a fun project,” Desjarlais said, “and these guys are more than enthusiastic.”

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.