An interesting result of this study is that no European rats or mice, most frequently found in the city, have been captured at Radnor Lake. Another project originating from Radnor Lake is a native plant study for the management of archaeological sites. State Archaeologist Nick Fielder has long been interested in using some sort of native seeds to replace fescue at sites such as the Mississippian-era Mound Bottom in Cheatham County. Native wildflowers and grasses should require less management, particularly mowing, and therefore would save money that could be used more effectively elsewhere. Dr. Tom Hemmerly, I have established native plant plots in a field near Mound Bottom.
Some plots contain all plants used in the study and others, only two species.
Plots were disked in fall 1999 using a farm tractor and disk. A spring distribution of seeds followed. Disking was used to see if costly, potentially dangerous herbicides could be avoided while trying to replace one species with another. The resulting information on numbers of reproducing plants and resistance to competition will give an idea of whether these species would be effective in a meadow surrounding mounds or other features. Native plant landscaping is economical for natural areas and other Tennessee State Parks, as well, since natives are accustomed to the local climate and require little care.