Firewise Demonstration Garden

The MT City fire wise garden is an example of TCFSWG’s efforts to demonstrate methods to reduce risks to the home ignition zone. Fire wise practices include the use of construction materials, landscape design and vegetation that lower wildfire risk around a home. The plants selected for this project are “fire wise” or fire resistant, meaning they are less flammable than others and just happen to be drought tolerant and deer resistant! The primary goal of the project is to demonstrate that less flammable vegetation can create attractive landscaping and inspire the property owners to consider fire and drought mitigation at their homes.

PROJECT TIMELINE

2020-2021

A partnership germinates

In 2020 a partnership was established with the Montana City Volunteer Fire Department to construct a fire wise landscape garden at fire station 1, just north of the round-about at the Mt. City exit off I-15. Start-up funding was provided by Jefferson County, the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC), and the US Forest Service (USFS).

In 2021, the approximately one-half acre of land west of the fire station was prepped by removing the existing crested wheatgrass and reworking the soil. Irrigation, a concrete border, landscaping fabric, decorative rock and a decomposed granite pathway were installed. The pathway and site amenities were designed to be handicap accessible.

2022

the garden takes root!

During the spring and summer of 2022 irrigation, landscaping and the first phase of planting was completed. Over 52 flowering plants, 21 shrubs, and 10 trees were planted. A large variety of plants were planted to better demonstrate the wide range of fire wise vegetation that is available to use in this region of Montana. The garden was designed and planted to demonstrate that an effective landscape design includes well-spaced plants with low-flammability characteristics, surrounded by a non-flammable material like stone mulch.

2023

Spring kicked off a busy season at the garden. The final garden bed, was constructed. Native plants and rocks were used for the new crevice garden, demonstrating how non-irrigated, native plants can be very attractive.

The summer months were spent weeding and replacing some plants that died over the winter. Four interpretive signs were installed and garden brochures were made available for the public. In September, construction on the Sonny Stiger Memorial Pavilion began through the generous volunteer efforts of Abraham Construction and a generous donation from the Wolf Creek Cattle Company and TrueNorth Steel.