I live in suburban central New Jersey (USA). Just a block from my
house, there's a footbridge which spans a ravine. Fifty years ago
there were railroad tracks at the bottom of this ravine, but now
there's just a muddy rut; the sides of the ravine have little on them
but sparse weeds.

Earlier today I was walking this footbridge, and it occurred to me that
I could make a beautiful gift to my community by seeding the ravine
soil with some sort of colorful flower. I imagine walking over the
bridge in midsummer and having the gentle scent of flowers envelop me.
Meanwhile, a vibrant carpet unfolding on the ravine walls beneath.

I know next to nothing about flowers though. What would be a hardy,
colorful, gently scented, perennial flower that grows well in central
NJ soil, especially a relatively steep slope? (If nothing fits all
these specifics, feel free to match just a couple of them!)

Thanks so much for your help!
John in NJ

Scanner Darkly wrote:
I live in suburban central New Jersey (USA). Just a block from my
house, there's a footbridge which spans a ravine. Fifty years ago
there were railroad tracks at the bottom of this ravine, but now
there's just a muddy rut; the sides of the ravine have little on
them but sparse weeds.

Earlier today I was walking this footbridge, and it occurred to me
that I could make a beautiful gift to my community by seeding the
ravine soil with some sort of colorful flower. I imagine walking
over the bridge in midsummer and having the gentle scent of flowers
envelop me. Meanwhile, a vibrant carpet unfolding on the ravine
walls beneath.

I know next to nothing about flowers though. What would be a hardy,
colorful, gently scented, perennial flower that grows well in
central NJ soil, especially a relatively steep slope? (If nothing
fits all these specifics, feel free to match just a couple of them!)

Thanks so much for your help!
John in NJ

Sounds like the RR may have done something to the slopes to prevent
things from growing hence "sparse weeds".

I have no idea what might grow there but there may be a "Native Plant
Society" in your area.

--

Travis in Shoreline (just North of Seattle) Washington
USDA Zone 8
Sunset Zone 5

In article says...
I know next to nothing about flowers though. What would be a hardy,
colorful, gently scented, perennial flower that grows well in central
NJ soil, especially a relatively steep slope? (If nothing fits all
these specifics, feel free to match just a couple of them!)

Buy 1/2 or full pound of wildflower seeds. Mix the seed in fine sand. I
use 7 parts sand, 1 part seed. Walk around the area spread the mixture
on exposed soil and tamp it down with your feet.

I've had good luck buying seed from this place.

http://americanmeadows.com/bulk_mix.cfm

They have a Northeast mix for NJ but I have been told other mixtures can
grow as well. This year I'm experimenting with 3 different regional
mixtures here in Chicago.

BTW: You'll need to get this seed planted within the next few weeks.