It was planted with a dry-mesic prairie mix on top of a light snow cover in December 2005.

In the first growing season primarily annual weeds were present (Erigeron philadelphicum, Tancetum vulagare, Potentilla argentea, and Oxalis stricta), although there was a few patches of lupine (Lupinus perennis), evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica), and black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta) in flower. A large amount of bird’s foot trefoil (Lotus corniculata), an exotic agricultural crop plant, appeared in the middle part of the field. The origin of this infestation is unclear, but this same weed is found in our other former agricultural fields. Each trefoil plant was dug and removed.

The whole prairie was mowed in early September to remove the annual weeds and to reduce the seed load of undesirable species.

In the second growing season, more prairie species were seen, either in flower or in the vegetative state. These included Rudbeckia hirta, Baptisia alba, Lupine perennis, Penstemon digitalis, Erirgeron philadelphicus, Asclepias syriaca, Arnoglossum atriplicifolia (flowering), Cirsium discolor, Achillea milleflorum, Monarda fistulosum, Bromus kalmii (flowering), Gaura biennis (flowering), Rudbeckia triloba (flowering), Elymus virginiana (flowering), Solidago nemoralis (flowering), Aster pilosus (flowering), Aster laevis (flowering), Aster oblongifolius (flowering), and Aster nova-angliae (flowering).

However, as the photo below shows, the main flowering plant during mid-summer was daisy fleabane (Erigeron strigosus). Since this annual weed is native and does not persist it was allowed to remain.

In addition, there were many undesirable plants, including more bird’s foot trefoil (removed by digging), oxeye daisy, tall lettuce, timothy, orchard grass, and bladderwort (flowering).

By early August of the second growing season there was a large amount of Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) in flower in parts of the prairie. These areas were mowed to keep them from setting seed.

A survey of the prairie showed a large species diversity of prairie plants, including lots of Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) and little blue stem (Schizachyrium scoparium).

At the beginning of the third growing season, a large amount cool season grasses, primarily smooth brome, had developed. Since there were no prairie (warm season) plants up yet, the whole prairie was sprayed with glyphosate by the local agricultural cooperative (see photo below). This spraying was very effective. However, prairie plants had not developed yet when the spraying was done so that they were unaffected. (Unit 21, to the right, had been burned the day before the spraying was carried out.)

Despite the extensive control of bird’s foot trefoil in the first and second growing seasons, there was still a major infestation in the third growing season. Because most of the plants were well separated from the “good” plants, herbicide was used to control the trefoil. The herbicide of choice was clopryalid (trade name Transline), which is active against all broadleaved species but is especially effective against legumes. It took one person a whole day to seek out and spray all the bird’s foot trefoil plants. The spraying was very effective, and hopefully we will have less problems with this nasty plant in subsequent years.

Patches of bird's foot trefoil in the Ridge Prairie. Because all of the cool-season grass had been killed by the earlier spraying, these patches were easy to spot. All were sprayed with clopyralid (Transline).

By mid June the Ridge Prairie was starting to look quite good. A large number of prairie plants could be identified at the vegetative stage, including a lot of compass plant, white wild indigo, prairie dock, black-eyed susan, sky-blue aster, etc. etc. The photo below shows how the Ridge Prairie looked at this season. None of the green vegetation was from cool-season grasses.

The photo below shows the Ridge Prairie as it appeared in early August 2008. A plant survey recorded over 50 species of prairie plants, including those still in the vegetative stage, some in flower, and others past flowering and setting seed. The only invasive plant was scattered Queen Anne's lace, but this was removed a week later by the intern crew plus several volunteers.

Although small, this prairie promises to be attractive and interesting. It is adjacent to the East Basin, a site we are currently restoring, which will be planted with prairie species in November of this year. These two prairies should eventually merge together.