It is estimated that 70% of the plant flora of temperate regions exhibit clonal growth, including many invasive species (both native and nonnative). An understanding of clonal growth patterns is…

Although we are still pulling a few sweet clover plants, it is time to start thinking about seed collecting. Of course, we have been collecting seeds of "early" species since…

We have been inclined to think that the invasive plants we have to deal with in restoration ecology are nonnative, but it turns out that most of the clonal species…

As part of last week's North American Prairie Conference, I had a chance to visit the facilities of the Tallgrass Prairie Center at the University of Northern Iowa. This Center…

Large-flowered false foxglove (Aureolaria grandiflora) is a savanna specialist with an interesting life history. This year it is doing particularly well at Pleasant Valley Conservancy, probably because of the very…

This week I attended the 22nd North American Prairie Conference at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. These prairie conferences have been held every two years since 1968, and…

Sweet clover (Melilotus alba) is an obnoxious weed that readily invades prairies (both planted and remnant). Its seeds are known to persist in the soil for many years, making eradication…

Although black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) has been in flower for weeks, another "Susan" has just started. This is Rudbeckia triloba, a nice species that does well in our open savannas…

Kathie and I were delighted to have the Thomson family as visitors on Wednesday (July 28, 2010).Olive and John Thomson have been long-time supporters of the Nature Conservancy and the…

I use the term "spritz" to indicate a brief squirt of an herbicide on a plant leaf. The herbicide I am using is the oil-soluble form of triclopyr (Garlon or…