One of the important parts of our savanna restoration work has been the removal of a large number of black walnuts (Juglans nigra). Although black walnut is considered a cash…

Old-field thistle (Cirsium discolor) is a favorite plant of pollinators and birds. Goldfinches love them, and many wait until the thistle plant is mature (late August or early September) to…

Kathie and I have been leading a Labor Day (1st Monday in September) field trip at Pleasant Valley Conservancy since at least 2002, possibly a year earlier. (I have sign-up…

When the first oak savanna burns were done at Pleasant Valley Conservancy in 1998 they were unsuccessful. The fire moved a few feet away from the drip torch line and…

This is Part 2 of the saga of how we turned our small backyard from scrawny lawn to lush open oak woodland. Access Part 1 with this link. Kathie and…

The prairies have benefitted greatly by the extensive rains from mid June-late July. Especially, our dry prairies on the South-facing Slope are lusher than we  have ever seen them. Virtually…

The skills needed to remove invasive plants are deceptively easy to learn. Cutting, pulling, digging, and girdling require little formal training. (That’s why volunteers can be used.) Even spraying is…

The bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is a common species associated with the oak savanna landscape. This species is also known to “invade” prairies, where it can, under appropriate conditions, become…

Restoration work on the Pleasant Valley Conservancy wetland has been underway for over 15 years. This work has been carried out by Craig Annen and his company, Integrated Restorations (IR).…

We have been burning oak savannas and oak woodlands at Pleasant Valley Conservancy for 20 years. In the early years we made lots of mistakes, as there were no sources…