I am now convinced that we can control sumac with Garlon 4 basal bark (no cutting), provided we return to each clone several times during the summer to spray resprouts.…

For the past few years we have been having an all-day seed collecting event in mid October. In the mornings we collect at Pleasant Valley Conservancy, have lunch at our…

On Saturday, Oct. 11, 2009, we had a very successful forestry field day at Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area. This event, spearheaded by the American Forestry Foundation, was co-sponsored…

The weather has been a bit unsettled, but restoration must proceed any way. Yesterday, we collected virginia wild rye (Elymus virginicus) in a mild drizzle. This grass is found in…

The USDA now has all their soils maps on line and they are available for download in a format suitable for GIS. Since it is raining today, I have been…

One of the glories of Pleasant Valley Conservancy is the large bur oak that is near our driveway. This tree is one of our landmarks, and has acted as a…

Today I joined a group from the Natural Heritage Land Trust on a hike to Westport Drumlin State Natural Area. This is part of an SNA called the Empire Prairies,…

For the last two years we have been restoring what we call the East Basin. This is a 5 acre area that faces south and southwest and slopes down from…

Stiff gentian (Gentianella quinquefolia) is another late bloomer. It is not as showy as aromatic aster, but it is still colorful and a desirable member of any prairie or savanna.…

Aromatic aster (Aster oblongifolius) is now in full bloom. In Wisconsin this handsome aster is found in a restricted area in dry, primarily calcareous, sites in the southwest part of…