The oak savanna habitat is characterized by an open canopy, ranging from about 10% to 50%. As part of my work on purple milkweeds, I was interested in measuring the…

Purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) is an Endangered Species which I have been studying extensively. The goal is to develop conservation methods to permit its establishment at new sites and get…

Culver's root (Veronicastrum virginianum) is a "strikingly handsome" plant that seems to have a wide range of habitats. At Pleasant Valley Conservancy we have it growing in wet mesic, mesic,…

Upland boneset (Eupatorium sessilifolium) is a Special Concern species in Wisconsin. We had a small native population when we began savanna restoration. Although it is found throughout eastern North America,…

Purple Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum) is now in full bloom. This tall, handsome species is often seen in small amounts in southern Wisconsin woodlands, but proliferates substantially during savanna…

Lots of species are now in flower, and we are not even into aster/goldenrod season yet. Although we could use a bit more rain, most of the deep-rooted prairie plants…

Sunday, July 27, 2008, Kathie and I conducted the second of two summer field trips at Pleasant Valley Conservancy. This was for the Prairie Enthusiasts and any other interested people…

Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is one of the more common prairie plants and embarrassingly easy to grow. It is also a species that hangs on well in degraded prairies and rebounds…

Verbena stricta (hoary vervain) is widely seen in prairie remnants but never in large amounts. It is not an especially conservative plant (that is, with a narrow habitat range), and…

There are two species of Echinacea found in southern Wisconsin, the right one (E. pallida, pale purple coneflower) and the wrong one (E. purpurea, purple coneflower, photo at left). The…