When we began restoring our oak savannas at Pleasant Valley Conservancy, we had to deal with a huge amount of buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). We got rid of it, by brush…

The compass plant, Silphium laciniatum, is one of the signature species of a tall grass prairie. It is featured in the logo of The Prairie Enthusiasts, emphasizing its iconic nature.…

The past week has been one for the ages. Not quite up to Biblical levels, but still a record amount of rain. Two major rain storms within a few days…

White baneberry (Actaea alba), often called "doll's eyes", is now in bloom. This is not as common as red baneberry (Actaea rubra), which has been blooming for some time now.…

Saturday afternoon, June 7, 2008, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the Prairie Enthusiasts (TPE) participated in the dedication of Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area. Despite the…

I re-read some of the posts I made last January and discovered that one of my predictions was wrong.At that time our contractor was clearing the East Basin of all…

The photo shows a prairie dock plant making its way up through a pile of gravel.Last November we regraded our service road, and it took quite a few loads of…

Ever since we began restoration of our oak savannas we have been plagued with the spread of woodland sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus and several other species). It took us a while…

Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis) is a delightful early prairie plant. It grows best on drier, sandier sites. About eight years we were given five bags of lupine chaff remaining from…

I have described in other posts our work raising prairie and savanna plants in the greenhouse. On Thursday and Friday three of us planted about 170 of these plants at…