I once saw an exhibit at a Nature Center that said: “Where does the prairie end and the savanna begin?” The answer given was: “At the first oak tree.” There…

We finally got the rain we wanted on Saturday afternoon (May 28 2016). Unfortunately, it was accompanied by extremely strong winds that did serious damage to trees at Pleasant Valley…

This is the second of two posts on invasive plant control. Last week’s dealt with biennials. The table at the end provides an overview of key perennial weeds and a…

According to Prof. David Hogg, Monarch specialist at UW-Madison, the first "official" 2016 sighting of Monarch butterflies in Wisconsin was made Thursday May 19 at Pleasant Valley Conservancy. Here is…

Monarch butterflies need all the help they can get! Pleasant Valley Conservancy (PVC) has lots of Monarch habitat, but more is  needed to replenish the diminishing populations of these important…

This is the first of two posts on weed control. It deals with biennial plants. The second post on perennials will be made next week. The table at the end…

The Joint Fire Science Program of the U.S. Government is an important resource for all those involved in prescribed fire. Each region of the country has a fire science organization…

ATC, the American Transmission Company, which operates high-voltage transmission lines from giant towers in Wisconsin, is in the process of deciding a route between a major site called the Cardinal…

At Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie we have three burn units, and burn each on a rotation of two out of each three years. Thus, each year we have one unburned…

Mature bur oak trees have very thick bark with deep ridges. You can almost bury a pencil within the tree’s crevices. However, occasional trees have areas on the trunk that…