We have eradicated wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) from Pleasant Valley Conservancy, but unfortunately one of our wet prairies (the Valley Prairie) is adjacent to a substantial parsnip patch of a…

This post is a follow-up on an earlier one this spring.Due to the late spring, flowering of our purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) stands was delayed, but they are now at…

Today we enjoyed a rare treat: lots of butterflies identified by experts. The Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association, together with Madison Audubon Society and the Prairie Enthusiasts, toured Pleasant Valley Conservancy…

Mid June is wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum) time in southern Wisconsin, although there is always considerable uncertainty about peak flowering. The photo here is of a nice plant that Kathie…

Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is an ecologically invasive grass that causes great problems in wetland sites. It is one of the most widely occurring weeds and is exceedingly difficult…

Spderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) is one of the prairie/savanna species that seems to do well in a wide variety of habitats. One of my favorite spiderwort habitats is the rocky ballast…

The purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens), an endangered species in Wisconsin, does well in the savannas at Pleasant Valley Conservancy. It is one of our "signature" species.I have been following native…

We've been working for over 10 years to eradicate buckthorn in some of our savanna areas. It is hard now to realize how dense the buckthorn was when we started.…

Kathie and I have been managing the Prairie Partners summer internship program for Madison Audubon Society for 4-5 years now. This year we have another nice group of college students…

Yesterday Kathie and I spent some time at Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie. Right now all the early blooming species are up, and the views are spectacular. Well worth a visit.We…