Large-flowered false foxglove (Aureolaria grandiflora) is a savanna specialist with an interesting life history. This year it is doing particularly well at Pleasant Valley Conservancy, probably because of the very…

This week I attended the 22nd North American Prairie Conference at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. These prairie conferences have been held every two years since 1968, and…

Sweet clover (Melilotus alba) is an obnoxious weed that readily invades prairies (both planted and remnant). Its seeds are known to persist in the soil for many years, making eradication…

Although black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) has been in flower for weeks, another "Susan" has just started. This is Rudbeckia triloba, a nice species that does well in our open savannas…

Kathie and I were delighted to have the Thomson family as visitors on Wednesday (July 28, 2010).Olive and John Thomson have been long-time supporters of the Nature Conservancy and the…

I use the term "spritz" to indicate a brief squirt of an herbicide on a plant leaf. The herbicide I am using is the oil-soluble form of triclopyr (Garlon or…

Our wetland plants are really flourishing! The mid-April burn obviously helped a lot, although our wetland has always had a fairly diverse flora. Reed canary grass is under control. The…

American hazel (Corylus americana), a member of the birch family, is widespread in Wisconsin but not especially common, since it has been crowded out by invasive shrubs. It is a…

Pale Indian plantain (Arnoglossum atriplicifolium) is a species that is often found on lists for savanna restoration planting. It also grows well in mesic to wet mesic prairies. When we…

Our mid-summer prairie/savanna tour was quite a success, with a nice group of interested visitors. A brief rain-storm had moved through during the early morning but by afternoon the weather…