I find it interesting that a number of plant species get an early start by growing in the bare zone around the bases of trees, especially our large oaks. There…

We generally wait until we have burned a unit before we plant it. This ensures that the area is bare and the seeds will reach the soil.Yesterday, a fine sunny…

Yesterday I spent some time surveying those areas that we have already burned, including both the prairies and savannas. It doesn't take long this time of year, especially with a…

Last Monday during our big prescribed burn there was a fairly large fire whirl (also called a "dust devil") in the middle of the Pocket Prairie. I didn't see it,…

Most prescribed burns have a few mop-up elements, but savanna burns often have lots. This is because there are almost always dead logs or standing dead trees that, despite the…

Today (March 29, 2010) we did more large prescribed burns. We did savanna and prairie burns at Pleasant Valley Conservancy, and prairie burns at Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie. Both of…

After our south slope burn last Tuesday, Megan said: "I didn't know it was so rocky!"As an intern, she had worked on that south slope all last summer, pulling sweet…

Before we burn our savannas, we spend quite a bit of time clearing around snags (standing dead trees) and birches (standing living trees that are especially handsome in the woods).We…

The weather is finally cooperating and we were able to get in a lot of burns today. We burned the south-facing slope (about 13 acres), which is short-grass prairie remnant…

We have lots of bluebirds at Pleasant Valley Conservancy, using either natural cavities or artificial boxes that we have installed.Saturday Kathie and I volunteered at Madison Audubon's Goose Pond Sanctuary…