The baffling goldenrods swim in that giant taxonomic pool of asters, sunflowers, and thistles (Asteraceae). Their tiny, sun-emitting yellow-orange flowers are aggregated into marvelous “inflorescences” that appear to the uninitiated as single large blooms, whose growth forms are variously described as feather dusters, candles, or flattops. They are beloved by late summer insects, especially bees, […]
We are excited to share this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article and the mention of The Prairie Enthusiasts below: Wisconsin’s prairies shine in late summer, from Lapham Peak to the UW Arboretumby Chelsey LewisMilwaukee Journal SentinelAugust 19, 2021 As August winds down, the flowers in my home garden are nearing the end of their seasonal lifespan. But […]
Here are the four Liatris species most likely to be seen on our beloved Wisconsin prairie remnants. All are members of the sunflower family (Asteraceae). All have tiny pink to magenta flowers bundled into ‘floral cups’, with outer bracts on those cups that form layers like shingles, and positively identify the species. Good eyesight is […]
Learning about how to protect turtle nests. (Photo by Martha Querin-Schultz) The Southwest Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts held a Wisconsin turtle workshop on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Jack Kussmaul’s beautiful home near Woodman, Wisconsin. “Taking Time for Turtles” was conducted by Dr. Rebecca Christoffel who is co-director of Turtles for Tomorrow, a non-profit […]
Some attendees trying to determine a species of native bumblebee (Photo & article by Susan Lipnick) On June 27, biologist Bev Paulan treated Northwest Illinois Prairie Enthusiasts members and guests to the presentation “Native Plants Need Native Pollinators” at The Prairie Enthusiasts Hanley Savanna in rural Hanover, Illinois. The event, originally scheduled for late June […]
“Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.” William Feather People who are passionate about prairie restoration are a rare breed. However, as the number of these prairie warriors grow, so too will the numbers of successfully grown rare and endangered plants in our states. We recently heard about […]
There couldn’t have been a more idyllic scene for The Prairie Enthusiasts picnic and annual meeting. Basking in the glow of a perfect summer day, members gathered on Sunday, July 18th, 2021 at the UW-Milwaukee Field Station at Waukesha to learn and celebrate together. There was a palpable energy, a feeling of hope permeating the […]
Very often in the world of prairie restoration, there are differences of opinion on the ‘best’ way to improve a piece of land. After receiving the question below, Dan Carter wrote a reply that we felt would be helpful to share with everyone. QUESTION from a TPE member Just wondering what protection measures you implement […]
Botanist and early TPE member Rob Baller created this series for our friends at Blue Mounds Area Project. The “blue sky” technique is Rob’s favorite for taking stunning plant photographs. Let him know what you think at robertballer@outlook.com. ALWAYS get permission from the property owner if you want to try this technique. Yellow umbels (Zizia spp., […]
Botanist and early TPE member Rob Baller created this series for our friends at Blue Mounds Area Project. The “blue sky” technique is Rob’s favorite for taking stunning plant photographs. Let him know what you think at robertballer@outlook.com. ALWAYS get permission from the property owner if you want to try this technique. Three puccoons (Lithospermum spp.) Lithospermum […]
