Identification & Education
Compass plant by Burt Levy
Monitoring Bat Activity Following Prairie Savanna Restoration
Bats provide many important ecosystem services, including the control of crop insect pests.1 They may consume insects equal to 9-12% of their body mass in a single evening of foraging.2 Bat populations, however, have been declining due to habitat destruction, pesticides, collisions with windmills and, most recently and most precipitously, due to the white-nose syndrome. In response to increasing number of crop pest insects following predator release, farmers in the eastern U.S. have increased their use of pesticides. This has resulted in an average 7.9% increase in human infant mortality in counties that have experienced bat die-offs.3
Karrikins & Soil Health: Emerging Tools for Accelerating Prairie Succession
Prairie restorations often fall short of public expectations, not because of a lack of planning or care, but because the soil itself isn’t yet ready to support the species people hope to see in the first few years.
Springtime Magic
Enter the magical world of bumble bees and prairie blooms with paintings from artist and Prairie Enthusiast Joe Maurer.
Moths, Caterpillars, and Restoration of Remnants
Read about the search for the elusive lead plant flower moth at Blueberry Hill Prairie, a remnant prairie near Hudson, Wisconsin.
Change & Persistence Among Prairie Grasses
There are many misconceptions about prairies that cloud restoration, reconstruction, and management. Prominent among these is the tallgrass prairie “big four.”
Blue Sky Botany – Goldenrods
Botanist and early The Prairie Enthusiasts 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....
Blue Sky Botany – Blazing Stars
Botanist and early The Prairie Enthusiasts 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....
Effect of Wild Parsnip Removal on Black Swallowtails
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 member of...
Blue Sky Botany – June
Blue Sky Botany - June Originally published June 22, 2021Botanist and early The Prairie Enthusiasts 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...
Blue Sky Botany – May
Botanist and early The Prairie Enthusiasts 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....
Blue Sky Botany – April
Botanist and early The Prairie Enthusiasts 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....
Timber Rattlesnakes: Vanishing Blufflands Icon
By Brian Bielema Historically significant and emblematic of the wildness that once existed along the towering bluffs of the Mississippi River, the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) continues to survive in isolated pockets. Revered and respected by Native...