by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Sep 27, 2020 | News
It’s been 4 years since our chapter started the Species Conservation Project (SCP) in northwest Illinois (see the feature article in the March 2016 Prairie Promoter here), and in those years I have occasionally written about the rare plant gardens we started to help the SCP along.
Lonetree Farm’s rare plant garden beds. Photo by Rickie Rachuy
In my earlier articles, I mentioned the patience required when trying to duplicate what Mother Nature so willingly bestowed on us over the eons. I could not have known then what we all know now: a need to reach deep and summon the patience required to deal with a very changed world. Personally, I’ve been active outdoors in this time of isolation. The hubby, too, has become an excellent gardener. Together we now tend 117 native plant species in and around the two rare plant gardens here at Lonetree Farm.
We’ve learned a lot in the intervening years. Two important lessons are not to space plants too closely together (it’s hard to compost ‘extra’ seedlings when they’ve been lovingly nurtured under grow lights for months) and to hold back exuberant growth with stakes and chicken wire so other species don’t get smothered.
We pick seed from many of these plants, then overseed onto suitable protected sites. But some species are still coming into their own. The rarest of the rare we are tending include Cirsium hillii (Hill’s thistle), Dalea foliosa (leafy prairie-clover), Lespedeza virginica (slender bushclover), Lithospermum incisum (fringed puccoon), Lonicera reticulatum (yellow grape honeysuckle), Pediomelum esculentum (breadroot or prairie turnip), and Penstemon calycosus (calico false foxglove). Each has its own quirks and its own story.
Cirsium hillii: Cirsium derives from the Greek word kirsos, meaning “swollen vein”. Thistles were used as a remedy against swollen veins. The species epithet hillii is in honor of Ellsworth Jerome Hill (1833-1917), an American botanist and Presbyterian minister.
Cirsium hillii. Photo by Rickie Rachuy
Dalea foliosa: Dalea is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as prairie-clover. Its name honors English apothecary Samuel Dale (1659-1739). Foliosa means “leafy”. This is one of the rarest plants in North America.
Dalea foliosa. Photo by Rickie Rachuy
Lespedeza virginica: Lespedeza is derived from a mistaken reading of the name of an early Spanish governor of Florida — Vicente Manuel de Céspedes — by André Michaux, a French botanist and explorer. The specific name virginica refers to the Colony of Virginia.
Lespedeza virginica. Photo by Rickie Rachuy
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Sep 27, 2020 | News
Here’s a recap of Driftless Area phenology from the past month, written by our very own Pat Trochlell. Pat’s inspiration comes from her career as a wetland ecologist with the Wisconsin DNR. She and her husband, Ken Wade, live near and are stewards of TPE’s 30-acre Parrish Oak Savanna, a diverse woodland ecosystem of over 240 native species.
Follow our Facebook page to read Pat’s column once a week.
3 September
The berries of the early horse-gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum) are turning a brilliant red-orange. This species can be easily identified by the 2- to 4-foot hairy stems, opposite leaves, and 2 to 4 flowers in the leaf axils whose fruit turns from green to red-orange by early fall.
Besides early horse-gentian, another Triosteum species is found in Wisconsin: the late horse-gentian (Triosteum perfoliatum). Both species can be found in open woodlands on rich soil. The flowers bloom from May to June and are pollinated by long-tongued insects, especially bumblebees. Caterpillars of the snowberry clearwing moth feed on these plants.
Early horse-gentian berries. Photo by Pat Trochlell
The name horse-gentian may refer to the coarseness of the plant and to the flowers, which are 5-parted with opposite leaves and similar to flowers of the gentian family. But these species have other names including wild coffee, feverwort, and Tinker’s-weed. The reference to wild coffee is sometimes attributed to having been used as a coffee substitute, but that claim is not well-documented. Another explanation is that the fruits when dried appear to look like coffee beans.
The name feverwort comes from the use by First Nations people who used the plant medicinally. The Meskwaki (Fox) called this plant “tcekwakwate”. The roots were used to treat fevers and snake bite, heal sores, and soak sore or swollen feet. The plant’s medicinal use was noted by Dr. Tinker of New England who used it in his medical practice, hence the name Tinker’s-weed.
10 September
This week’s cool, rainy weather has meant that more migratory birds can be seen traveling through our area — especially flocks of common nighthawks, warblers, and vireos. Prior to the cool weather, large numbers of common green darner (Anax junius) dragonflies passed through area wetland meadows during their migration. Common green darners are hummingbird-sized dragonflies that you may see flying low through these areas and feeding as they make their way south. Migrating flocks can be impressive in size, numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
Another interesting insect we found this week is a caterpillar of a species called brown-hooded owlet moth (Cucullia convexipennis). This species of moth, like so many, is somewhat non-descript. It is a pale brown color with its most distinguishing feature being a brown tuft of hairs over the head that is said to resemble a mohawk. In contrast, the caterpillar of this moth is called the calico paint caterpillar and is very colorful. The caterpillar feeds on asters and goldenrods.
Calico paint caterpillar. Photo by Pat Trochlell
If you are looking for colorful blooming flowers, wetlands are particularly good places to be at this time of year. Asters and goldenrods are plentiful and reaching their peak. Another late-blooming wetland plant is the American grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia glauca). This species is a characteristic fen species which grows in areas of upwelling calcium- and magnesium-rich groundwater. Areas where groundwater flows through dolomite can create conditions favorable to this and other fen species. Calcareous fens are a rare wetland type that is particularly vulnerable to threats from human activities. TPE’s land protection actions are helping preserve and restore several calcareous fens.
17 September
Asters and goldenrods are at their blooming peak. Shades of purple and yellow complement each other in woods, prairies, and wetlands. So it wasn’t unusual to see a man photographing flowers at Parrish Oak Savanna this week. What was unusual is that he came from Michigan to Wisconsin specifically to find asters. He correctly identified the flower he was photographing as Drummond’s aster (Symphyotrichum drummondii), an uncommon plant in Michigan.
Drummond’s aster. Photo by Pat Trochlell
Some people find asters to be challenging to identify to species level, but a few key factors can help immensely. The color of the aster can narrow down the list of species. Habitat is another key factor, with some species found only in wet areas while others prefer dry areas. Some like shady forests and others like sunny open slopes. While there are many species in Wisconsin – 26 by my count – these two factors can help key in on the correct species. Patience, a good plant book, and a lot of time outside help too.
Another flower seen this week is a delicate orchid, the Great Plains lady’s-tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum). This small plant grows to only about a foot in height with half-inch flowers, but it is a spectacular plant nonetheless. Its almond-scented white flowers spiral around the stem. Its small stature makes it easy to miss, but it is well worth looking for in moist to dry areas in calcareous soils.
Great Plains lady’s-tress orchid. Photo by Eric Grycan
A new species discovered this week in our local oak savanna is the milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum). Milksnakes are relatively common in Wisconsin. They live in oak savannas, upland hardwoods, prairies, and old woodlots and pastures. They grow to about 3 feet long and are known to mimic venomous snakes but are harmless to humans. They feed mostly on rodents, making them a welcome inhabitant near homes.
Milkssssnake. Photo by Ken Wade
24 September
Asters, part two: New England aster is arguably the showiest aster and one of the most beautiful fall blooms with its large magenta and deep purple flowers. Compared to this species, other asters’ beauty is more subtle. One of my favorite local asters in southern Wisconsin is Short’s aster (Symphyotrichum shortii). You have to search to find these asters, but when you find them lining a shady roadside or growing in an oak woodland, they light up these dark places. Short’s aster is distinguished by its smooth-edged leaves with a heart-shaped base, plus dark lavender flowers that are about an inch and a half across. Their preferred habitat is southern dry-mesic forests, mostly in oak woods in our area. Interestingly, this species was not listed by Curtis as prevalent in oak openings, but the Atlas of the Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora notes that it has characteristics of classic savanna species.
Short’s aster. Photo by Pat Trochlell
You’d think that with all the lovely-hued purple, pink, and lavender asters, white asters wouldn’t be as noticeable. There are some exceptions. Calico aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum) can be found in dry to wet shady woodlands and the plants can have many small flowers. The disk flowers in the center range from yellow to purplish, hence the common name which refers to their similarity to calico fabric. Another aster that can be equally impressive is heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides). It is a species of dry-mesic prairies. Its very small flowers and short, narrow linear leaves are not very showy individually, but the sheer number of flowers on a plant can make this a striking flower in the fall prairie landscape.
Rare plants, part two: Another interesting find this week started out as a barely visible small spike that eventually produced tiny white flowers. Close examination of this plant revealed that it is a lady’s-tress orchid. This particular species turns out to be an oval lady’s-tress orchid (Spiranthes ovalis). It is rare in Wisconsin, rated as Special Concern, and is a State Threatened species in Iowa and Michigan. This is one of the last orchids to bloom, beginning from September into early November in some areas. It inhabits moist to dry thickets, open woods, and prairie-like habitats. The presence of this rare orchid is another example of how roadsides and other less pristine habitats can provide habitat for conservative plant species. Look closely as you walk. There are still a lot of rare plants out there to find.
Heath aster. Photo by Pat Trochlell
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Sep 27, 2020 | News
This article was a collaboration with Jeff Feece of Rochester Parks.
Prairie Crossing Park in Rochester, Minnesota is living up to its name as the park’s managers strive to restore native plants to the site. Members of TPE’s Minnesota Driftless Chapter joined the volunteer efforts there earlier this month.
Prairie Crossing is an 8.5-acre public park located on Rochester’s northern edge. Aerial photography indicates that the land was previously part of a farmstead containing 48 acres of oak savanna vegetation. This acreage was grazed on and off for decades until it was purchased for development in the 1990s. The park is all that remains of the native plant community there.
The City of Rochester acquired the park from the developer in 2005 as part of its Parkland Dedication Ordinance (which allows for the allocation of new park land as the city develops and grows). Currently, Prairie Crossing is a mixture of open-grown white and bur oaks with some dense stands of black cherry. Hackberry, basswood, and ironwood are also found on the site. When grazing ceased, invasive species such as European buckthorn and Asian honeysuckle began to dominate the understory, degrading the diversity of native plants and wildlife. However, the park is still both ecologically and culturally significant. It sits near several housing developments that would otherwise have no walking access to nature.
Restoration in progress at Prairie Crossing Park. Photo by Stephen Winter
Early in 2020, the Rochester Parks Department successfully applied for a grant through Minnesota’s Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program to begin eradicating the invasive species, restore native vegetation, and develop the property as a “Nature Park”. The city is seeking to restore the plant community characteristic of an oak savanna. The park will be usable by people through a set of mowed walking trails and seating areas. In support of the grant application, the Minnesota Driftless Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts will contribute hours of in-kind volunteer labor. Areas where they will be especially helpful include vegetation surveys, management planning, and seed collecting and sowing.
More than a decade after its creation, the park is now jumping with activity! In May and June, members of the Zumbro Valley Chapter of the Audubon Society conducted bird surveys at the site. Plant surveys were completed by Joel Dunnette, a member of TPE. These surveys will be ongoing as the park develops. A sidewalk connecting the local neighborhood to the park was installed in June. In July, the Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa began cutting and treating all that buckthorn.
On September 12th, seven members of the Minnesota Driftless Chapter joined with Conservation Corps volunteers to move the cut buckthorn into dozens of burn piles throughout the park. These volunteers got to know each other in the process, learning that many of them were from the greater Rochester area. They enjoyed hearing each other’s prairie and restoration stories and hope this is the start of a long and meaningful relationship between TPE and Prairie Crossing Park.
The brush piles grow with help from TPE members. Photo by Stephen Winter
Thanks to Jon Allen, Michelle Cochran, Ryan Kemmerick, Marsha Rea, David Ruff, Angela Smith, and Stephen Winter for their help! If you’re interested in lending a hand with this project, please contact Angela Smith at smithang1@gmail.com.
Volunteers after a day’s work. Photo by Stephen Winter
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Sep 3, 2020 | News
Here’s a recap of Driftless Area phenology from the past month, written by our very own Pat Trochlell. Pat’s inspiration comes from her career as a wetland ecologist with the Wisconsin DNR. She and her husband, Ken Wade, live near and are stewards of TPE’s 30-acre Parrish Oak Savanna, a diverse woodland ecosystem of over 240 native species.
Follow our Facebook page to read Pat’s column once a week.
Chicken-of-the-woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) fungus. Photo by Pat Trochlell
6 August 2020
A cool morning this week is what saved us. Pulling invasive weeds along the side of the road, I noticed a perfectly round hole in the ground, about an inch in diameter. Soon I saw insects coming and going from this underground hole. It was a nest of yellowjackets, and the only reason we hadn’t been stung multiple times was that the cool temperatures made the resident insects slow.
Yellowjacket entering its nest hole. Photo by Pat Trochlell
At this time of year we are starting to see some very showy flowers in the wetlands. One of the “matrix” or dominant species of southern sedge meadows that is blooming now is spotted Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum). The flowers can form a blanket of deep pink across low areas of the landscape. This species is associated with areas of groundwater springs or seeps. Where wetlands adjoin oak savannas, you can see a transition from the deeper pink of the wetland species to another species in the same genus.
Spotted Joe-Pye weed. Photo by Pat Trochlell
The woodland or purple Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum) can also dominate the landscape in the nearby oak woodlands and savannas. The difference between these two species is fairly clear. Spotted Joe-Pye weed has spotted or purplish stems and a flatter, darker purplish flower head. Woodland Joe-Pye weed has greenish stems and a lighter pink, more domed flower cluster. As you walk through these areas, distinguishing between these two species can help you keep your feet dry.
Woodland Joe-Pye weed. Photo by Pat Trochlell
Have you ever wondered how invasive plants are spread? There are many vectors that can spread seeds and other plant propagules, including natural processes like wind and water. But people, vehicles, and animals can also be significant sources of spread. Those of you who work on invasive species removal can theorize how they are spread based on the plant growth patterns and locations where you see them. For instance, garlic mustard growing on a roadside was likely spread by mowing equipment. If it’s found at the base of a tree, that can indicate that a squirrel or raccoon was carrying seeds on its fur and a seed fell off when it climbed the tree.
We often follow trails and deer paths when searching an area for garlic mustard and other invasive plants. But we rarely see the actual plant spread occurring. That is why it was particularly fortuitous to see two half-grown fawns with their coats covered by stickseed (Hackelia virginiana). While stickseed is a native plant, it is best to avoid, since the mature seeds are almost impossible to remove from clothes and dog fur.
Fawn covered with stickseed. Photo by Ken Wade
In addition to spreading invasive and undesirable plant seeds, we also know that higher deer numbers are associated with greater cover of invasive plants due to selective foraging. Deer will avoid eating garlic mustard but feed on other species, giving a competitive advantage to the invasive plants. We’ve anecdotally seen this as we watch the deer feed on native plants – including lilies and orchids – but eschewing garlic mustard and buckthorn.
Biologists and outdoor enthusiasts, like most of us TPE members, enjoy being outside observing nature. We tend to appreciate those aspects of nature that we can see and hear, like the bright yellow flowers of rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium) that is so dominant in the prairies now or the song of the cicadas or gray tree frogs from the tree canopy overhead.
Rosinweed glowing on the prairie. Photo by Pat Trochlell
But some species we rarely see. Many mammals are secretive or nocturnal, so we may not know they are present in an area unless we spot their dens, tracks or scat. For many small mammals, we don’t have a complete picture of their range or status. Trapping can be a key method for determining the presence and abundance of small mammals.
Small mammal trapping is usually done using a number of live traps which are set late in the day and checked the next morning. Animals are identified, measured and then released. A recent trapping survey at a TPE preserve yielded a number of individuals of several species of shrews, mice and voles. Several prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), were caught. The prairie vole is rare in Wisconsin, designated a State Special Concern species. Prairie voles are found in sand barrens and sand prairies, but also occurs in dry prairies, oak barrens and other dry habitat areas. Its preferred habitat seems to be native prairie sod, a rare habitat which is a target for TPE preservation and restoration efforts.
As we enjoy the late summer flowers, insects and birds on the prairie, consider the small mammals that are present but remain hidden in the grass. The special places we save also support many species we are just beginning to learn about.
Prairie vole during small mammal study. Photo by Pat Trochlell
Some flowering plants seem to attract insects more than others. One insect-attracting plant that is blooming profusely now is the cut-leaved coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata). It’s also known as green-headed coneflower or by my favorite name, wild golden-glow. Masses of yellow flowers do seem to glow, particularly when seen growing on the edge of a shady wetland or forest edge, their favorite habitat. This species is in the same genus as black-eyed Susan, but they can grow up to 10 feet tall. They often spread by rhizome, creating large colonies.
When the flowers are in bloom they always seem to have a swarm of bees and other insects on and around them. They have been known to attract bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, some beetles and flies. Watch for the special flowers of golden-glow, which will continue to bloom for about another month.
Bumblebee on golden-glow. Photo by Pat Trochlell
A sampling of slides in Walter Mirk’s prairie curriculum.
MMS students water their prairie and themselves. 