by The Prairie Enthusiasts | May 18, 2026
Butterflies of Borah Creek Prairie SNA
Saturday, September 12 – 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Rain Date Saturday, September 19
Location: Borah Creek Prairie in Fennimore, WI
Come enjoy the beauty of Borah Creek Prairie and connect with others in our community! Borah Creek Prairie includes 181 acres of scenic remnant prairie, offering a rare glimpse into the rolling grasslands of the past. The property is excellent for native plant, bird, and butterfly enthusiasts.
A portable toilet is located at the bottom of the prairie near the barn.
This event is hosted by the Southwest Wisconsin Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts. Additional sponsors of this event include the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association (SWBA) and Gathering Waters Land Trust. This event is proudly part of Land Trust Days.
DIFFICULTY:
The main trail is relatively easy, though other trails may be more rigorous. Vehicle traffic on the trail will be limited to enhance the butterfly experience.
WHAT TO BRING:
Long pants, long sleeves, a hat, insect repellent, hiking shoes, and binoculars.
The barn will be open for lunch following the field trip. Please bring your own lunch; coolers will be provided in the parking area and transported to the barn for you.
CONTACT:
This prairie tour is led by Donna Williams-Richter and Lindsey Dalton. Please register your intent to attend and join us for lunch by contacting Donna at dowiri124@gmail.com.
LOCATION:
11949 Mt. Ridge Rd, Fennimore, WI. From Fennimore, head west on US Hwy 18. Turn left onto Cemetery Rd and right onto Mount Ridge Rd for approximately 3 miles. The access road is on the right. MAP HERE
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | May 14, 2026
Sylvan Road Conservation Area Prairie Walk
Sunday, August 16 – 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Rain Date Sunday, August 23
Location: Sylvan Road Conservation Area in Hollandale, WI
Site Steward Tom Hunt invites participants to saunter through this diverse property owned by The Prairie Enthusiasts. Purchased in 2014, this site features oak woods, wet prairie, and riparian scrub/young forest. The wet prairie consists of wet mesic prairie, wet prairie, and sedge meadow and contains a number of species rarely found in Wisconsin, including Rattlesnake master, Yellow-headed fox sedge, and Prairie gray sedge. Prairie Indian plantain, a threatened species, is also found in this plant community.
This event is proudly part of Land Trust Days.
DIFFICULTY:
Terrain is fairly level with mowed and cleared trails.
WHAT TO BRING:
Waterproof footwear is recommended as some areas may be muddy. Water, sunscreen, bugspray, hat and binoculars recommended.
CONTACT:
You should email Tom Hunt if you plan to join this event. That way, if anything changes with the weather, etc. you will be informed.
LOCATION:
1574 Banner Rd, Hollandale, WI. MAP HERE
by Evanne Hunt | May 13, 2026
Effects of prescribed fire on savanna plants
Alex Bouthilet will take us on a tour of Alexander Oak Savanna to see the effects of prescribed fire on the plant life.
Date: May 30 (Saturday)
Time: 1pm – 2pm
Over the years, many of you have helped us on cold winter days to restore the Alexander oak savanna. Here is an opportunity to become acquainted with the site in the late spring.
Directions: Take highway 35 south towards River Falls.
Take highway 65 south (35 turns into 65) toward Ellsworth.
Gravel road entrance is on the right just after the Town of River Falls town hall.
Map
by Evanne Hunt | May 13, 2026
Tour of private prairie
Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea)
Alex Bouthilet will lead us on a tour of his prairie. The lupines and Indian paintbrush should be glorious!
This prairie started as a dense sod of exotic cool-season grasses. About 12 years ago it was inter-seeded with native prairie species and has been burned annually in the dormant season since then. During the tour we’ll look at how repeated fire and inter-seeding have gradually shifted the site toward a more diverse native prairie, along with what has worked well and what challenges still remain.
Date: June 11 (Thursday)
Time: 5-6:30 pm
Location: 638 170th Street, Osceola, WI
Map
Bring: Drinking water (it may get hot)
Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | May 8, 2026
Swenson Bluffs Preserve Field Trip
Sunday, May 17 – 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Location: Swenson Bluffs Preserve in Arena, WI
Swenson Hill Prairie is a spectacular large bluff prairie noted for its steepness and lack of exotic species that should be in spectacular spring bloom on this weekend. Acquired by TPE in 2017, this is an orientation for those not familiar to the site as well as a tour of its diversity and management challenges.
The focus of this trip is the big hill prairie visible from County Highway H. The bluff was burned in April, and the prairie spring ephemerals should be on full display. We may also have time to visit Shooting Star Prairie, a smaller remnant that is also part of the preserve.
Two years ago, this field trip wandered through wet grass between full-on rain showers before and after. Let’s hope for clear weather this year. There will be a challenging hill climb.
WHAT TO BRING:
Dress for the sun and for chiggers.
TRIP LEADER:
Scott Sauer, scottbsauer@yahoo.com, 608.772.3539. Contact Scott for directions, meeting location and/or to arrange travel from the Madison area.
DIRECTIONS:
The property is approximately 1.5 miles south of Highway 14 on County H, west of the village of Arena. Highway 14 is the main route, but from the south, one can also reach the site from Ridgeway via County Hwy H, or from Barneveld via County Hwy T.
