by Evanne Hunt | Mar 11, 2026
Tour of private prairie
This tour is a great follow-up to Rich Henderson’s talk on “Converting your lawn or field to prairie.”
Alex Bouthilet will lead us on a tour of his prairie.
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.
There will be beverages and snacks for after the tour.
Date: May 4 (Monday)
Time: 5-6:30 pm
Location: 638 170th Street, Osceola, WI
Map
Bring:
- Drinking water (it may get hot)
- Long pants (there may be poison ivy)
by Evanne Hunt | Mar 11, 2026
Sedge Transplanting Experience
Would you like to learn how to transplant sedges? Join sedge specialist, Gabriel Bertilson in transplanting Pennsylvania sedge in an oak woodland near Afton, MN.
Sedges are a vital part of oak savannas and prairies tolerating shifting sunlight, inhibiting shrub and weed encroachment, stabilizing the soil with their dense roots, and providing overwinter homes for bumble bees and food for birds and beneficial insects.
Sedge seeds are difficult to collect and germinate, so transplanting runners is a more effective method to enlarge plantings. During this transplanting activity we will explore a beautiful top bluff on this unique private property. This is the first in a series of activities and workshops on sedges being offered by Gabriel this summer.
Date: April 8 (Wednesday)
Time: 4:30 until about 6 pm
Location:15695 37th Street South, Afton, MN, 55001
Map to location
We will meet at the house.
Bring: Garden gloves and a trowel or digging knife (hori hori type tools). No spades because we are digging rhizomes that are pretty shallow and we don’t want to disturb much soil.
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Mar 2, 2026
Tour of the Dakota County Greenhouse Native Plant Propagation Program
Saturday, April 25 – 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Location: Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan, MN
Learn from Dakota County Natural Resources staff about their native plant propagation program while touring their new greenhouse production facility at Lebanon Hills Regional Park. Staff will discuss topics such as seed collection and propagation strategies for common and rare plant native plant species, growing strategies, and restoration planting.
To learn more and to register for this event, CLICK HERE.
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Mar 2, 2026
Private Prairie Restoration Tour at Grell Prairie
Sunday, June 21 – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Lone Rock, WI
Please join the Southwest Chapter for a tour of a privately owned restoration site on Sunday, June 21. The tour will begin at 1:30 pm.
This property near Lone Rock, WI is owned by Marty and Mary Grell, who will be our hosts.
This prairie and black oak barren survived by being a pasture and being too steep for crop farming. It is in recovery stage from at least 100 years of grazing, and now a constant battle with woodland encroachment. Brush and tree cover removal, followed by periodic burns have been done since 1994.
Diverse plant life, such as Scutellaria parvula (small skullcap), Amorphia canescens (leadplant), Talinum rugospermum (fame flower) and other moderate to dry prairie plants are present. There is a 3 acre burr oak savanna remnant atop the hill (Little Roundtop) on the east end of the property.
DIFFICULTY: Moderate. Most of the prairie is on a hillside, with varied grades.
WHAT TO BRING:
We recommend wearing good shoes for hiking. Consider sun protection and bring bugspray and water.
TRIP LEADER:
Please contact Marty Grell if you have any questions at (martygr.53@gmail.com) or (608) 553-3401.
LOCATION:
31302 Harper Hill Lane, Lone Rock, Wi 53556
THIS IS THE CLOSEST ADDRESS AVAILABLE.
The actual site is 100 yds further W off Cty Hwy B (look for the Grell Prairie sign).
Due to very limited parking at the shed, PLEASE park off the side of Cty Hwy B near the entrance gate and take a short walk past one of this years burned areas. For reference you will be 1.1 mi W of the Little Brown Church (church is located at the Jct of Cty B and Hwy 130), or approx. 3.1 mi E from Hwy 14 at Sextonville (take Cty B East).
by Evanne Hunt | Feb 9, 2026
Look for early-blooming sedges
Gabriel Bertilson will lead us to see the pompom-like flowers of the earliest sedges as well as hepaticas. You can also help add more species to the plant list for this site.
Date: April 20 (Monday)
Time: 5pm until you want to leave
Location: 15695 37th Street South, Afton, MN, 55001
Directions: from the corner of St Croix Trail with 37th St S in “downtown” Afton, proceed west, past a dead end sign. The road will transition to a shared driveway that continues west. Keep left at the fork (notice a small sign with “Brokken” on it) and continue to the house. We will be parking to the right of the house in a small orchard. If we pack the vehicles in tight, there will be plenty of room for everyone. Please leave the loop in front of the driveway open.
Map to location
