by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Jun 8, 2026
Erbe Grassland & Goplin Prairies Field Trip
Sunday, June 21 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Erbe Grassland in Blue Mounds, WI
Come help us look for the endangered wooly milkweed, wood lilies, and grassland birds at The Prairie Enthusiast’s Erbe Grassland preserve. This site has a population of the state endangered woolly milkweed, which is very rare throughout its range. We have been trying to inventory the site for this species, which is short and easily overlooked when not in bloom. The site was burned this spring, which should stimulate them to flower, thus helping locate the plants. With enough people, we hope to get a good count.
We will also be looking for wood lilies to assess how well they have established from planted seed. This is also a great site to experience rare and uncommon grassland birds such as upland sandpipers, bobolinks, meadowlarks, Henslow’s sparrows, grasshopper sparrows, and more, so bring binoculars. Be prepared for a long hike off trail.
WHAT TO BRING: Moderate hiking (2 miles plus) over uneven terrain.
WHAT TO BRING:
We recommend long pants, sturdy shoes, a hat, water and sunscreen. Bring binoculars if you have them.
FIELD TRIP LEADER:
Contact Rich Henderson (tpe.rhenderson@tds.net) or (608) 845-7065.
LOCATION:
From Mt. Horeb, take US Hwy 18/151 west for 2 miles. Turn south (left) on Erbe Road. Meet at the preserve’s parking lot and kiosk, which is 0.7 miles south on Erbe Road on the right. MAP HERE
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Jun 8, 2026
Butterflies and Flowers of Pleasant Valley
Saturday, June 20 – 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Location: Pleasant Valley Conservancy in Dane County, WI
Pleasant Valley Conservancy, a designated State Natural Area, is privately held, protected, and managed by The Savanna Oak Foundation and The Prairie Enthusiasts. This beautiful place is situated in the Driftless Region, with steep goat prairies, oak savanna, and a large, high-quality wetland. We hope to see Baltimore Checkerspots and perhaps some skippers in the wetland area. Other possible butterfly species include swallowtails, Silvery Checkerspot, fritillaries, and blues. These butterflies will have many wonderful native plants providing nectar.
Leaders will be Dreux Watermolen, Ethan Brown and Kathie Brock.This is a joint trip of the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association in conjunction with The Prairie Enthusiasts and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.
If you would like to socialize after the walk, bring along a bag lunch. This is held at Kathie’s cabin on the property and is a great time to socialize with like-minded folks.
To be contacted in case of cancellation or other changes, please register your intent to attend with Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. Trip is limited to 25 participants.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
DIFFICULTY: This area is not handicap accessible. Entry and exit paths are sloped. Paths and boardwalks can be muddy.
WHAT TO BRING:
Long pants, a hat, water, and hiking shoes are recommended. Bring close-focusing binoculars if you have them. If you would like to socialize after the walk, bring along a bag lunch.
FIELD TRIP LEADER:
For questions, contact Pam Skaar (hyndla53704@yahoo.com).
DIRECTIONS:
(4554 Pleasant Valley Road, Black Earth) Heading south into downtown Black Earth, follow County Hwy F as it turns right (west). After a mile or so, F turns left (south). Continue on F for another 3-3/4 miles, turning left onto Pleasant Valley Road. Drive 3/4 mile (past the buildings on the right) to the state natural area sign. Park off the road.
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Jun 8, 2026
Sugar River Oak Savanna Hike
Wednesday, June 17 – 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Location: Sugar River Oak Savanna in Dane County, WI
Come for a morning hike to see displays of spiderwort, rock rose, and frost-weed flowers before they close for the day. There may even be a few wood lilies in bloom. This diverse 9-acre oak savanna is a preserve of The Prairie Enthusiasts and managed by the Empire-Sauk Chapter. Management with frequent fire since 1976 has brought about a very diverse flora of prairie and savanna species with nearly 400 native plant species now present.
WHAT TO BRING:
We recommend long pants, sturdy shoes, a hat, bugspray/tick repellant, sunscreen and water.
TRIP LEADER:
For questions and to RSVP, contact Rich Henderson (tpe.rhenderson@tds.net) (h) 608-845-7065.
DIRECTIONS:
From the intersection of CTH M and PD (north of Verona and SW of Madison) take PD west 3.0 miles to Timber Lane, turn right (north) on to Timber Lane and then immediately turn left into a joint driveway. Proceed to the brick house (2845 Timber Lane). Park in mowed lawn (please do not block the neighbor’s driveway).
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Jun 1, 2026
Sugar River Oak Savanna Hike
Friday, May 29 – 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Sugar River Oak Savanna in Dane County, WI
This diverse 9-acre oak savanna preserve of The Prairie Enthusiasts has been managed with frequent fire since 1976. This has brought about a very diverse flora of prairie and savanna flora of nearly 400 native plant species. A variety of mid-spring wildflowers should be in bloom with lupines in full display.
WHAT TO BRING:
Comfortable footwear for walking and tick repellant.
TRIP LEADER:
For questions and to RSVP, contact Rich Henderson (tpe.rhenderson@tds.net) (h) 608-845-7065.
DIRECTIONS:
From the intersection of CTH M and PD (north of Verona and SW of Madison) take PD west 3.0 miles to Timber Lane, turn right (north) on to Timber Lane and then immediately turn left into a joint driveway. Proceed to the brick house (2845 Timber Lane). Park in mowed lawn (please do not block the neighbor’s driveway).
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | May 29, 2026
Hahnaman Sand Prairie Site Tour
Monday, June 22 – 10:00 a.m.
Location: Hahnaman Sand Prairie in Deer Grove, IL
Join the Northwest Illinois Chapter as we visit the Hahnaman Sand Prairie owned by a foundation that was created by member Greg Wahl.
Hahnaman Sand Prairie is a mixture of habitats, with most of it being sand prairie. There are several remnants on the property and many acres of planted prairie. Greg has identified 386 species on his property. We are hoping to see a large display of blooming pale purple coneflowers, but Mother Nature will decide that. There are always blooms out on the prairie, so we’re sure to find something flowering. We also hope to see some prairie critters, including butterflies, birds and possibly some reptiles.
We will meet at Greg’s shed, a newly remodeled building with running water (drinking water), restroom facilities, and maybe air conditioning!! We’ll start the tour with Greg giving us a quick overview of the prairie and then we’ll venture out into the prairie.
The prairie is accessible by 4WD (and AWD – if necessary) vehicles; Greg is able to accommodate a good number of people with his truck and UTV, but we may need additional vehicles if we have a large turnout. We’ll stop at several of Greg’s favorite spots for prairie viewing and then head back to the shed for more discussion about the foundations plans for the property. Our hope is to be out in the prairie while it’s still relatively cool.
Please bring a lunch with you to eat while we’re back at the shed. After we have finished our lunch and discussion we’ll head out. For those that are interested in additional touring, we’ll make a quick stop at Foley Sand Prairie, a dedicated Nature Preserve just down the road from Hahnaman Sand Prairie.
WHAT TO BRING:
Please bring your lunch, water/beverage, insect repellent, and dress to be out in the prairie.
CONTACT:
We would like to know how many people will be joining us on this tour, so please contact Laura Dufford (lauradufford@gmail.com) with your name, phone number, and how many people will be joining you. We will cancel if weather looks extreme. You’ll be contacted as early as possible if that’s the case. Hahnaman Sand Prairie is quite a distance from Jo Daviess County, so we may wish to carpool. Please let Laura know if you’d like to be included in carpool arrangements.
LOCATION:
Hahnaman Prairie is located at: 30922 Jersey Rd, Deer Grove, IL. We will meet at Greg’s shed at 10:00 a.m. MAP HERE
