by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Apr 17, 2026
Driftless Area BioBlitz – Precious Prairies
Saturday, June 20 – 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Location: Stry Prairie in Hixon Forest Park in La Crosse, WI
Hosted by The Nature Place. Join us to identify as many flora and fauna as we can and enter into iNaturalist. All levels are welcome to join and learn from each other! Learn more about this event HERE.
WHAT TO BRING:
Your phone with the iNaturalist app, a camera, water and anything else to be comfortable.
CONTACT:
Contact Jim Rogala (jrogala@theprairieenthusiasts.org) with any questions.
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Apr 17, 2026
Mother’s Day Hike on Holland Sand Prairie
Sunday, May 10 – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Holland Sand Prairie near Holmen, WI
What better way to share part of the special day with mothers than on a prairie full of early blooming species! Because of the sandy soils, grasses have not greatly altered the density of low-growing species like pasqueflower, violets, and prairie smoke on this 61-acre sand prairie. Owned by the Town of Holland, with an easement with Mississippi Valley Conservancy, it is one of the properties our Chapter helps manage.
WHAT TO BRING:
Water, hiking shoes, sunscreen, and anything else to be comfortable.
CONTACT:
Contact Jim Rogala (email) with any questions.
LOCATION:
DETAILS HERE
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Apr 17, 2026
Wildflower Walk at Muralt Bluff SNA
Saturday, May 16 – 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Location: Muralt Bluff in Albany, WI
Mid-May is a wonderful time to visit Muralt Bluff State Natural Area. The western-facing bluff will be alive with wildflowers such as bird’s foot violets and shooting stars, plus other species.
Come enjoy the flowers, the amazing vista, the fresh air up on the bluff. We’ll talk about the geology of the site, and the management that brought this prairie remnant back to glory. For this walk, we will focus on restoration of the bluff area.
For those interested, we will also visit adjacent Iltis Savanna, to view the oak savanna following prescribed burn this spring.
Muralt Bluff Prairie SNA is owned by The Prairie Enthusiasts (TPE) & the WI Department of Natural Resources. It is managed by the local TPE Prairie Bluff Chapter.
Rain date TBD. Check our Facebook page if weather is uncertain.
DIFFICULTY: We will follow an easy footpath to visit wildflowers at the base of the bluff. Then we will climb one steep path to view the top of the bluff.
WHAT TO BRING:
Sturdy walking shoes, hat, sunscreen, water, Merlin app. Bring a walking stick or use one that we provide.
CONTACT:
For questions, contact Beth Kazmar at csa@tipiproduce.com. Event details will be updated on our Facebook page if weather is uncertain.
LOCATION:
Meet at Muralt Bluff parking lot, adjacent to W2635 Cty Hwy F, Albany WI.
Look for the “Muralt Bluff Prairie Reserve” sign at the parking lot entrance.
by Evanne Hunt | Apr 14, 2026
Sedge Flower Walk
Laura Baxley took this picture at Lost Valley Prairie Scientific and Natural Area, north of Hastings, MN, on May 13th, 2025.
We will walk around the Foster Conservation Area (including the pioneer cemetery) to identify sedge flowers. We will definitely see Mead’s sedge (Carex meadii), the bluish stiff running sedge and perhaps many others.
Foster was burned on April 7. This field trip will be a great opportunity to see the results and ask questions about prescribed burning.
Date: May 12 (Tuesday)
Time: 5 pm until about 6 pm or when you want to leave
Locations: Foster Conservation area
432 S Apollo Rd, River Falls
Meet at the entrance to the River Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Map
The site is back about 500 yards behind the Treatment Plant. The walk is along a level, dirt path. Once at the Foster site, you can stay on level ground or walk up a small hill to the cemetery.
Bring:
- Dress appropriately for weather
- Drinking water
- Camera!
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Apr 2, 2026
Monthly Prairie Hike: Gustavus Adolphus College Arboretum
Monday, July 13 – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Gustavus Adolphus College Arboretum, MN
This hike is part of a monthly hiking series hosted by the Many Rivers Chapter. For more details on this event and their monthly hike series, CLICK HERE.
LOCATION:
