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
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Feb 6, 2026
Marowski Bluff Prairie Field Trip
Sunday, May 17 – 9:00 a.m.
Location: 61675 Grand Vista Rd, Ferryville, WI [map link]
Every spring, millions of birds return to North America after spending winter in the tropics. May is the peak of spring migration and offers the best chance to see some of our most beautiful birds. Woodlands and remnant prairies adjacent to the Mississippi River, including TPE’s Marowski Prairie, provide excellent viewing opportunities. With luck, we’ll see and hear a variety of species including Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee and a variety of rainbow-hued warblers.
After spending time looking and listening for birds, we’ll look down toward the ground for plants. Typical early blooming prairie plants like Pasqueflower, Bird’s-foot violet, Hoary Puccoon, Blue-eyed grass, Violet wood-sorrel and more might be in bloom. We’ll use iNaturalist to add observations to the site list. We’ll also look at the restoration efforts and discuss the management plans for the site.
DIFFICULTY:
We’ll be accessing the site from the top and mostly stay on the flatter top areas. Some hikers may want to venture down the steep slopes to see the full extent of the prairie.
TRIP LEADERS:
Craig Thompson (birding expert) and Jim Rogala
WHAT TO BRING:
Water, sturdy hiking shoes, bug repellent and dress for the weather. Bring binoculars for birding if you have them.
CONTACT:
For more information, contact Jim Rogala (jrogala@theprairieenthusiasts.org).
by The Prairie Enthusiasts | Jan 27, 2026
Oak Savanna Restoration Field Tour at Terrace Oaks Park
Thursday, May 7 – 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Location: Terrace Oaks Park in Burnsville, MN
Join City of Burnsville natural resources staff and the Minnesota Oak Savanna Chapter on this field tour of Terrace Oaks Park. Registration is free and capped at 30 attendees.
Learn more and register HERE!
