The Prairie Enthusiasts

Randal Maurer , president
Phone: 920-748-7823

The Wisconsin chapter of The Nature Conservancy purchased this 5-acre railroad prairie remnant in 1975. The first plant survey for the site, conducted by Lloyd Shinners (Manual of the North Central Texas Flora, Spring Flora of the Dallas-Fort Worth Area) however dates back to 1941. At that time Shinners collected a specimen of the state endangered Asclepias purpurascens L. This specimen, housed at the University of Wisconsin Madison Herbarium (WIS), was later confirmed by R.E. Woodson, noted authority for the Genus, to be correct. The later attempts to locate this plant have been unsuccessful.

Located in Winnebago County Wisconsin ¼ mile West of the intersections of county highways E and F and surrounded by agricultural land, the Omro Prairie has only recently seen development of the adjoining land as some parcels have sold for new housing in 5 acre lots, having minimum impact on the site.

Past efforts by TNC volunteers have been removal of Buckthorn, Honeysuckle, Sweet Clover, Thistle, Burdock, Sumac, as well as removal of barbed wire and old fence posts. Burns were generally conducted every few years.

A sample of plants at Omro include Turks Cap Lily, Culvers Root, Shooting Star, Alum Root, Prairie Phlox, Prairie Dock, Seneca Snake Root, Stiff Goldenrod, Bergamot, Spreading Dogbane, Indian Hemp, New England Aster, Yellow Coneflower, Bur Oak, Yellow Pimpernel, Golden Alexanders, with grasses including Big Bluestem, Canada Wild Rye, Prairie Cord Grass, Indian Grass and Bottle Brush Grass.

The Winnebagoland Chapter will continue the care given this site by TNC and hope it will be just the first of many remnants to come under our management in the future.