Come hike into the secluded valley of Schurch-Thomson Prairie.  Late-spring wildflowers such as shooting star, cream wild indigo, puccoons, wood betony, and alumroot should be in bloom with queen bumblebees of serval species active in collecting pollen and nectar to establish their colonies.  Schurch-Thomson Prairie is a 193-acre unit of TPE’s 570-acre Mounds View Grassland preserve.  The hike will include extensive grassland bird habitat filled with bobolinks, meadowlarks, grasshopper sparrows, upland sandpipers, and Henslow’s sparrows.  So bring binoculars, long pants, sturdy shoes, and be prepared for a long hike.  

Directions:  Address is 8624 Reilly Road, Barneveld.  From the intersection of US Hwy 18-151 and County F (south of Blue Mounds in western Dane County), take F approximately 5 miles south.  Turn right onto Reilly Road, and proceed to parking lot and kiosks at the end of the road (past the barn).   (Note: A half mile down F from 18-151, pay close attention to the road signs, for F turns to the right & the straight ahead road becomes County Z.  Stay on F.)