Native vs Planted Prairie

Join us as we tour two prairies -- one was planted the other is a remnant.  What’s different?

We start at Prescott Bergh's property.  This ten-acre remnant prairie is located on a sand/gravel esker, very droughty. Grasses include needlegrass, big and little bluestem, and Indian grass. Forbes include prairie smoke, rough blazing star, pussytoes, birdsfoot violets, yellow coneflower, round headed bush clover, and  leadplant, etc.

We leave Prescott's and drive four miles to Marti Piepgras' prairie.  This  five-acre wet mesic prairie, or oak savanna, was planted 20 years ago in a former cornfield, along the Rush River in Martell. There are mowed trails; the box elder tree border shelters butterflies; a sandbar willow at river's edge feeds beavers. There is an abundance and wide variety of prairie flowers and scattered little bur oak trees and white pines. 

What to bring:  drinking water

Leader:  Ginny Gaynor

Difficulty:  Lots of walking over uneven ground

Directions:  We start at Prescott's home:  N8806 600th St, River Falls, WI.

Head southeast on 600th St toward 870th Ave for 0.3 miles.
Turn left onto 870th Ave and go 0.8 miles.
Turn right onto County Rd Y and go 2.1 miles.
Merge onto US Hwy 63 S and go 0.4 miles.
Turn left onto 780th Ave and go 0.6 miles.

We end at Marti's property:  W5325 780th Ave, Spring Valley, WI.

Map of tour