[To see photos and stories of this prairie in other years, go to the links on the main East Center Valley page.]
2/8/2013 lower, wet end of the prairie
2/8/2013 View of East Center Valley Prairie – mostly the upper field – from Pat’s Prairie
2/8/2013
4/16/2013 View from Indian Grass Prairie – East Center Valley Prairie is on the left.
5/10/2013 Center Valley from Indian Grass Point
5/20/2013
6/8/2013 This is really part of the upper field because it was also hayfield – not cropped like most of the lower area. It’s actually weedier than most of the rest of the upper field. We call it the parking area – because we’ve parked cars along the driveway here a few times when we’ve had parties.
6/21/2013 The parking area actually looks better this year. There are lots of annual weeds, but no smooth brome, and there are native thistles poking up from the grass.
6/21/2013 Also Golden Alexander and Indian Paintbrush
6/27/2013
7/26/2013 For the first time, the upper field looks pretty good. It has plenty of Queen Anne’s Lace, but there are lots of natives too.
7/28/2013 A closer look at the upper field
7/28/2013 And even a closer look. Black-eyed Susans, Oxeye, Monarda, Wild Rye and Field Thistle growing with non-natives: Mullein, Curly Dock, Queen Anne’s Lace and native but weedy Fleabane.
7/28/2013
7/28/2013 The parking area looked pretty good too, except that there’s a thick layer of non-native annual grasses.
7/28/2013 Parking area
8/19/2013 We mowed a fire-break so that, if the weather cooperates, we can burn the parking area to get rid of the thick layer of grassy thatch.
8/19/2013 Parking area
8/19/2013 Fire-break
12/28/2013
