Sumac Prairie 2013

[To see photos and stories of this prairie in other years, go to the links on the main Sumac Prairie page.]

This was another year when I worked hard on hand clearing brush on both the steep prairie hillside and the savanna hillside.

1/10/2013

1-10-13

 

3/11/2013  We had several late season snowstorms, which shortened the time I could work on clearing.

3-11-13

 

3/22/2013  Deer on the prairie

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3/22/2013

3-22-13 2

 

6/6/2013  One of the rocky outcroppings where I’m working to clear brush

6-6-13 2

 

6/6/2013  Just to the west of the area I’ve cleared – an old Burr Oak

6-6-13 1

 

6/6/2013  More of the cleared area – looking east, toward the prairie

6-6-13 3

 

6/6/2013  This area was a thick aspen grove.  I girdled all the trees in 2007, and now they’ve mostly fallen and more sun reaches the ground.  So there are more prairie plants, but also more brush growing up.

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6/6/2013  The prairie

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6/6/2013  Prairie

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6/6/2013  Prairie

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6/6/2013  Prairie with sumac

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6/6/2013  Silky Aster

6-6-13 silky aster

 

7/28/2013

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7/28/2013

 

7/28/2013  This is the savanna area along the top of the ridge – above the prairie.  The Prairie Enthusiasts helped us clear the thickest part of the brush, and then we’ve mowed once a year.   It’s starting to have some prairie flowers – Monarda, Pussytoes, and Thimbleweed, but still has lots of weeds.

7-28-13 3 savanna

 

7/28/2013  Top savanna area under the big oaks

7-28-13 4 savanna

 

7/28/2013

7-28-13 5 savanna

 

9/9/2013  The prairie

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9/9/2013  I’ve cleared most of the sumac out of this part of the prairie.

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9/9/2013

 

9/9/2013  Some old Burr Oaks in the savanna area just west of the prairie.  Still more clearing needs to be done here.

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9/9/2013  The former aspen woods – looking more savanna-like, but with more clearing work to do.

9-9-13 5

 

9/9/2013

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9/12/2013  This slope is in the steep savanna area.  I had cleared it of brush in 2012, but Sweet Clover came up everywhere.

9-12-13 with sweet clover

 

9/12/2013  The same place after a morning of pulling the Sweet Clover.

9-12-13 after weeding for sweet clover

 

10/13/2013  Sumac Bluff with Sumac Corner Prairie on the left, and Sumac Prairie on the right.

10-13-13

 

12/28/2013  Morning sun on Sumac Bluff

12-28-13 morning sun