[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
3/11/2013 We had several late season snowstorms, which shortened the time I could work on clearing.
3/22/2013 Deer on the prairie
3/22/2013
6/6/2013 One of the rocky outcroppings where I’m working to clear brush
6/6/2013 Just to the west of the area I’ve cleared – an old Burr Oak
6/6/2013 More of the cleared area – looking east, toward the prairie
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.
6/6/2013 The prairie
6/6/2013 Prairie
6/6/2013 Prairie
6/6/2013 Prairie with sumac
6/6/2013 Silky Aster
7/28/2013
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.
7/28/2013 Top savanna area under the big oaks
7/28/2013
9/9/2013 The prairie
9/9/2013 I’ve cleared most of the sumac out of this part of the prairie.
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.
9/9/2013 The former aspen woods – looking more savanna-like, but with more clearing work to do.
9/9/2013
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.
9/12/2013 The same place after a morning of pulling the Sweet Clover.
10/13/2013 Sumac Bluff with Sumac Corner Prairie on the left, and Sumac Prairie on the right.
12/28/2013 Morning sun on Sumac Bluff
