Twisted Oak Savanna – 2019

[To see photos and stories of the savanna in other years, see the links on the main Twisted Oak Savanna page.]

We did several projects here this year. We did our usual spring mowing in the cleared savanna areas. I girdled the aspens and a few other large trees in the woods at the north end of the savanna. We finished clearing the savanna area to the south of the big brush pile, and the at the far north end of the savanna. And we cleared another new savanna area just north of the bluff prairie.

3/25/2019

5/2/2019

5/28/2019 This is the very northern edge of the clearing we did in Fall 2017. Wood Betony and Wild Geranium are coming up.

5/28/2019

6/5/2019 Girdled aspens

6/5/2019 Girdled aspens and basswood

7/17/2019

7/22/2019

7/29/2019 I planted American Bellflower in the savanna from some purchased seeds, and also seeds from our plants in Western Valley. This year there were quite a few blooming plants at the north end of the savanna.

8/2/2019

8/3/2019 American Burn-weed (Erechtites hieracifolius) is a native weed that grows in disturbed places. It grew thickly here this summer – one year after our clearing project. I suspect it will be gone next summer – it usually only lasts one year.

8/3/2019

8/3/2019 This is the area that we cleared between Ragwort Opening and our path. It’s sunny and open, and this year a big patch of Field Thistle (Cirsium discolor) came up and bloomed. It attracted many butterflies – especially migrating Monarchs and Painted Ladies. The open area is quite weedy. I spent a few days pulling, or cutting and treating Queen Anne’s Lace, raspberries, honeysuckle, and some non-native thistles.

8/3/2019

8/3/2019 More American Burn Weed

8/5/2019

8/5/2019 Bottle-brush Grass, Field Thistle, Goldenrod, and American Bellflower

8/5/2019

8/5/2019 Ragwort Opening. We’ve opened up the woods around it on three sides, so it’s much more open and gets more light – so more flowers are blooming.