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

The biggest changes to Big View Prairie this year were in the savanna below the main prairie, and in Corner View Prairie.

Erik and Beth from Kule Region Forestry worked on cutting more trees to open up the savanna.  The only part they have left to do is the western-most section.  The central and eastern parts now have widely spaced Burr and Black Oaks.  The ground layer below the trees is still quite weedy, with Mullein, honeysuckle, buckthorn, Garlic Mustard and Burdock, but some natives are coming in especially Monarda, Field Thistle, Wild Geranium and violets.

We’ve neglected Corner View Prairie for quite a few years, so it’s become overgrown with sumac, buckthorn and Queen Anne’s Lace.  This summer I worked there for a few days and cleared out some of the invaders at least from the center of the open prairie.

2/25/2023

3/15/2023  Erik and Beth working on the western end of the savanna

3/21/2023  More work on the savanna

3/23/2023  The more open savanna is on the right; the western part still needs more clearing.

4/3/2023  Looking up into the western end of the savanna

4/3/2023  Slash that Erik and Beth haven’t burned yet.  The hill at the back of the photo is Corner View Prairie.  It’s edges are still quite overgrown.

4/3/2023  Looking east into the more open savanna

4/3/2023

5/22/2023  The western part of the savanna, looking down the hill to Pine Point Prairie

5/22/2023   The savanna between Big View Prairie and Corner View Prairie

5/22/2023  The path from the edge of Western Prairie into Corner View Prairie

5/22/2023  Corner View Prairie – a small prairie opening facing south-west

5/22/2023  Corner View Prairie – looking down through brush and trees into the savanna below.

5/22/2023  Looking east into the more open savanna

5/24/2023  From the more open savanna, looking up into Big View Prairie

5/24/2023

8/18/2023  The weedy top savanna – under the oaks above Big View Prairie

8/19/2023  The weedy edge of the top savanna

8/18/2023  Corner View Prairie before pulling Queen Anne’s Lace

8/21/2023  Corner View Prairie – while pulling Queen Anne’s Lace and cutting sumac

8/21/2023  Corner View Prairie

8/21/2023  Corner View Prairie

9/18/2023  Corner View Prairie – finished for this year.  Queen Anne’s Lace pulled, and some of the surrounding thicket of sumac cut and treated.

9/25/2023  Drone photo of Big View Prairie – center, Western Prairie – above, and Pine Point Prairie – below.

10/18/2023