[To see photos and stories of this prairie in other years, go to the links on the main Western Prairie page.]
We still haven’t worked on the invading shrubs, so parts of the prairie are getting very brushy. The worst is the section above the dip that leads down into Volvo Meadow and both north and south of that along the ridgetop. Both the southernmost section and the northernmost section are much less brushy.
I treated a large circle of Crown Vetch in the southern section with Milestone this summer. Other than mowing the path, that was the only work we did here.
Henslow’s Sparrows nested in the middle section this year.
3/30/2023 The top of the dip that leads down into Volvo Meadow
5/22/2023 The brushiest part of the prairie
6/22/2023
6/22/2023 The circle of Crown Vetch
6/22/2023
7/2/2023 This is the northernmost section – not much brush, lots of White Wild Indigo, diverse flowers and not overwhelmed with grasses.
7/2/2023 Another view of the northern section
7/8/2023
7/24/2023 The Volvo Meadow dip, looking southwest
7/28/2023 Northern section
7/31/2023
7/31/2023
7/31/2023
7/31/2023
8/18/2023
8/21/2023 The southern section has areas dominated by Stiff Goldenrod
8/21/2023
8/21/2023 A smoky day – from the wildfires in Canada
8/21/2023
8/21/2023
9/18/2023
10/18/2023 Prairie Coreopsis leaves turning color and drying seeds
10/18/2023
10/22/2023
11/5/2023
