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

Mike mowed the prairie twice again this year – mostly to control Queen Anne’s Lace and Common Mullein.  I cut and treated some of the Mullein, and pulled all the Wild Parsnip I could find.

I found quite a few natives growing – even one that I didn’t plant that I suspect is a remnant of the old prairie hillside that used to be here: Spiked Lobelia.  Of the plants in my seed mix I found Black-eyed Susan, Monarda, Oxeye, Sky Blue Aster, Giant St. John’s Wort, Spotted Bee Balm, Yellow Coneflower, Spiderwort, Tickseed Trefoil, Golden Alexanders, New England Aster, Prairie Sage, Hoary Vervain, Violets, and Asters.  Also Fleabane and Canada Goldenrod – that I didn’t plant.

The most common weeds were Queen Anne’s Lace, Wild Parsnip, Common Mullein, Curly Dock, and Bladder Campion.

5/25/2023  The edge of the prairie at the line of pines

6/10/2023

6/19/2023

6/21/2023  Spiked Lobelia

6/30/2023

6/30/2023  Wild Parsnip, Mullein, Curly Dock and Bladder Campion

7/16/2023

7/16/2023

7/17/2023

7/18/2023

7/18/2023

7/30/2023

8/16/2023  View from the mower

8/16/2023

9/10/2023

9/17/2023  Spotted Bee Balm

9/17/2023  New England Aster

9/25/2023  Drone view of Sumac Prairie at the top of the bluff (on the right), Sheep Hill Bluff Prairie (in the middle), Maze Meadow and Farmhouse Meadow newly mowed (on the left).

10/1/2023