Buffalo Ridge Prairie – 2024

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

Mike mowed grass stalks in the spring – mostly Indian Grass which has become the most dominant grass in this prairie. We’re careful to mow a bit haphazardly: we leave some as refugia, but mow most of the grasses along the path so it’s easier to see flowers and insects.

There are still patches of aspen sprouts especially along the edges of the prairie. I cut and treated several large patches along the edge east of Henslow’s Corner. I treat the cut surfaces with Milestone + bark oil.

1/29/2024

2/1/2024

4/5/2024 After spring mowing

5/7/2024

5/19/2024

5/28/2024

6/19/2024

7/4/2024

7/16/2024

7/17/2024

7/26/2024

8/28/2024 By August, the grasses – especially Indian Grass – get so tall and thick that we have to look hard for the flowers. There are lots of forbs, they’re just harder to see. In later prairies I planted many fewer grasses, and especially tall grasses.