Last Saturday, volunteers burned the brush piles pictured in the top photo, a total of nine. Weather permitting, they will burn another nine in the block to the west. Brush piles are the result of hand clearing as opposed to mowing. The bottom photo shows part of 17 mowed acres. This winter many areas across the State Natural Area have been mowed or hand cleared of invasive brush, the biggest threat to the Prairie. Follow up treatment of brush resprouts will allow the native forbs and grasses to return. It is the native plants that will provide fuel for prescribed burns, which in turn help to control brush and invigorate natives. The more frequent the burns, the better for controlling invasive brush without burning too hot. Prescribed burns are planned for several areas this Spring. Fire, mowing, and hand clearing are the Prairie’s good friends and help bring it back to blooming. 

May 6, June 3, July 1, August 5, September 2

The United States Senate has declared it so. This whole thing about the birds and the bees, and all pollinators, depends on plants, native plants. If you already have some in your yard, consider adding a few more species. If you don’t have any natives, please let this be the year you welcome some into your garden. Yours may be the oasis a native bird, butterfly, or other pollinator needs to survive. Large isolated natural areas cannot do it alone.

The Wild Ones Root River Area Chapter's annual plant sale is virtual again this year--and there is no minimum! The website is in full color with loads of info about each plant to help you choose. Treat yourself to fun armchair shopping for your garden. The site will remain open until April 2, 2023. You will find it at https://www.rootrivernativeplantsale.org.

If you are uncomfortable with online ordering, please contact Joann Sustachek (jsustachek@yahoo.com) or Regina Harders (rharders3@gmail.com) for downloadable PDF order forms.

Pick up will be on June 3 at Dane Hill Farm, 1826 Old Fancher Rd, Mt Pleasant, WI 53406

This is the perfect opportunity to add natives to your yard and help Wild Ones raise funds to help area organizations maintain and introduce native plants. CPPF is one of those very grateful organizations!

In February, the volunteers finished clearing brush along the South Barnes Creek, a project started last winter. This Saturday, March 18, we will be cutting and herbiciding buckthorn along the Al Krampert Trail south of 116th Street. The prediction is cloudy with a high of 33 degrees. Winds are expected to be WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Wear old clothes, sturdy shoes or boots, and workgloves. This year ticks are early. We supply tools, instructions, and answers to all your questions about our work and the Prairie. 

The workday is from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Come for part or all of it.