Wildflowers on the Prairie

In May the prairie was ablaze in flames. Workers from Three Rivers Park District deliberately set fire to the prairie in order to help it survive. Each spring the Park District uses controlled, carefully managed fires to burn off non-native grasses and other plant species that have crowded out native grasses. After the fire has passed and the ground is blackened, native prairie grasses, no longer being crowded out by the non-native plants, flourish and grow.

Now the prairie is in bloom. Larry Gillette, Senior Wildlife Manager for Three Rivers Park District, says July is a peak time to see the prairie in bloom. “Plants in bloom right now include butterfly weed, coneflower, lead plant, showy tick-trefoil, wild bergamot, golden aster, white and purple prairie clover, blue vervain, mountain mint, prairie phlox and giant St. John's wort,” said Gillette with a gleam in his eye as he surveyed the end result of the burnings that were done this spring.

Three Rivers Park District has restored roughly 600 acres of Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, 200 acres of Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve and 60 acres of Hyland Lake Park Reserve to native tall-grass prairie. But Gillette says the work is not done. Starting at the end of August and running through mid-October, volunteers help collect seeds from prairie flowers that will then be used in the future to sow the prairie and grow even more prairie flowers.

“I really encourage people to come out and visit the prairie in the next few weeks while they can really see the variety of all the different flowering plants in bloom,” Gillette said. “And if people want to come out and help collect wildflower seeds this fall they are certainly welcome,” Gillette added.

Volunteer Opportunity! Collect prairie seeds, help restore native prairie