Do controlled burns help exotics spread?
Bush Honeysuckle with Berries Walking after dinner tonight I noticed some shrubs leafing out along the trail. Inspecting them I was disappointed to find Bush Honeysuckles, an invasive exotic from … Continued
Bloodroot with Bee
Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis On our picnic lunch today in the Eastern Valley we found solid evidence of Spring. In addition to the Bloodroot shown here we found Virginia Bluebells, Spring … Continued
Flowering Quince – Not all exotics are bad!
Flowering Quince – Not native to the PGT We showcase native plants at the Prairie Garden Trust. The idea is to find the beauty in what nature has to offer. … Continued
Flowering Dogwoods
Flowering Dogwoods In a few weeks the woods at the Prairie Garden Trust will be filled with dogwood blossoms; but we won’t have as many as in past years. The … Continued
I Like Lichen!
Crustose Lichen This morning when I was taking a walk I noticed that the wind had knocked a board off the side of the barn at the PGT. When I … Continued
Harvesting Osage Orange fruit
Osage Orange, Maclura pomifera We’ve been out gathering Hedge apples this morning. Even though it’s not edible they look cool! I’m going to use them for a display in my booth at … Continued
Shellbark Hickory Nut – Delicious!
Shellbark Hickory, Carya laciniosa I tasted a Shellbark Hickory Nut for the first time today and was surprised by how delicious it was. It was sweet and buttery; almost like Butter … Continued
Stripes on Pin Oak Acorns
Pin Oak Acorns (Quercus palustris) I was admiring a Pin Oak in front of the PGT Visitor center today and noticed that the acorns were striped. I don’t … Continued
Feverwort Lunch at Westlake
Feverwort on the shore of West Lake Lorna and I go out for a picnic almost every day. Today we parked under the shade of a White Oak tree by … Continued
Leaves are Out
Red Oak, Quercus rubra With Spring ready to change over to summer the leaves on the trees are finally fully out. Here you can see the leaves on a red … Continued