Kettle Moraine Land Stewards

04/13/2026

The flowers of spring you may be seeing so far!

Spring Beauty
Blood root
Pasque

Not pictured but also flowering/getting ready to flower in our area-
Prairie smoke
Dutchman's breeches
Violets (there are so many beautiful varieties!)
Virginia bluebells
Early Buttercup
Cut-leaved toothwort
Kittentails

Comment a picture of the lovely spring ephemerals blooming in your area!- we'd love to see and spread the beauty of spring!

03/29/2026

03/28/2026

02/27/2026

01/08/2026

Ecological restoration... what's the point?

Some might say it's just nice to clean up an area so it's not so overgrown with brush, and it's true it is still beneficial to eradicate invasive brush. But you could clean up an area and still leave behind non-native, invasive, and/or ornamental species. At least it looks nicer, right?

Well that is only half the story, or should we say one part of a large system. The ecosystem. We learned in school about it, but did we ever truly understand just how delicate of a balance it is?

We humans tend to think of ourselves. What we want or like over what should be done, what's right. Even I have thought, "well I think (insert tree species here) are really pretty, what is the harm in having just one?" When you multiply us all having exceptions it adds up. And it leaves less habitat and food for the native fauna. Whether it is caterpillars that cannot feed on anything but a select few species of native plants, or even the larger mammals that depend on native species through the seasons. Deer can rely on acorns to fill up to 75% of their dietary needs for fall and winter!

We leave seed out for the birds, but spray our yards for insects. Did you know most of the birds actually rely mostly, if not solely, on insects to feed them and their young? If you do a quick online search you will find that bird populations are declining at an alarming rate. And why? Habitat loss. You might look around and say, but there are plenty of trees and wooded areas? Forests and prairies? Take a closer look and you will see those forests and prairies full of invasive or non-native plants are not home to the insects these birds need to survive. Our backyards aren't particularly safe havens for them either. With invasive bird species aggressively outcompeting with our often smaller but beautiful native birds, we actually create a battleground if we don't create a space meant for the birds who are supposed to be there.

Planting the native species is not just better for those above the ground but also the ground itself. The deeper root systems of native plants are important for soil health, too. From erosion prevention to nutrient cycling, oh and water retention that saves you time and money during droughts! Native plants really do it all.


So ecological restoration....what's the point again?

12/14/2025

The native seed restoration project at Paradise Springs is underway! The Kettle Moraine Land Stewards LLC did a great job of removing and treating invasive species with very targeted herbicide applications. This is the first of many pictures that will show the restoration as time goes on. With the right weather conditions, the DNR should be carrying out a prescribed burn this spring.

The Friends group applies for grants to facilitate the restoration of native prairies and historical sites within the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit. In this case, we applied for the C.D. Besadny Conservation Fund to help improve one of the most popular locations in the forest.

10/04/2025

Fall brings the promise of changing tree leaves, late season flowers, and cooler temperatures. And as we all anxiously await the frosts that will get rid of the pesky mosquitoes, we must also remember that they, though annoying, play a crucial role in the ecosystem, not only as food for other bugs, spiders, frogs, bats, and birds, but as pollinators, too.

So when you find yourself dreaming of your land filled with flowers from early spring to fall, but aren't as thrilled about the biting bugs, we are here to help. Because even though we all have those bothersome mosquitoes to deal with, if you create the right environment in your own backyard, you will also be blessed with the critters that will naturally take care of your pest problem, and they all work together to make your planting better and healthier!

We are here to help anyone interested in creating spaces to benefit everyone from smallest of creatures to the humans who take pictures of them!

Pictured- monarch on new england aater, tree frog resting on a common milkweed leaf, drury's longhorn bee on goldenrod

09/23/2025

Our business name has changed!

No longer B-Eco Services, we are excited to make this announcement that has been in the making for a while now to honor the legacy of Chris Mann as Kettle Moraine Land Stewards, the namesake of his business. It perfectly conveys his and our mission to be stewards of the land, to restore and preserve natural areas.

Everything else remains the same. We have only changed the business name but we are still owned and operated by Brian Brandt who can be reached for any of your ecological restoration needs at 262-894-2571 serving the Southern Kettle Moraine and nearby areas of Wisconsin.

Thanks for being on this journey with us!

08/28/2025

We have an exciting announcement to make! Stay tuned!!