The Prairie Enthusiasts

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The Prairie Enthusiasts

Protecting prairies and oak savannas in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois.
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06/23/2026

Summer is here, and you don't want to miss seeing the prairie colors emerge!

On our sites page, you can find directions to sites near you and explore the prairie on your own or with a friend. Bring binoculars, your nature journal and a camera! Find a list of our sites here: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/visit-our-sites/

Or, if you want a guided experience of one of our sites, check out our Events Calendar for a field trip or work party near you: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/tpe-events/events-calendar/

Photo 1: Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie by Rob Baller

Photo 2: Mounds View Grassland by Eric Preston

Photo 3: Marowski Bluff Prairie by Sarah Barron

Photo 4: Muralt Bluff Prairie by Jerry Newman

Photo 5: Eldred Prairie by Michael H. Nee

Photo 6: Butenhoff Prairie by Steve Hubner

Photo 7: Alexander Oak Savanna by Dan Carter

Photo 8: Mukwonago River Oak Barrens by Dan Carter

Photo 9: Hanley Savanna by Cassidy Coulson

06/22/2026

"Each year we collect what seeds we are able, and we broadcast them where we think they are most likely to succeed. That may sound simple, but a lot goes into deciding where we put our precious seeds. What factors guide those decisions?"

This excerpt is from Ecologist Dan Carter's recent piece in the summer issue of The Prairie Promoter "Making the Most of Hard to Get Seeds."

You can read the piece here on our blog: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/making-the-most-of-hard-to-get-seeds/

You can read the full issue of The Prairie Promoter here: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/prairie-promoter/

A reminder that we are accepting submissions for our fall issue of The Prairie Promoter for one more month! The deadline to submit is Tuesday, July 21. Learn more about submitting through our website through The Prairie Promoter link above.

Photo of freshly clipped seed heads of wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis) by Dan Carter.

06/21/2026

Happy summer solstice! Hope you're able to embrace the first day of summer and get outside and connect with nature, however that looks for you.

Photo by Catherine McKenzie

06/19/2026

Keep your eye out for these aggressive invasive species!

This weekend is Invasive Species Weekend in Wisconsin, and our volunteers are hard at work managing and removing invasive species.

Here are some resources to make the most out of Invasive Species Weekend!

Wisconsin DNR - Invasive Species Events & Volunteering
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives/eventsandvolunteering

Wisconsin DNR - Invasive Species in Wisconsin
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives

Minnesota DNR - Invasive Species in Minnesota
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/index.html

Illinois DNR - Invasive Species in Illinois
https://dnr.illinois.gov/conservation/invasivespecies.html

Blog: How to Prioritize Removing Invasive Species
https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/management-toolbox-how-to-prioritize-removing-invasive-species/

Blog: Eliminating Buckthorn Without the Use of Herbicide
https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/eliminating-buckthorn-without-the-use-of-herbicide/

Blog: Controlling biennial invasives without herbicide using a Parsnip Predator
https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/controlling-biennial-invasives-without-herbicide-using-a-parsnip-predator/

Blog: Parsnip Identification
https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/parsnip-identification-telling-apart-golden-alexanders-yellow-pimpernel-and-poison-parsnip/

Blog: Garlic Mustard Season is Beginning
https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/garlic-mustard-season-is-beginning-tips-and-tricks/

Blog: How to Deal with Toxic Weeds: Grecian Foxglove
https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/how-to-deal-with-toxic-weeds-grecian-foxglove/

Photo one: Matt Dettlaff, Prairie Sands Chapter volunteer, pulling buckthorn. Photo by Judy Klyver.

Photo two: Parsnip by Dan Carter.

Photo three: Crown vetch by Dan Carter.

Photo four: Sweet clover by Dan Carter.

06/18/2026

Insects of the prairie sure do love milkweed! How many types of milkweed can you identify?

Photo one: Monarch caterpillar on milkweed at Fair Meadows Sanctuary by Gary Shackelford
Photo two: Monarch on milkweed at Mukwonago River Oak Barrens by Helen Holtz
Photo three: Baltimore checkerspot on milkweed by Joshua Mayer
Photo four: Monarch on milkweed at Moely Prairie by Amy Chamberlin
Photo five: Soldier pollinator beetle on milkweed by Jane Graham
Photo six: Great black digger wasp on milkweed by Amy Chamberlin
Photo seven: Milkweed under powerline by Sarah Barron
Photo eight: Baltimore checkerspot on milkweed by Joshua Mayer
Photo nine: Bumblebee pollinating milkweed by Corey Raimond
Photo ten: Milkweed by Dan Carter

06/17/2026

Enjoy some June yellow blooms from the Mukwonago River Oak Barrens!

The first two photos capture Canada frostweed (with a species of meadow katydid resting in the flower in the first), the third is hairy puccoon, and the fourth is two-flowered Cynthia with an unknown small bee.

Photos by Dan Carter

06/16/2026

Join our newest Chapter, the Sunrise Chapter, for their kick-off membership meeting one week from today on Tuesday, June 23!

This free initial membership meeting will celebrate the recent establishment of the Sunrise Chapter and completion of their first ever burn season. If you're in Chisago County, come join us!

Learn more and register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/5j4mv5j/lp/6c3d61bb-aabc-446b-95f9-ffbf02cb7897

Photo by David Kelly

06/15/2026

There’s never been a better time to reciprocate all that the prairie has provided you.

A member of our Board of Directors is so dedicated to supporting the growth of our monthly sustainer program that he’s providing a $5,000 gift as a challenge.

Now through December 31, 2026, if you set up a new monthly recurring donation, your gift will be matched with a $50 gift up to $5,000.

That means no matter what your recurring gift is, if you’re a new monthly sustainer, your gift and another $50 is going to help threatened habitat near you. Will you join a growing community of people caring for the land by becoming a monthly sustainer today?

Become a monthly sustainer here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/makearecurringdonation/

Photo by Sarah Barron

06/12/2026

Color your own prairie rose and bring some color into your life (or onto your fridge) 🏵

We love seeing how people bring the prairie into life outside of the field.

If you'd like a copy of artist and illustrator Lisa Yourell's coloring book, “Native Wildflowers And the Creatures Who Depend on Them” you can contact Lisa at [email protected] or pick up a physical copy at Pearl Street Books in LaCrosse, the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge in Brice Prairie, and KEPS and Sparta Floral in Sparta.

06/11/2026

Last chance to register! The Prairie Enthusiasts - TPE St. Croix Valley Chapter is celebrating 30 years of protecting prairie remnants and teaching valley residents how to restore and plant native prairies next Saturday, June 20! Come celebrate your love for prairies and community to kick off the summer solstice.

From 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., you can enjoy field seminars, special presentations and a catered dinner. Tickets are $15. Children 12 and under can attend for free. Registration closes June 12 at midnight.

Join us! Learn more here: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/events/earth-day-st-croix-valley-chapter-2-512-712-530-368-611-661-180-698-879/

Photo of St. Croix Valley Chapter volunteers after a day of seed collecting. Photo by Wayne Huhnke.

Address

P. O. Box 824
Viroqua, WI
54665

Website

https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/

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