Before the Snow Flies

Now is the time to visit the prairie!

I know we are all super busy with hectic back to school schedules, but take a half an hour and go now, before the snow blows; you won't regret it.  The grasses have seeded out and yellowed, bending under their loads in the breeze.   Towering Big Bluestem prairie grass is turning an amazing purplish/red, exhibiting its "turkey foot" seed head.  Purple and white asters are in bloom with bees frantically gathering the last of the nectar and pollen.  Migratory birds are gathering and wheeling overhead.  Everything about the prairie speaks of the change to come and lavishly shows off the fruition of amazing summer growth.  It's time to harvest the sight of the fall prairie before nature's blanket insulates it for the long haul.

The Dodge prairies are a nice little slice of mesic, mixed height prairie, giving us an idea of what much of the state of Minnesota once looked like.  Keep in mind that our Lily Property, just south of 110 presents an extended prairie ramble--170 acres of savannah--while the prairie just off the Nature Center on Marie provides an opportunity to casually stroll a few loops, including a new path that circles the southern perimeter, taking you along the edge of the woods, where turkey and deer like to congregate (see the Trail and Ground Maps button on the main page of our website).

On preschool hikes, we've seen lots of interesting critters in the prairie,
including:  snapping turtles, frogs, deer, turkey, grasshoppers, bees, coyotes, leaf hoppers and snakes.  This time of year, the prairie is just plain fun.  Preschoolers especially enjoy doing belly flops in the increadibly tall grass, tickling with seed heads, playing hide and go seek, rolling down hill, resting on a prairie hilltop or simply running.  Bring a snack or a little picnic and enjoy!