Field trips

Grey Cloud Dunes is situated on two sandy terraces along the Mississippi River offering breathtaking views of the Mississippi river valley. The sandy soil is home to unique plant communities in different habitats such as erosional faces and blowouts. Distinctive species adapted to the dry, sandy environment include little bluestem, penstemon, prairie dropseed, sand reed grass, gramma grass, silky prairie clover, among others. Rare sea-beach needlegrass occurs in several of the blowouts; purple sand grass, on bare sand areas. Louisiana broomrape and Hill's thistles are also found here. North American (blue) racers, an uncommon Minnesota snake, live here.

See two gems of the Lower Minnesota River Valley consisting of sloping, calcareous, organic soil wetlands with springs and small, groundwater-fed, marl streams. Fifteen members of the sedge family, including 10 species of Carex, as well as the exquisite white lady's-slipper orchid, are anticipated highlights. Such floristic diversity in the heart of a large metropolitan area is rare. Problems with invasive species (buckthorn, Phragmites, hybrid cattail) will be discussed. Of particular interest will be observing the results of a prescribed burn conducted last spring at Seminary Fen SNA.

Come join other MNNPS members for an exploration of the moist cliff areas at Carpenter Nature Center. This is challenging topography, not easily accessed, and not entirely catalogued. Many species of ferns and liverworts are to be found on the cliff faces, including walking fern, fragile fern and bulblet fern. Several unusual woodland sedges are also present, and lily-leaved twayblade should be in bloom along the trail.

Digital dragonflies in an analog world? Join us for a different kind of field trip with a focus on dragonflies. We will spend about a half hour in the classroom reviewing dragonflies and then spend about an hour out in the wetland looking for dragonflies, taking their photos when we can get them to pose and netting those that do not want to pose. We will have a projector available so the image will be shown on a very large screen instead of a computer monitor. There is no charge to participate, but pre-registration is required.

Come join other MNNPS members for part of a day exploring granite bedrock outcrops found throughout Quarry Park SNA as well as high quality wet meadow, wet prairie, oak woodland, and oak forest. This mix of communities supports rare birds and orchids and forms the most significant remaining example of the granite bedrock outcrop community in central Minnesota.