Spring Butterfly Trek
2019-05-18 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Crex Meadows, 102 East Crex Avenue, Grantsburg, WI, 54840, United States
Where: Crex Meadows to the Namekagon Barrens
When: Saturday, May 18, 2019 (9:00 AM to 4:00PM)
Leader: Dean Hansen, local Butterfly Enthusiast
For the past eleven years, Stillwater butterfly enthusiast Dean Hansen has led a day-long trip to look for spring butterflies in the jack pine/oak barrens in northwest Wisconsin’s Burnett County.
The trip will start at the Visitors’ Center at the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area just north of Grantsburg, WI, and will end up on the Namekagon Barrens in far northeast Burnett County. This area in Wisconsin is very sandy, lightly populated, and with square miles of county land to explore. And there is a fine component of the spring butterflies to see. The dry plant communities here feature lots of lupines, blueberries, bearberries, jack pines, and New Jersey tea. All of these (and other) native plant species are the specific host plants for the larvae of various species of butterflies. A beautiful bog with cotton grass and wild cranberries will also be explored to look for its unique butterfly fauna.
What butterfly species might be seen? Four species of “blues,” four species of elfins, five species of dusky winged skippers, and the Olympia Marble are very likely, and a host of others butterflies are strong possibilities. Several of these species are in flight only in mid-May to early June, and if one doesn’t see them then, one won’t see them for the rest of the year. The best viewing year was 2012, when 18 butterfliers saw a total of 31 species. 2017 was, well, a dismal failure; spits of snow at 9 AM kept butterfly numbers seen to zero. That’s butterflying in May up here on the tundra. But we still had fun!
We will start at the Crex Meadows Visitors’ Center at 9 AM and end up somewhere on Gomuluk Fire Lane on the Namekagon Barrens about 4 PM. Most of the viewing is within 100’ or less of the road, so don’t let any mobility issues keep you from joining us.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. You MUST let me know if you will be coming—I will have to limit the group to 18 participants. Contact Dean Hansen at hanse112@umn.edu or 651-439-8770.

Spring Plants and Observations of Change on the Sandplain
2019-05-25 09:00 - 12:00 | Helen Allison SNA, 22795 County Rd 15, East Bethel, MN, 55011, United States
Where: Bethel, Minnesota (northern Anoka County)
When: Saturday May 25th, 2019 (9 AM to Noon, with picnic lunch after)
Leaders: Barb Delaney, Botanist and Plant Ecologist
Barb Delaney will lead MNNPS members on a morning hike into Helen Allison Savanna, one of the more unique plant communities of the Anoka Sandplain. If you have never seen an oak savanna, this is your chance. See large, open-grown bur oaks with a suite of prairie plant species understory. Helen Allison Savanna was named for Helen Allison Irvine, “Minnesota’s grass lady,” who wrote a text on the 180 grasses of Minnesota. This SNA lies within the Anoka sand plain, providing an excellent example of sand dune plant succession, with blowouts and dunes in various stages of stabilization by pioneer species.
Community types found on the site include oak sand savanna, dry prairie with bur oak and pin oak, thickets of willow and aspen, and sedge marshes in scattered depressions. Trees and shrubs characteristic of a savanna are found here: pin oak, bur oak, American hazelnut, chokecherry, and quaking aspen. Other savanna species include lead plant, smooth sumac, slender willow, steeple bush, aster, and goldenrod. Look on the dunes for pioneer sand plants such as sea-beach needle grass and hairy panic grass. Sedge meadows contain tussocks of Hayden’s sedge, along with marsh fern and blue-joint grass. Other rare plant species occurring here include rhombic-petaled evening primrose and tall nut-rush.
In case of severe weather, we will wait for it to pass and shift the trip time accordingly. In the unlikely event that we must cancel, we will email you.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. Send an email to Ken Arndt at ken.arndt@mnrinc.us to register.

Native Habitats of the Twin Cities and the Plants and Animals that Use Them
2019-06-06 19:00 - 20:30 | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
Speaker: John Moriarty, Senior Manager of Wildlife, Three Rivers Park District
Other notes: This meeting will include a book sale and signing

Dean Lakes Conservation Area
2019-06-16 13:00 - 16:00 | Dean Lakes Conservation Area, 5080 Dean Lakes Blvd, Shakopee, MN, 55379, United States
Following up on our 2018 presentation, visit the conservation open space of this mixed-use development and enjoy learning about the remnant oak woodlands, wetlands, and restored prairies.
Where: Dean Lakes Development, Shakopee, Minnesota
When: Sunday June 16, 2019 (1-4PM)
Leaders: Doug Mensing, Senior Ecologist w/ Applied Ecological Services (AES)
Matt Lasch, Regional Contracting Manager w/ AES
The Dean Lakes mixed-use development lies on the shore of Deans Lake in the Minnesota River Valley. Recognized by the City of Shakopee as a conservation priority, the development of this site required careful planning and conservation practices. Attendees will learn about the site’s natural history, how the land changed over time, and what conservation development strategies were applied.
Walking a paved trail most of the time, we will visit remnant and restored natural communities: oak woodlands, savannas, wetlands (natural and restored), and restored prairies. Hopefully the lupine will be in bloom! Other interesting native plant species we anticipate encountering include silky prairie clover (Dalea villosa var. villosa) and plains snakecotton or prairie cottonweed (Froelichia floridana). Bring your dad…or dads, bring your kids – it’s Father’s Day!
We’ll plan to meet at the east end of Dean Lakes Blvd…there is a cul-de-sac with established parking spots along the south side of the road.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. Send an email to Ken Arndt at ken.arndt@mnrinc.us to register.

Dragonflies 101
2019-06-22 13:00 - 15:00 | Springbrook Nature Center, 100 85th Ave., N.W., Fridley, MN, 55432, United States
Where: Springbrook Nature Center (Fridley)
When: Saturday June 22, 2019 (1:00 PM to 3:00PM)
Leader: John Arthur, MNNPS Board Member and Dragonfly Expert
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.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. Send an email to Ken Arndt at ken.arndt@mnrinc.us to register.

Cambria Wildlife Management Area
2019-07-13 09:00 - 11:00
A Mid-Summer’s Hike through Remnant and Restored Prairie as well as Upland and Lowland Forest
Where: Cambria, Minnesota (Blue Earth County)
When: Saturday July 13th, 2019 (9 AM to 11AM)
Leader: Megan Benage, MNDNR Regional Ecologist
Come join us for a nature hike and tour of Cambria Wildlife Management Area. This 81 acre site is nestled in the Minnesota River Valley and offers views of remnant and restored prairie as well as lowland forest with several interesting groundwater seeps along the hillside. In 2018, the DNR salvaged 106 Indian plantain from a nearby mine site and transplanted them onto the WMA to help enhance the local population.
Come get refreshed by spending a bit of time in nature, observing the deep purple spikes of Liatris, the yellow blooms of coneflower, and the tiny bursts of red pollen on the purple prairie clover. If there’s time, participants will take part in an inventory exercise where we count the number of stems of Indian plantain in the transplant location. There is only one mowed access trail otherwise participants will be walking through tall prairie and grassland vegetation. Sturdy footwear for walking on uneven ground, sunscreen, a hat, and water are recommended.
Directions/Parking Information: Cambria Wildlife Management Area is located in Blue Earth County. From Cambria, go 0.5 miles southeast on State Hwy 68 to 239th Lane and turn East, go 2/3 of a mile. The WMA is on the North (left hand) side of the road.
A parking area is located North of the “T” of 491st Ave and 239th St (44.228644, -94.303183). A second parking area is located 0.2 miles East of the before mentioned parking area North of 239th Street. Please use two available parking areas and do not park on 239th Street. Carpooling is strongly recommended!
In case of severe weather, we will wait for it to pass and shift the trip time accordingly. In the unlikely event that we must cancel, we will email you.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. Send an email to Ken Arndt at ken.arndt@mnrinc.us to register. This trip is limited to 20 participants.

Hoffman Prairie State Preserve, A Joint Field Trip with the Iowa Native Plant Society
2019-07-27 12:00 - 14:00
Where: Cerro County (north central Iowa), Iowa
When: Saturday July 27th, 2019 (12PM-2PM)
Leaders: Mark J. Leoschke, Botanist, Wildlife Bureau of the Iowa DNR & Larissa Mottl, Ecologist, Stantec
Join us for a joint field tour with members of the Iowa Native Plant Society! We’ll visit Hoffman Prairie State Preserve, a tallgrass prairie pothole complex with mesic to wet prairie and pothole marshes of various sizes, near the city of Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County, north-central Iowa. Owned by The Nature Conservancy, this 36-acre preserve supports over 150 plant species. Some of the summer blooms at the preserve include butterfly weed, Indian paintbrush, prairie coreopsis, prairie larkspur, showy tick-trefoil, pale purple coneflower, rattlesnake master, compass plant, wood lily, and white camass.
The tour will be led by botanist Mark Leoschke, botanist for the Wildlife Bureau of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in Des Moines. MN NPS member, Larissa Mottl, will help organize a carpool from Minnesota. There are two natural areas near the Hoffman Prairie State Preserve that are also worth a botanical hike while folks are in the Clear Lake area–Union Hills Wildlife Area and Pilot Knob State Preserve. Please contact Larissa (651-272-5237) if you’d like to carpool and if you’re interested in a hike at the other preserves.
Directions: This state preserve is located just north of U.S. Highway 18 between Clear Lake and Ventura. From the intersection of U.S. Interstate Highway 35 and State Highway 18 in Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County (Interstate Interchange #194) drive west on U.S. Highway 18 (you will pass by a number of businesses including fast food restaurants, regular restaurants, convenience store/gas stations, a Fareway grocery store, etc.). Travel approximately 5 miles to Cardinal Avenue (a gravel road just west of the preserve. There is a sign for the prairie on the north side of the road) and turn north (right). Park your vehicle on the east (right) side of Cardinal Avenue (43.134557, -93.457882). Bring boots if you want to visit the wetter portions of the preserve.
Carpooling will be an option for participants for attending this field trip. Trip leader Larissa Mottl will be arranging this for the folks from Minnesota going down to Iowa for the day.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. Send an email to Ken Arndt at ken.arndt@mnrinc.us to register.

St. Croix Savanna SNA, A Late Summer Hike above the St. Croix River
2019-08-18 09:00 - 11:00
Where: Bayport, Minnesota (Washington County)
When: Sunday August 18th, 2019 (9AM-11AM)
Leaders: Jyneen Thatcher, Naturalist & MNNPS Program Coordinator
Come join Jyneen and other MNNPS members for a morning hike through St. Croix Savanna Scientific Natural Area. This SNA with its dramatic topography site protects one of the best remaining examples of hill prairie in the Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Dry gravel prairie blankets the slopes and crest of the bluff, transitioning to savanna with widely-spaced burr and pin oaks on the flat terrace, then to oak woodland.
St. Croix Savanna SNA is a dry savanna that exhibits a significant diversity of grasses: hairy and side oats grama, needle and thread, prairie dropseed, and many others. Several species of goldenrod, sunflower, aster, and blazing star join the prairie gentian, coreopsis, flowering spurge, potentilla, fleabane, coneflowers, and hoary vervain in an ever-changing palette of prairie color. Rare kitten tails grow in the partial shade of bur oaks; other rare species found here include James’ polanisia, Illinois tick-trefoil, and a species of pinweed.
Park at the end of the unnamed road on the north end of the SNA, lat/long 45.007117, -92.786157.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. Send an email to Ken Arndt at ken.arndt@mnrinc.us to register. This trip is limited to 20 participants.

Moose Mountain SNA, A Late Summer Hike in the North Shore Highlands
2019-08-24 10:00
Where: Duluth, Minnesota
When: Saturday August 24th, 2019 (Time TBD)
Leaders: Brooke Haworth, MNDNR NE Region Plant Ecologist & AmberBeth VanNingen, MNDNR SNA NE Region Specialist
Moose Mountain SNA is located in Duluth, in the North Shore Highlands ECS subsection. Moose Mountain is a bedrock ridge “held up” by an underlying erosion-resistant diabase sill, formed by intrusion of magma between pre-existing rock layers. At its peak, the mountain rises nearly 550 feet above the elevation of Lake Superior, which is less than a mile away as the crow (or raven) flies.
The SNA straddles the ridge, hosting both north- and south-facing forested slopes. It was selected for protection as an excellent example of northern hardwoods, in particular a 55-acre stand of old-growth sugar maple-basswood forest. This stand has been the focus of research into dynamics of northern hardwood communities along Minnesota’s north shore, exploring ways that human-caused climate change might affect the distribution of sugar maple trees. The remainder of the site’s uplands are dominated by aspen-birch forest, while lowlands in the northwest corner of the SNA near the Lester River are occupied by wet forest, with black ash, aspen and balsam poplar.
Logistics

Meet at 10 am at the (small) SNA parking area. Carpooling from Duluth could be helpful.
Directions: north from Duluth on MN Hwy 61 N, to Lester River Rd (Co Rd 12) for 3.4 miles. Parking lot on east side of road. Lat/Lon: 46.881545, -91.983906

Notes: This SNA features steep/sloped terrain throughout. Can be slippery and wet. Bring appropriate hydration and field gear.
Field trips are open to MNNPS members only and pre-registration is required. Send an email to Ken Arndt at ken.arndt@mnrinc.us to register.

Wild populations of reed canarygrass are native! Implications of this discovery.
2019-10-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
Presenter: Neil Anderson, Full Professor University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
Plant of the month: Reed Canarygrass

Biology and biocontrol potential of a crown rust fungus affecting two of Minnesota's worst invasive plants: glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea)
2019-11-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
Presenter: Nick Greatens, Graduate Student at the University of Minnesota Department of Plant Pathology.
Plant of the month: Glossy Buckthorn

Exploring and Traversing the Red Lake Peatland on Foot
2019-12-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
Presenter: Jason Husveth, Principal Ecologist, Critical Connections Ecological Services.
Plant of the month: TBD

The Flora of Abisko National Park
2020-02-06 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by: Scott Milburn.
This is one of Sweden’s 30 National Parks, located in Swedish Lapland near the northern border with Norway. This presentation will focus on the stunning beauty documented this past summer immediately following midsommar, a period of near constant light. The talk will examine the species diversity, particularly ericaceous species, as well as numerous circumboreal species that also persist in Minnesota.

Prairie Butterflies
2020-03-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
Presented by Scott Krych.
Scott Krych, an ecologist with HDR Engineering, will be presenting on butterflies of the prairie. He has been working professionally for over 30 years, which has taken him on a journey through the Midwest and western United States. During his career, he has been able to spend considerable time conducting rare butterfly surveys for such species as the Poweshiek skipperling, Dakota skipper, and Karner Blue. This experience has allowed Scott to photo-document his observations, resulting in an amazing collection of photos.

Moose and Brainworm - CANCELLED
2020-04-02 19:00 - 20:30 | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS.
Presented by Dr. Tiffany Wolf, DVM, PhD, University of Minnesota.
The moose, an iconic creature of the north woods and an important member of this ecosystem, is in serious decline. This trend is the result of several factors including a parasite, Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, which has been introduced via the expansion of another host species, the white-tailed deer.
Dr. Wolf, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota-College of Veterinary Medicine, is on the front lines. She is working in collaboration with the Grand Portage Band as she explores the impacts of wildlife management practices, pinpointing the parasites temporary hosts, and looking at differences in the DNA of the parasite in hopes of preventing transmission. She will be sharing with us the details regarding her research.

Mussels of Minnesota - ONLINE VIA ZOOM
2020-05-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
Due to the current situation of not being able to hold our monthly meetings in-person at Dakota Lodge, we are going to try something different in an attempt to still engage you the member – a presentation via Zoom. Although this is not an ideal situation we still feel as though we need to stay connected somehow.
Program: “Mussels of Minnesota”
by Bernard Sietman, Malacologist, Minnesota DNR
Mussels, a key player in nutrient cycling which benefits aquatic and emergent plants, are under threat due to various factors including water pollution. Bernard Sietman, a malacologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, will present on the ecological role, threats, recovery, and future of this group of specialized organisms.

Ecological Benefits of Native Grasses and their Relationship with Lepidoptera - RESCHEDULED
2020-06-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Dakota Lodge, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul, MN, 55118, United States
Presented by: Diane Narem, Ecologist with Stantec.
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.

Conservation of Minnesota's Big Woods
2020-10-01 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by: Lee E. Frelich, Director, The University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology.
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.

CANCELLED: 2020 Symposium-Forests of the Great Lakes Region: Past, Present, and Future
2020-10-24 09:00 - 15:30 | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska, MN, 55318, United States
The 2020 Symposium was cancelled due to the global pandemic. A different topic (TBD) will be the subject of the next Symposium.

Drivers of Long-Term Ecological Change in Midwestern Forests
2020-11-05 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by: Donald M. Waller, PhD, J.T. Curtis Professor of Botany – retired (University of Wisconsin-Madison).
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.

Moose and Brainworm
2020-12-03 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by Dr. Tiffany Wolf, DVM, PhD, University of Minnesota.
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.
The moose, an iconic creature of the north woods and an important member of this ecosystem, is in serious decline. This trend is the result of several factors including a parasite, Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, which has been introduced via the expansion of another host species, the white-tailed deer.
Dr. Wolf, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota-College of Veterinary Medicine, is on the front lines. She is working in collaboration with the Grand Portage Band as she explores the impacts of wildlife management practices, pinpointing the parasites temporary hosts, and looking at differences in the DNA of the parasite in hopes of preventing transmission. She will be sharing with us the details regarding her research.

Private Land Protection Incentives for Prairie Landowners
2021-03-04 19:00 - 20:30
Title: Private Land Protection Incentives for Prairie Landowners.
Presenter: Tyler Janke, Natural Areas Specialist, MN DNR.
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.

Prairie Management and plant/pollinator interactions
2021-04-01 19:00 - 20:30
Title: Prairie Management and plant/pollinator interactions.
Presenter: Diane Larson, Research Wildlife Biologist at the US Geological Survey and Adjunct Associate Professor at the U of M.
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.

Reconstructing the first angiosperms and their initial diversification
2021-05-06 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by: Dr. James Doyle, Professor Emeritus, Department of Evolution and Ecology, College of Biological Sciences University of Califormia Davis.
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.
Dr. Doyle’s Research Interest
My research deals primarily with the origin and early evolution of angiosperms. My oldest interest is in Cretaceous fossil pollen and leaves and their implications for the evolution, geographic spread, and original ecology of angiosperms. More recently my research has emphasized phylogenetic analyses of relationships between angiosperms and other seed plants and among living primitive angiosperm groups, based on morphological, molecular, and fossil evidence. I have worked on phylogeny, evolution, and biogeography of several living plant groups, especially the tropical family Annonaceae, the largest family of primitive angiosperms. My current main project aims to integrate Early Cretaceous fossils into the predominantly molecular phylogeny of living primitive angiosperms and to evaluate implications of the results for morphological evolution.

The Role of Prairie Restorations in the Conservation of Native Bee Communities Across a Gradient of Agricultural Land Use
2021-06-03 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by: Dr. Ian Lane, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota.
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.
Dr. Lane’s Research Interest
My work primarily focuses on native bee conservation, with a focus on understanding how bee communities respond to the floral and landscape elements of prairie reconstruction. I also have an avid interest in the specialized relationships between bees and their host plants and habitats. I am also a native plant enthusiast with a hobby garden in my backyard where I try to grow some of my favorite species. My favorite native plants are Amorpha canescens and Pedicularis canadensis.

A day along the Mississippi River Canoeing and Hiking
2021-08-07 10:30 - 16:45
An aquatic vegetation tour of Weaver Bottoms followed by a xeric vegetation tour of Kellogg-Weaver Dunes SNA
Where: Weaver & Kellogg, Minnesota (SE MN)
When: Saturday August 7th, 2021 (10:30 AM to 4:45 PM)
Leaders: Steve Eggers, Retired Senior Ecologist for the St. Paul District Corps of Engineers and MNNPS Board Member, and Jennifer Kamm, Senior Environmental Scientist at Stantec and MNNPS Board Member
Come join Steve Eggers and Jennifer Kamm for a day of aquatic plant identification canoeing Weaver Bottoms followed by a xeric vegetation tour of Kellogg-Weaver Dunes SNA. Both of these areas are close to one another and are located just off of Highway 61 in southeastern Minnesota.
The day will start at Weaver Bottoms on the Mississippi River where we will enjoy the morning and early afternoon flat-water canoeing into backwater areas at a nice slow pace. Following the canoeing, those who wish to continue the day botanizing will get a tour of the xeric vegetation found at Kellogg-Weaver Dunes SNA. This SNA is home to one of the most significant nesting sites of Blanding’s turtle as well as hosting a suite of vegetation unique to this sand dune plant community.
This field trip is for members of the MN Native Plant Society only and will be limited to 20 registrants. Participants are expected to provide their own canoe or kayak. Make sure to bring food and water for the day and in the event of potential bad weather, participants will be notified of any changes to the day.
To register for this field trip please contact:
Field Trip Coordinator: Jennifer Kamm. For more information, feel free to contact Jennifer at jennifer.kamm@stantec.com or 612-875-0543
Schedule for the Day:
10:30 am: Meet at Weaver Bottoms public boat ramp on east side of Highway 61 (cross over the railroad tracks) in town of Weaver, MN
11:00 am-2:00 pm: Canoe/kayak Weaver Bottoms for aquatic vegetation tour
2:00 pm-2:45 pm Load up canoes/kayaks and drive to Kellogg-Weaver Dunes SNA
2:45 pm-4:45 pm: Hike the SNA for xeric vegetation tour
The following is a link to Google Maps for Weaver Bottoms to Kellogg-Weaver Dunes SNA
https://goo.gl/maps/1Lgf2qfP1q7krUW67
The following is a link to Google Maps for St. Paul to Weaver Bottoms
https://goo.gl/maps/ezncTrzJBJ2TFh35A

Ordway Prairie
2021-09-11 12:00 - 15:00
Plant Identification Focusing on Native Prairie and Wetland Species
Where: Ordway Prairie, 31505 MN Highway-104, south of Glenwood, MN
When: Saturday September 11th, 2021 (Noon to 3:00 PM)
Leader: Rhett Johnson, DNR Prairie Specialist
Come join Rhett Johnson for a day of native prairie and wetland plant identification at Ordway Prairie located in western MN south of Glenwood, MN off of highway 104. Rhett Johnson has worked for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for five years where his duties include prairie management, developing easements on private lands, prescribed fire, ecological evaluation, and teaching people about plants. His career has included working for a private ecological consulting firm, The Nature Conservancy, and the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Rhett also worked for eight years as an independent botanist on projects all over the country.
The grasslands of the Great Plains once covered one fifth of the North American Continent. Ordway Prairie represents a fraction of what remains after the West was settled. Visitors are reminded of the history of the Great Plains through the numerous granite boulders and potholes that are evidence of the area’s glacial past. The relatively undisturbed quality of Ordway Prairie’s grasslands and wetlands attracted the Nature Conservancy more than 30 years ago. Rhett will guide a tour of Ordway Prairie focusing on grass identification. However, we’ll identify as many plants as we can in both wetland and upland areas.
Agenda:
11:45-12:00 Gather at Parking Area
12:00-2:45 Tour of Various Sites and Hands-On Plant Identification
2:45-3:00 Wrap-up Q&A and Discussion
This field trip is for members of the MN Native Plant Society only and will be limited to 20 registrants.
Items to Bring:

Hat
Sunglasses
Water/snacks
Bug/tick Spray
Pen or Pencil
Notebook
Plant Identification Books
Hand Lens
Boots, tick gators, long pants/sleeves (ticks and poison ivy are present)

To register for this field trip please contact:
Field Trip Coordinator: Jennifer Kamm. For more information, feel free to contact Jennifer at jennifer.kamm@stantec.com or 612-875-0543
Please register by September 1st
Ordway Prairie Location
31505 MN Highway-104, Glenwood, MN 56334
Park in the pull-out parking area off Minnesota Highway 104

Directions from the Twin Cities area:
Follow I-94 W to MN-23 in St. Joseph Township (65 miles). Take exit 164 for MN-23 toward Paynesville/Waite Park (26.9 mi) Turn left onto MN-23 W. Take the ramp to MN-4 N/Hwy 55W. Turn right onto MN-4/Hwy 55 W (21.4 mi). Slight left onto Co Hwy 8 (3.0 mi). Slight left to stay on Co Hwy 8. Slight left to say on Co Hwy 8. Turn right to stay on Co Hwy 8. Turn left onto MN-104 S (3.2 mi). Turn left into the pull-out parking circle, your destination will be on the right.

An Update on Conservation Activities at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
2021-10-07 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by David Remucal, Curator of Endangered Plants, University of MN Landscape Arboretum.
This will be a Zoom meeting. MNNPS members, watch your email for instructions.

Crow-Hassan Park Reserve
2021-10-30 10:00 - 13:00
Prairie Restoration and Management for Multiple Goals
Where: Crow-Hassan Park Reserve 12595 Park Drive, Rogers, MN
When: Saturday October 30th, 2021 (10:00 a.m. to 1:00p.m.)
Leader: John Moriarty, Senior Wildlife Manager, Three Rivers Park District
Come join John Moriarty, Senior Wildlife Manager for Three Rivers Park District for a tour of Crow-Hassan Park Reserve. John will discuss work conducted to restore, establish, and manage wildlife habitats, especially prairies, at Crow-Hassan. Prairie now covers 1,200 acres within the 2,600-acre park which has been established through a mix of seeding and burning in pockets around core, existing prairie. Strategic fires are conducted to help clear remaining trees and nonnative grasses, restore nutrients to the soil, and provide a positive reboot for native plant growth. Grasses are established first. Then every year after a burn, the district overseeds with wildflowers, with additional seedings every five years. To date, 20 species of grasses and sedges have been planted at Crow-Hassan, as have 85 species of wildflowers. Wildlife conservation efforts at the Reserve has included reintroductions of Bullsnakes, Plains Hog-nosed Snakes, and Regal Fritillary as well as management for Blanding’s turtles.
Agenda:

9:45-10:00 Gather at Parking Area
10:00-12:00 Tour Established Prairie Areas up to Prairie Lake
12:00 -12:45 Tour Additional Prairie Establishment (optional)
12:45-1:00 Wrap-up Q&A and Discussion

This field trip is for members of the MN Native Plant Society only and will be limited to 20 registrants.
Items to bring if you need or want to:

Hat
Sunglasses
Water/snacks
Bug/tick Spray
Pen or Pencil
Notebook
Plant Identification Books
Hand Lens
Boots, tick gators, long pants/sleeves (ticks and poison ivy may be present)

To register for this field trip please contact:
Field Trip Coordinator: Jennifer Kamm. For more information, feel free to contact Jennifer at jennifer.kamm@stantec.com or 612-875-0543
Please register by October 28th
Crow-Hassan Park Reserve Location
12595 Park Drive, Rogers, MN 55374
Park at the Crow-Hassan Trail Head on Park Preserve Road

Directions from the Twin Cities area:
Follow I-494 N, use left two lanes to take exit 27 for I-94 W towards St. Cloud (8.4 mi). Take exit 207A-207B toward MN-101 S (0.8 mi). Keep left at the fork to continue on exit 207A, follow signs for MN-101/County Rd 81/Rogers (0.3 mi). Use the 2nd from the left lane to turn left onto MN-101 S (0.2 mi). Continue onto Main Street. Turn right on Main Street (1.1 mi). Turn left onto Territorial Rd (2.3 mi). Turn left onto Hassan Parkway (1.6 mi). Turn right onto Park Drive. Park at the Crow-Hassan Trail head (green pin drop on image below).

How a diversity of human cultures perfects our understanding of conservation
2021-11-04 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by: Rowzat Shipchandler: MNDNR Diversity Coordinator.
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.
We often talk about how having a diversity of plant species makes a native plant community stronger and more resilient. Similarly, human diversity can make our work in conservation stronger and more resilient. Greater diversity in the sources of our knowledge are crucial to managing and conserving our resources. We learn more about the Minnesota DNR’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and will talk about how expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion in the work of conservation can improve decision making and open our perception of nature.
