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 (America/Chicago) | 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.

80 Years of Minnesotan Ecology: An Update form Cedar Creek
2021-12-02 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by by Dr. Caitlin Potter, Education and Community Engagement Coordinator, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve.
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.
This will be a talk about the past, present and upcoming research projects at Cedar Creek. and will give folks who haven’t heard about Cedar Creek a peek into our legacy, while also providing something new.
Dr. Caitlin Potter is the education and community engagement coordinator at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. Her background is in wildlife ecology, and she holds a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology as well as a masters and Ph.D in ecology and evolutionary biology. She studied wildlife and animal behavior all over the world (mostly monkeys in Ethiopia) before finding her true passion doing environmental education! Now, she runs school field trips and public events at CCESR, works with scientists to get their results into the hands of students, and organizes several citizen science projects.

Sax-Zim Bog Winter Snowshoe Hike
2022-01-09 09:00 - 14:00
Birding, Botany and More!
Where: Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center – 8793 Owl Avenue, Toivola, MN 55765
When: Sunday January 9th, 2022 (9:00 a.m. to 2:00p.m.)
Leader: Clinton Nienhaus, Head Naturalist, Friends of Sax-Zim Bog
Come join Clinton Nienhaus, Head Naturalist with the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog, for a tour of Sax-Zim Bog. Snowshoes are a great way to continue being active during the winter season and are a great way to explore hard to get to locations in the Bog. Join us for a leisurely hike and learn a little bit about boreal forests and animal sign present during the winter. Many visitors to the Sax-Zim Bog in the winter season come to find the elusive Great Gray Owl. Others come for the more readily seen, bright, and vocal finches. This field trip will not only look for some of these bright winter visitors, such as Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, and Crossbills, but we will take some time to learn about their ecology. Snowshoes are required and there are a few pairs that can be borrowed from the Welcome Center.
This trip is limited to 15 participants and you must be a MNNPS member to participate. To register for this field trip please contact:
Field Trip Coordinator: Jennifer Kamm at jennifer.kamm@stantec.com or 612-875-0543
Please register by January 1st
Download the Sax Zim MNNPS Field Trip Flyer for the agenda, maps and additional information.

Plants on the Edge: Monitoring rare disjunct and range-edge species on Lake Superior islands
2022-02-03 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by: Dr. Sarah Johnson, Associate Professor of Natural Resources, Northland College
Plant of the Month: Bistorta alpina, the alpine bistort – Presented by Scott Milburn
This will be a Zoom meeting. MNNPS members, check your email for instructions.
Sarah Johnson, Associate Professor of Natural Resources at Northland College, will present on her collaborative work with the National Park Service to monitor rare coastal plants around the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Isle Royale National Park. Rocky coastlines of these Lake Superior archipelagos provide habitat for many range-edge species, including several Arctic/alpine disjunct species. Sarah will share photos and key insights from this work, including the status and trends in populations of some of the rarest species in the western Lake Superior region.
Presenter Bio: Sarah Johnson teaches field botany, wetlands, and natural history courses at Northland College. Sarah is the co-chair of the Plants and Natural Communities Working Group for the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts. She earned a Ph.D. in Botany at UW-Madison.

Importance of Habitat Structure in Prairies
2022-03-03 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by: Chris Helzer, Nature Conservancy’s Director of Science in Nebraska.
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.
Chris Helzer, Nature Conservancy’s Director of Science and Prairie Ecologist, will talk about the importance of habitat structure in prairies. Every animal has its own individual preferences for habitat structure, including short/sparse vegetation, tall/dense, or a patchy mix of those. Some animals need access to multiple types of habitats. Providing for the needs of animals (including invertebrates) means providing the widest possible range of habitat types. Chris will discuss various approaches to creating those habitats at both large and small scales.
Presenter Bio: Chris Helzer is the Nature Conservancy’s Director of Science in Nebraska. Chris’s main role is to evaluate and capture lessons from the Conservancy’s land management and restoration work and share those lessons with other land managers. Chris works to raise awareness about the value of prairies and prairie conservation through photography, writing, and presentations. Chris is the author of two books published by the University of Iowa Press, “The Ecology and Management of Prairies in the Central United States” and “Hidden Prairie: Photographing Life in One Square Meter.”
2017 burn in patch-burn grazed restoration at Suck Pasture. The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies, Nebraska.

Healing Our Prairies Through Cooperation
2022-04-07 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by: Dr. Marissa Ahlering, Sara Vacek, and Daren Carlson.
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.
It’s hard to know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been. Monitoring plays a key role in understanding what’s happening on your site and how that piece of land is affected by the surrounding landscape. Once you know that, then you can make better informed decisions about what to do next and what management practices to implement in the future. The Grassland Monitoring Team (GMT) has been doing just that since 2008 using monitoring information to recommend best management and further learn from the results. The longevity of GMT also provides opportunities to take a look at the all the data from a new perspective to further improve our prairies. Our presentation will guide you through these 14 years of adaptive management to improve tallgrass prairies via research results, lessons learned, and future directions successfully done through cooperation from many professionals in MN, SD, and ND.
Presenter Bio (Marissa Ahlering):
Dr. Marissa Ahlering received her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri studying avian ecology in the mixed grass prairies of North Dakota and Saskatchewan. After completing this work, she spent three years working with a non-profit organization in Kenya, the University of Missouri, and the Smithsonian Institution studying the coexistence of the Maasai people and elephants. In 2010 she returned to the northern Great Plains and is currently the Lead Scientist for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Her work with TNC focuses on conservation and management of natural ecosystems and the benefits they provide to people and includes issues such as grassland reconstruction, adaptive management, and sustainable grazing. She also leads TNC’s climate adaptation work for the three states.
Presenter Bio (Sara Vacek):
Sara Vacek works for the US Fish and Wildlife Service as the refuge biologist at Morris Wetland Management District. She coordinates the biology program at the district, including inventory and monitoring, research, and planning. Sara received a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI and an M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from South Dakota State University in Brookings. When she isn’t at work in the prairies and wetlands of Morris WMD, Sara enjoys spending time with her family, exploring public lands, gardening, and cooking.
Presenter Bio (Daren Carlson):
Daren Carlson is the Monitoring Coordinator for the MN State Wildlife Action Plan (MNWAP) within the Nongame Wildlife Program at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Daren has a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution & Biology and an M.S in Conservation Biology from the University of MN. He spends his time blending work with fun while watching and surveying birds, plants, and all things wild as well as immersing himself in the natural areas across Minnesota, and beyond.

On Lichens: Lessons in Symbiosis
2022-05-05 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by: Joe Walewski, Wolf Ridge Naturalist and Interim Program Director.
The recorded Zoom meeting is available on the Videos page.
Exploring lichens – the ultimate model of symbiosis and community – opened a world that forever changed Joe’s life. Every year he learns something new, makes new connections, and pursues new questions. Joe continues to use lichens as a lens through which he explores the world of being a naturalist and follows his passions. What’s your passion?
As naturalists, we all have a responsibility for the wellbeing of those we study, be they birds or butterworts, ferns or frogs, lichens or landscapes. Joe will take you on a journey through his life with lichens. The lessons he’s learned apply to you and your responsibilities for our collective future. While people all around the world grow ever more disconnected from our natural and cultural communities, it doesn’t have to be that way.
We can learn the lessons of symbiosis.
Presenter Bio (Joe Walewski):
Joe Walewski, Wolf Ridge Naturalist and Interim Program Director, has served the graduate program at Wolf Ridge since the late 1990s. He’s learned education and natural history from an excellent community of naturalists and educators – young and old, near and far. Each year he teaches and learns with 16 educator naturalists looking to learn and practice environmental education and natural history.

Spring Butterfly Trek - Crex Meadows to the Namekagon Barrens
2022-05-14 09:00 - 16:00
Where: Northwestern Wisconsin, near Grantsburg
When: Saturday May 14, 2022 (9:00 AM to 4:00PM)
Leader: Dean Hansen, local butterfly enthusiast
For a dozen years now, 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 begin at the Visitors’ Center for 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, has square miles of county land to explore, and has a fine component of 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 early May to early June, and if one doesn’t see them then, one won’t see them for the rest of the year. Hopefully, some of the overwintering butterfly species will still be in flight. The best viewing year was 2012, when 18 butterfliers saw a total of 31 butterfly 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.
You MUST have had two Covid-19 vaccinations to participate. There will be a limit of ten participants for each day (May 14th & 21st).
The trip is open to MNNPS members only and preregistration is required. Email Ken Arndt at ken.arndt@mnrinc.us to register; specify which day you prefer.

Spring Butterfly Trek - Crex Meadows to the Namekagon Barrens
2022-05-21 09:00 - 16:00
Where: Northwestern Wisconsin, near Grantsburg
When: Saturday May 21, 2022 (9:00 AM to 4:00PM)
Leader: Dean Hansen, local butterfly enthusiast
For a dozen years now, 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 begin at the Visitors’ Center for 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, has square miles of county land to explore, and has a fine component of 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 early May to early June, and if one doesn’t see them then, one won’t see them for the rest of the year. Hopefully, some of the overwintering butterfly species will still be in flight. The best viewing year was 2012, when 18 butterfliers saw a total of 31 butterfly 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.
You MUST have had two Covid-19 vaccinations to participate. There will be a limit of ten participants for each day (May 14th & 21st).
The trip is open to MNNPS members only and preregistration is required. Email Ken Arndt at ken.arndt@mnrinc.us to register; specify which day you prefer.

Jumping Worms in Minnesota
2022-06-02 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by: Dr. Lee Frelich, Director of the Center for Forest Ecology, University of Minnesota.
The recorded Zoom presentation is available on the Videos page.
Jumping worms are a group of invasive earthworms (Amynthas spp.) known for their leaping, snake-like movement. They live and feed in the upper leaf litter layer of soil, often dramatically damaging its quality and nutrient content. For this reason, jumping worms can trigger erosion, threaten plant growth and decrease soil community biodiversity.
Jumping worms have made their way across North America through composting, the fishing bait trade and by movement of potted plants and mulch. Minnesota is still in the early stages of invasion. Lee will update us on the continued invasion of this species and tell us about the project he is currently working on to develop Best Management Practices for jumping worm infestations.
Presenter Biography:
Lee Frelich is Director of the University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology. He has authored 200 publications with 275 coauthors from 25 countries. He is listed among the top 1% of all scientists in the world (Ecology and Environment category) by the Web of Science. His research has been featured in the news media 500 times, including The New York Times, Newsweek and Washington Post. Current research interests include large-scale fire and wind, earthworm invasion, and climate change in temperate and boreal forests.

The University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Tour
2022-06-18 10:00 - 13:00 | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska, MN, 55318, United States
A tour of the Horticultral Research Center and walk through the Arboretum grounds.
Where: U of M Landscape Arboretum – Chaska, Minnesota
When: Saturday June 18th, 2022 (10:00 AM to 1:00 PM)
Leaders: David Remucal, Curator of Endangered Plants & Adjunct Professor (Department of Horticultural Science), University of Minnesota and MNNPS Board Member
Come join David Remucal for a tour of the Horticultural Research Center (HRC) at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum followed by a walk through parts of the Arboretum. The first part of the field trip will be a tour of the HRC where David will be giving participants a look at the Rare Plant Rescue Program work that he is involved with. After touring the HRC, everyone will then go to the Arboretum for a walk with David to observe some of the many unique plants (probably native plants 😉) found throughout the grounds. After that you are free to enjoy the rest of the Arboretum on your own and at your own pace. The HRC is located 1 mile west of the Arboretum on Hwy. 5 and it should only take a few minutes to travel between sites.
Participants will be meeting at 10AM at the HRC where the field trip will begin and will then drive to the Arboretum following the HRC tour. It has been arranged by David to have the entrance fee for the Arboretum waived for those attending this field trip.
As always, this field trip is for members of the MN Native Plant Society only and will be limited to 20 registrants. In the event of potential bad weather, participants will be notified of any changes to the day.
Contact Ken.Arndt@mnrinc.us to register for this trip.
