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Tag Archives: prairie

Bottle Gentian

02 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by Darcy in Art, environment, Nature

≈ 2 Comments

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Bottle Gentian, prairie, Rubus

Prairies continue to bloom well into fall as leaves from earlier plants begin to transform their colors. This Bottle Gentian, Gentiana andrewsii, is framed by the intense deep red of Rubus. The primary pollinator of Bottle Gentian is the Bumblebee, who uses considerable strength to pry open the buds and enter the flower.
Bttl_gntian
Photo by Ted Thousand – all rights reserved ®2014

Prairie Flowers

20 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by Darcy in Art, environment, Nature

≈ 1 Comment

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International Crane Foundation, nature, prairie, prairie blazing star, restored prairie, yellow coneflower

As in many parts of the country, Wisconsin experienced one of the worst droughts on record last year. This year, early rains reawakened the flowers that were dormant last summer. Ted explored the prairie at the International Crane Foundation and got some beautiful photos of these tenacious plants. Many of the grasses and forbs reach heights of 6 feet or more, but the roots may be 2 or three times longer than what wee see above the soil’s surface. This adaptation helps such plants survive lengthy periods of drought and even fire.Image

Yellow Coneflower (above), Culver’s Root and Prairie Blazing Star (below) paint a colorful landscape. Both photos by Ted Thousand. All rights reserved.
Image

Ring of Fire

31 Wednesday Mar 2010

Posted by Darcy in environment, Nature, wildlife

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cranes, International Crane Foundation, oak savanna, prairie, prescribed burn, wetland

I am back at work, part-time, getting ready for the season to open at the International Crane Foundation. My department is charged with getting the site ready for the more than 25,000 people who visit between April 15th and October 31st each year. They come to see all 15 species of the world’s cranes (only place on earth) as well as walking our trail system through ecologically restored oak savanna, prairie and wetlands – all critical environments not only for cranes, but people and many other species.

At ICF, an important tool in restoring these ecosystems is fire. Prior to European settlement in this area, natural fires kept these environments healthy. Today, prescribed burns are conducted to encourage native flora to thrive and eradicate – as much as possible – invasive, or non-native species. A 35-acre burn was conducted in the restoration area at ICF’s headquarters in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The entire restoration encompasses 100 acres and burns are conducted on a rotating basis. Some areas are burned every three years, others every five, and so on. Results gathered from observations of these areas not only inform how this area is managed, but also help ICF’s scientists restore vital ecosystems around the world where field work is being conducted to save some of the most endangered species of cranes including Sarus cranes in Vietnam, Whooping cranes in North America and Black and Gray Crowned cranes in Africa.

The following pictures were taken March 26, 2010 as ICF staff, interns, volunteers, family and friends participated in a prescribed burn in the prairie, wetland and woodlands.

prescribed burn
ring of fire


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