Learn about native plants at an upcoming prairie hike – July 13 or Aug. 6
In the early spring, the prairie is a barren field, brown and unimpressive. Three-quarters of its biomass is hidden beneath the ground in an intricate network of fibrous roots, fungal mycorrhizae, ant empires, and sleeping skinks. In May, the first green shoots are just beginning to emerge above ground. By August, the prairie is a sea of flowers and grasses, standing nearly five feet tall and buzzing with birds, bees, and wildlife. At first it creeps, then it leaps.
Prairies once covered one-third of North America and one-third of the land that is now called Minnesota. Rivaling the African savanna, this sea of grass stretched from Saskatchewan to Texas and was home to deer, elk, antelope, prairie dogs, and an estimated 30-60 million bison. For 12,000 years, humans have been part of the prairie as well. Though only 1-4% of the original native prairie remains today, helping hands are spreading seeds and pulling weeds. Piece by piece, the prairie is rising.
If you stop to get a book at the North Branch Library, you will undoubtedly notice the 7000 acres of beautiful, pollinator-friendly, native meadow surrounding the parking lot and building. Volunteers and community partners, including Master Gardeners, Pheasants Forever, and Minnesota Native Landscapes came together to establish these gardens in 2018-2019 and they are now mature and absolutely beautiful. In particular, local resident Tom Anderson was a big driving force behind North Branch’s effort to reestablish native habitat at the library and around the city.
Unlike common garden flowers, native plants tend to have shorter blooming periods that last only a few weeks. While this can come as a surprise to some gardeners, the upside is a dynamic garden that is constantly changing throughout the growing season. For example, visitors to the North Branch Library will currently find yarrow, beardtongue, lupine, wild white indigo, spiderwort, and common milkweed in bloom. Later in the summer, these flowers will fade, giving joe pye, black-eyed susans, blazing star, and sunflowers a chance to shine.
Ten minutes outside of North Branch in southeastern Isanti County, Irving & John Anderson County Park is another premier destination to visit restored prairie and commune with nature. The park encompasses 404 acres of prairie, woods, and water, including 1.75 miles of undeveloped shoreline along Horseleg and Hoseshoe Lakes. Isanti Soil and Water Conservation District seeded the original 174 acres of farmland to prairie in 2007 and has provided assistance for other habitat restoration efforts as well.
As you enter Irving & John Anderson County Park, you’ll be greeted at the edge of the prairie by two tall metal sandhill cranes. There is also a children’s natural play area, which is a big crowd favorite with young families. The park supports white tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, Blanding’s turtles, beaver, red-headed woodpeckers, sandhill cranes, and throngs of migratory birds.
A final destination worth visiting is Franconia Sculpture Park, which is located just south of Taylor’s Falls, near the intersection of St Croix Trail and Hwy 8. This 50-acre park was established in 1996 and features more than 100 enormous and fantastical art installations that are situated within a restored prairie with wide, mowed trails. The park has free admission and is open to visit 365 days a year from 8am until 8pm.
Interested in touring one of these prairies and learning more about native plants that you can incorporate into gardens at your home? Join the East Metro Water Education Program and local hosts for one of two free, family-friendly prairie hikes.
The first will be held on Monday, July 13 (6-7pm) at Irving & John Anderson County Park (27201 Furman St NE, North Branch, MN 55056). RSVP at tinyurl.com/isantihike.
The second will be on Thursday, Aug. 6 (6:30-8pm) at Franconia Sculpture Park (29836 St Croix Trail N, Shafer) and will include a short introduction to gardening with native plants prior to the hike. RSVP at tinyurl.com/franconiahike.
East Metro Water 