Prairie in the gas tank

Two weeks ago today, the Star Tribune reported on the newly published research by the University of Minnesota’s Dr. David Tilman in the journal Science. The full article requires a subscription, but the summary can be read here.

The research has found that an acre of perennial prairie grassland and forbs supplies more energy per acre than grain ethanol or soybean biodiesel can produce. Interestingly, highly diverse prairie communities produced 238% greater bioenergy yields than monocultural plantings after a decade. In addition to the energy benefits, the prairie system is a net carbon sink, reduces ammount of agrichemical pollution compared to corn, and provides obvious habitat and biodeiversity benefits.

Much of Dr. Tilman’s work has been conducted at the Cedar Creek Natural History Area in East Bethel, MN. There are several high diversity native plant communities at Cedar Creek and it may interest members of the Society that tours are offered throughout the growing season by the staff. For those of us who don’t want to wait until spring for a tour of the flora, there is also on on-line guide to the Plants of Cedar Creek.

Troubles on the trails (OHV use in State Forest)

This Star Tribune article published on Sunday December 10, 2006, provides interesting insight from both sides of the issue of OHV use on public lands. To members concerned about OHV use on public lands, here is your chance to add your two cents! Feel free to contact DNR northwest region manager Mike Carroll with your concerns.

December Monthly Meeting

If you have been to either of our last 2 monthly meetings, you know we are now meeting at the Dakota Lodge at Thompson Park in West St. Paul. It’s been a great space for our meetings.

Last night we heard Jason Husveth update us on the status of Pioneer Park in Blaine. Many society members and friends have participated in tours and restoration trips to the meadow/rich fen plant community at the park. Jason described the on-going restoration efforts and successes at Pioneer Park and encouraged everybody to get out there this summer and enjoy the diversity of native plants, which represents about 10% of all of Minnesota’s flora!

Our main speaker was Dr. Sharon Pfeifer from the Minnesota DNR Central District. She discussed the report released in February titled “Growth Pressures on Sensitive Natural Areas in DNR’s Central Region.” It was a fantastic talk that covered the current and future trends in population growth and land cover change in the Central District and the forecasted shortage of available land for developement in fast-growing areas, which will put tremendous strain on the remaining natural resources. Dr. Pfeifer graciously offered to mail a copy of the report to anybody who is interested.

It can also be downloaded off the web at the DNR Website or at the Ameregis Website. You can contact Sharon Pfeifer directly at sharon.pfeifer@dnr.state.mn.us

At the end of the talk Dr. Pfeifer answered questions for about a half hour. What did you think of the lecture? What was the most surprising finding? What can we do to help preserve the remaining high quality resources that make this region a great place to live?

November Monthly Meeting

Last month at our monthly meeting we heard a presentation about use of native plants in stream corridors, and their importance in providing both terrestrial and aquatic habitat, stablizing banks, and nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) uptake. After the meeting, we had the annual seed exchange. Generous society members donate native plant seed from their own collection for swap and free give-away. I was able to get seed for columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), and giant hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). One of the more interesting seeds available was for putty root orchid (Aplectrum hymenale), collected populations saved from development in the wild. There is no easy way to get it to germinate. Because of the symbiotic relationship between seed and fungus needed for germination, it’s left up to nature. I am going to see if I can get it to grow in a garden located in an mesic oak-basswood forest. For the rest of the seed, I am going to try to get germination in flats over the winter. Let the fun begin! Did you get any seed in the seed swap? What species? Are you a veteran native seed germinator or a rookie like me? What are your secrets to success?

Braving the cold in Maplewood

We had a great turnout of almost 30 people this morning who braved the cold temperatures at Maplewood Nature Center to study winter botany! Thank you to everyone who could make it out – you are true Minnesotans! We managed to stay out of the wind most of the time, as we walked the trails through the woodland, and saw prairie and wetland plant communities as well.

Ken and Scott explained that a healthy oak woodland, as seen here, should be devoid of green leaves this time of year. Green leaves would indicate the presence of an exotic species, such as buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) or Tatarian honeysuckle (Loniera tatarica). The canopy here is dominated by white oaks (Quercus alba) and red oaks (Q. rubra). Maplewood Nature Center has burned the understory in recent years to control buckthorn. They have an on-going buckthorn control program.
Scott pointed out some of the herbacous understory plants whose dead leaves and stems persisted. This is meadow rue (Anemone sp.).
The distinctive dark, rough, flaky bark made black cherry (Prunus serotina) easy to spot in the winter woodland landscape.
Scott talking to us about the prairie community along the trail at the edge of the wetland.
Gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) was one of several species from the composite group that we noted in the prairie.

There were several species of golden rod (Solidago spp.) that were present in the prairie. This is stiff goldenrod (S. rigida).