Celebrating 2021 - A Year to be Proud Of

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Volunteers from Prairie Moraine Friends got together to spread native savanna seeds in February.  Doing this in winter gives the seeds a chance to go through several freeze/thaw cycles.  This helps increase the germination rate.  Even so it will take three years or more before the plants mature.  

The several dozen species of seeds with a retail value of over $5000 were provided by Dane County Parks' seed collection program.  Thanks to Lars Higdon, DCP naturalist, for his guidance.

Much was accomplished at Prairie Moraine County Park on Earth Day 2021, thanks to over 90 participants who showed up and lent a hand.  But the event was about more than the work that got done! 

Operation Fresh Start's Cory Rich, along with OFS team leaders, organized the OFS participants as they split off into groups that rotated stations on the hour throughout the day.  This was a great way to celebrate Earth Day.  While working on restoration in the park, there was an emphasis on learning not just how to do the work but how it helps the environment. With a geology tour of the park as one of the day's work/education stations, the participants also learned about the formation of the moraine during the last Ice Age.

2021-22's Oak Opening/Savanna restoration project was kicked off on October 20th when a temporary fence was installed around the work area -- 11 acres in the southwest corner of the park.  This allows work to continue safely without disruption to park users and their dogs.

Work continued apace through November, December, and January.  We barely took time off for the holidays!  By February 11, 2022 the "rough cut" of the restoration work area was complete.  Cleanup will begin in the spring; tree planting will start in the fall.

Dane County Parks staff and volunteers work together on hot, humid summer days to control Wild Parsnip in the dog park.

Dog Park users have reason to be grateful for PMF volunteer Lorna's almost single-handed war on Burdock in the park.  Fewer trips to the groomer to remove burrs this year?  That was due to Lorna's work!

PMF volunteers responded to a report from a park user of an infestation of Japanese Hedge Parsley.  It was cut immediately -- to catch it before it could go to seed -- and has been mapped for follow-up in subsequent years.

New for 2021 was site preparation for "Rey's Place" -- a new seating area of dolomite limestone blocks -- part of the Karcher-Pohl family's unique memorial gift to Prairie Moraine County Park. Our thanks, on behalf of all the Prairie Moraine park users, go to Matthew Karcher and Megan Pohl!  Delivery and installation of the blocks and related work on the project is scheduled for spring of 2022.

Ongoing activities for 2021 included Bluebird monitoring; refreshing materials in the park kiosks; and cleanup work in the park.  We continue to create new native plantings like "The Rocks" as well as maintaining and adding to 2020's Pollinator Garden and Prairie Corner.  We also enjoy working with Fiskars and appreciate the generosity they demonstrate in so many ways!