One of the great benefits to living in Northwest Illinois is its access to great natural areas. Some very fine remnant ecosystems are within a leisurely drive. I would like to introduce Spring Green Prairie Preserve. Located just North of Spring Green Wisconsin, this 260 acre tract offers many unusual sights for the plant, bird, reptile, and insect lover.
Known locally for generations as “The Wisconsin Desert” this is a dry and sandy prairie with an upland savanna. The area is owned together by the Wisconsin DNR and The Nature Conservancy with management being performed by the latter. It was designated as a state natural area in 1972. Restoration efforts have been ongoing since and from observations made on my visit, they will continue for a while. At the prairie one can view dozens of rare plants, birds, insects and maybe see a lizard.
A trip to Spring Green Prairie can be done in conjunction with viewing Taliesin, the Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece. Taliesin is located just South of Spring Green. Viewing Taliesin and Spring Green Prairie together is a wonderful way to view prairie style architecture and prairies themselves. You cannot help but notice how the surrounding landscapes were integrated into Wright’s design.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/sna/sna102.htm Spring Green Prairie Preserve http://www.taliesinpreservation.org/ Taliesin
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