Prairie Works is the source for ecological and landscape services in Northwest Illinois. Prairie Works can assist on projects large and small ranging from prairie, woodland and savanna restoration, invasive species control, controlled burning and bio-engineered erosion control. Prairie Works offers an environmentally friendly and dynamic solution to traditional land use practices and strives to connect people to the natural history of the area.

The Prairie Works Blog: A cyber bulletin posting articles, news, reports, information, statements, studies, inside dope, observations and ramblings since 2007. Please browse the archives at your leisure.

Monthly Archive for February, 2009

National Invasive Weeds Awareness Week

Published
by
Cory Ritterbusch
on February 23, 2009
in Blog, events and invasive species
. 0 Comments

invasiveplantsmidwestThis week (Feb. 22-27) is National Invasive Weeds Awareness Week across the country. This year marks the 10th anniversary of this campaign that focuses on “preserving our natural heritage from the ravages of weeds.” Land managers, aquatic specialists, scientists, educators and public policy officials are gathering in Washington D.C. for a series of meetings on educating our federal policy makers and elected officials about the devastating impact of invasive weeds on the environment and economy.

Invasive weeds cost federal, state and local governments an estimated 125 billion dollars annually. A statistic that is rising quickly. Once established in a natural area, invasive species snowball into loss of bio-diversity. The negative effect on the native flora, fauna and aesthetics is most alarming to naturalists. Unfortunatly, the majority of invasive weeds occur on private lands where goverment has no control. So we all must do our part.

In the Upper Midwest our landscape has been highly altered due to aggressive and invasive plant species. One of the most destructive has been Garlic Mustard. Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) came to the area 10-15 years ago and has since spread into our woodlands choking out our native more conservative species. Late winter and early spring are the optimum times of year to control this species. You can learn more about invasive species on this website here: http://www.prairieworksinc.com/services/invasive-species-removal/

A great video was recently produced about Garlic Mustard. View it here:Garlic Mustard 101

http://www.ipaw.org/ Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin

http://www.chicagobotanic.org/invasiveplants/ Chicago Botanic Garden Information

Lincoln and Darwin (happy birthday)

Published
by
Cory Ritterbusch
on February 12, 2009
in Blog, history and people
. 0 Comments

 

Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin at 200

Today, is a rare day indeed. Our country and the world can celebrate the 200th anniversary of the births of two very important individuals. What are the odds of two people of such profound influence being born on the same day?  Some of our better cultural creatives have been calling this ‘Lincoln Darwin Day’ for a while. But it is reaching a widespread audience today, and deservedly so. These two individuals are arguably the 19th century’s most important figures and both have influenced natural history, the topic of this blog. 

Last week Newsweek battled them out in an article entitled, Who was more important Darwin or Lincoln?, Smithsonian Magazine published a fantastic story called, How Lincoln and Darwin Shaped the Modern World , and a new book Angels and Ages: A Short Book About Darwin, Lincoln, and Modern Life was recently released to celebrate this occasion. So, we are not in short supply of hype.
Here is an excerpt from the Newsweek debate article:
Lincoln and Darwin were both revolutionaries, in the sense that both men upended realities that prevailed when they were born. They seem—and sound—modern to us, because the world they left behind them is more or less the one we still live in. So, considering the joint magnitude of their contributions—and the coincidence of their conjoined birthdays—it is hard not to wonder: who was the greater man? It’s an apples-and-oranges—or Superman-vs.-Santa—comparison. But if you limit the question to influence, it bears pondering, all the more if you turn the question around and ask, what might have happened if one of these men had not been born? 
Newsweeks conclusion that followed somewhat surprised me, even though I am in agreement. A personal debate of emancipation versus evolution exists here and that debate could take as long as natural selection does – or result in it. Also, I have realized that the only real similarity that these two people share is their respected legacy’s and the size of them that continues to grow. Choosing your side is a classic personality test. 
Happy birthday to both of them. Here are my favorite quotes from each individual:
“A scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections, – a mere heart of stone”  - Darwin
“Laws change, people die, the land remains”  - Lincoln

Dormant Seeding

Published
by
Cory Ritterbusch
on February 6, 2009
in Blog, Services, land management and prairie
. 0 Comments
Spring is most often associated with sowing seeds, mainly because it is standard in farming and gardening practices. But, if you are a prairie restorationist you have probably bundled up in winter clothes before seeding. Exposing seeds to winter’s punishing weather helps set the stage for successful germination come spring. This method is known as “Dormant Seeding” or “Frost Seeding” and it is becoming the preferred method for seeding most native plant species.

The 'Dormant Seeding' Method

Many native plant seeds, especially forbs (flowers), require a period of stratification before breaking dormancy. Stratifying seed can be done mechanically using several methods, the most common using sand paper. However, hiring Mother Nature to work for you has become recognized as the most effective method. Sowing seeds just before or during winter allows the snow, sleet, freezing rain, etc. to work the seed into the ground and the frost and thaw processes will then insert the seed into the proper depth in the soil. In May when soil temperatures begin rising the seed then “breaks dormancy.” Some of our more conservative species may require this to happen over the course of two or more winters before dormancy is broken.

Another great advantage of dormant seeding is the increased ability to recognize where the seed has been sowed. This is helpful in maintaining equal coverage across the seeding zone and also allowing the seeder to see what species have been put where (see the picture below).

 
The seeding mosaic

The seeding mosiac

 Timing is very critical with this process. Ensuring that this is done ahead of a snowfall will decrease the chances of predatory theft (Birds consuming it) and blowing wind carrying it away. It also assists in the compaction of the seed as its weight will push the seed into the snow. Sometimes your seeding window will be just a day or two or a few hours, so you must be ready to go when that  time comes.

Truly a road commissioners nightmare, a winter that provides many freeze and thaw cycles, provides optimum conditions for a dormant seeding to be successful. Although every winter should provide enough temperature fluctutuation to stratify the seed, I am starting to believe that some winters are just better than others. Any opinions out there? 

Like many of the processes involved in prairie restoration we are emulating the cycles and timing of the long-term past, which is what dormant seeding is modeled after. Seeds drop in the fall and germinate in the spring; this has been happening in prairies for millions of years. There are certainly situations and species specific situations for which a spring or summer seeding can be advantageous, but a winter experience is still needed to provide the seed with the opportunity of a full and happy life. Much like being a resident of the Midwest…