2002 Prairie Events

April 27, 2002 - Turtlehead Fen - 10 AM. Meet at the Engeldinger Marsh parking lot. Contact Trish Patrick at (515) 382-2802 or sandprairie@cs.com for more info.

April 28, 2002, 1:30 PM - Sundays at Finkbine Prairie, Iowa City. See http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/natural/finkbine.html for more information

April 28, 2002, 1 PM - Shooting Stars in Lee County - Also see many other spring blooms at two privately owned woodland sites. Meet at Doug Seyb's, 1889 190th St., Donnellson. From the south, go north 4 miles from the jct. of Hwys 218 and 2 in Donnelson, then go .9 mile east on 190th St. to 1889. From the north, on Hwy 218, go 7 miles south from Hwy 16 jct, then east on 190th St. for .9 mile. "Doug" is painted on the mailbox. Doug 319-835-5887.

May 3, 2002, 7pm - Friday Evenings at Lake Hawthorn. Meet at the boat ramp parking area on the east side of Hawthorn Lake. This is on Victoria Ave. (one mile east of V13) and about 2 1/2 miles south of Barnesn City or 3/4 of a mile north of the intersection of Victoria Ave and 130 th st. Pam White 641-673-3508 or pam-white@usa.net.

May 4, 2002 - IPN Board Meeting - 10 AM Prairie Rivers RC& D, Nevada - All members welcome.

May 5, 2002, 1pm - Centennial Cemetery. Meet and see what is blooming and evaluate what we have done, maybe cut some brush. Call for directions Pam White 641-673-3508 or pam-white@usa.net

May 11, 2002, 10 AM - Saturday Mornings at Rochester Cemetery - A non-formal walk every month. No group "leader" (we are all leaders). Show up, meet the people there, enjoy and learn from each other. Contact Casey at cjkohrt@hotmail.com for more information.

May 18, 2002, 10 am - Indian Paintbrush in Southeast Iowa! Turn east (left)at the Moravia exit from Hwy 5 going south from Albia. Follow the road east, throught Moravia, for about 2 miles. Meet at the Fred Duvall home on the south side of the road. Bring your lunch, we will visit other sites of interest in the afternoon. For questions, contact Pam White.

May 26, 2002, 1:30 PM - Sundays at Finkbine Prairie, Iowa City. See http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/natural/finkbine.html for more information.

May 23, 2002, 7 PM - Thursday Evening Walks at Doolittle Prairie Preserve - The walks are sponsored by the CIPN and the Story County Conservation Board. For more information call Lloyd Crim at 515/432-5026 or SCCB at 515/232-2516.

May 31 - June 2, 2002 - Loess Hills Prairie Seminar

June 7, 2002, 4 PM - Glen Crossman Memorial Service at Crossman Prairie - Glen Crossman loved wildflowers and prairies, and was very active in a group of local outdoor enthusiasts in the Riceville, Iowa area. He proved his love for the prairie by donating Crossman Prairie to the Iowa TNC Chapter in 1976. Glen passed away last September at the age of 76. In honor of his memory a memorial service will be held at Crossman Prairie on June 7, 2002, at 4:00 p.m. The Prairie is 7 1/4 miles west of Riceville, Iowa. For directions, visit the Iowa the Conservancy's website, http://nature.org/iowa and look under preserves, or call 515/244-5044.

June 7, 2002, 7pm - Friday Evenings at Lake Hawthorn. Meet at the boat ramp parking area on the east side of Hawthorn Lake. This is on Victoria Ave. (one mile east of V13) and about 2 1/2 miles south of Barnesn City or 3/4 of a mile north of the intersection of Victoria Ave and 130 th st. Pam White 641-673-3508 or pam-white@usa.net.

June 8, 2002, 10 AM - Sedges and Friends with Tom Rosburg -

The Bluejoint Meadow in Polk County is a small area of original Skunk River flood plain. It is a "reference site" for restoration projects. Sedges made up much more of the herbaceous vegetation of wet mesic sites than most people realize. The dozens of species present in this three or four acres gives us a glimpse into what must have been an extremely diverse and productive system.

Directions: From Highway 65/330 turn north on Co. road S-27. (also known as the Mitchellville to Farrar Road) S-27 is the first intersection toward Des Moines from Engeldinger Marsh. Go North one mile from the intersection of S-27 and 65/330, then turn west on NW 118th Ave. Travel west for 1 3/4 miles to the site. The access lane is on the north side of the road. Participants can meet on the road and then walk along the fence line to the meadow. For more information contact Loren at llown@co.polk.ia.us.

June 11, 2002, 6:30 PM - Tuesday Evening walks at Pohl Memorial Preserve at Ames High Prairie - The walks are sponsored by the CIPN, The Iowa Nature Conservancy and the Story County Conservation Board. For more information contact Trish Patrick at 515/382-2802, TNC at 515/244-5044, or SCCB at 515/232-2516.

June 15, 2002, 10 AM - Saturday Mornings at Rochester Cemetery - A non-formal walk every month. No group "leader" (we are all leaders). Show up, meet the people there, enjoy and learn from each other. Contact Casey at cjkohrt@hotmail.com for more information.

June 20, 2002, 7 PM - Thursday Evening Walks at Doolittle Prairie Preserve - The walks are sponsored by the CIPN and the Story County Conservation Board. For more information call Lloyd Crim at 515/432-5026 or SCCB at 515/232-2516.

June 23-27, 2002 - XVIIIth North American Prairie Conference - "Promoting Prairie". To be held in Kirksville, MO, about 60 miles south of Ottumwa, IA. For more information see www.napc2002.org or call Sharron Gough at 417-876-5226.

June 30, 2002, 1:30 PM - Sundays at Finkbine Prairie, Iowa City. See http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/natural/finkbine.html for more information.

June 30, 2002, 1 pm - Butterflies and White Baptisia in Jefferson County. Meet at the parking lot of Waterworks Park in Fairfield. We will be looking at a remnant prairie with good diversity. Erma Selser, butterfly specialist, joins us to identify and discuss butterflies. Martha Skillman and Laura Mccormick will be on hand to identify plants and point out results of restoration work of burning and brush cutting. From Hwy 34, go north on B St., which is one block east of the square, for 3/4 of a mile. Turn East into Waterworks Park. For questions, contact Martha 641-472-1459 or Laura 641-472-6308.

July 5, 2002, 7pm - Friday Evenings at Lake Hawthorn. Meet at the boat ramp parking area on the east side of Hawthorn Lake. This is on Victoria Ave. (one mile east of V13) and about 2 1/2 miles south of Barnesn City or 3/4 of a mile north of the intersection of Victoria Ave and 130 th st. Pam White 641-673-3508 or pam-white@usa.net.

July 6, 2002, 10 AM - Walk at Grant Ridge Prairie and local-ecotype plantings near Nevada. Contact Cindy at 515/232-3807 or email grantridge@aol.com for more information.

July 9, 2002, 6:30 PM - Tuesday Evening walks at Pohl Memorial Preserve at Ames High Prairie - The walks are sponsored by the CIPN, The Iowa Nature Conservancy and the Story County Conservation Board. For more information contact Trish Patrick at 515/382-2802, TNC at 515/244-5044, or SCCB at 515/232-2516.

July 13, 2002 - Indiangrass Hills Prairie Walk, 10 AM. Joint field trip of Iowa Native Plant Society and IPN.

We will be visiting Indiangrass Hills, a large prairie restoration project owned by INPS and IPN members Mary Brown, Judy Felder, Sandy Rhodes, Bill and Barby Buss. Scattered among the 640 acres of rolling hills are slopes on which are found native prairie remnants. So far, 219 native prairie plant species have been identified. 51 of the species have a coefficient of conservatism of 7 or greater, and 5 are listed by Iowa as special concern or threatened. The IgH folks have been working since 1997, creating burn units, controlling Canada thistle, and establishing filter strips along ditches. Several wetland structures have recently been added. Come on out and add some new species to the list!

Directions: I-80. Take Ladora-Millersburg Exit (#211). Turn south on H Avenue toward Millersburg. Continue south on H Avenue 1.4 miles to 4-way stop. Five miles (total mileage) from I-80 turn east (left) at 265th Street. 265th Street T's into I Avenue. Turn north (left) and continue about 1.1 miles to the gray pole barn on west (left) side of road - 2549 I Avenue. Park on the west side of the property off the road leaving barn and driveway access clear. The south of the barn should have plenty of space. You may also access the property at 2530 H Ave (red gates, old, dilapidated house and barn).

If parking on the grass, bring cardboard or other protective surface to protect catalytic converter from catching grass on fire (place under car).

July 18, 2002, 7 PM - Thursday Evening Walks at Doolittle Prairie Preserve - The walks are sponsored by the CIPN and the Story County Conservation Board. For more information call Lloyd Crim at 515/432-5026 or SCCB at 515/232-2516.

July 20, 2002, 9 am - Prairie on the Farm Mike DeCook, of DeCook Family Farms , invites IPN to his diverse operation. He uses rotational grazing to manage his large , never plowed pasture, while encouraging the formerly "invisible " prairie to flourish. He also cares for a dry prairie remnant and is restoring prairie to a nearby cemetery. Reconstructions are also included. Take Hwy 5 to Attica. In Attica, take G76 south for 1.5 miles . Turn left (south) on 170th Pl. Take 170th Pl. over the covered bridge to the t-intersection with H16. Go left (east) for about 1/8 of a mile, looking for a white barn. Rain date Aug 3. For questions, contact Karie Wiltshire at 641-842-5314 or karie_wiltshire@hotmail.com

July 28, 2002, 1:30 PM - Sundays at Finkbine Prairie, Iowa City. See http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/natural/finkbine.html for more information.

August 2, 2002, 7pm - Friday Evenings at Lake Hawthorn. Meet at the boat ramp parking area on the east side of Hawthorn Lake. This is on Victoria Ave. (one mile east of V13) and about 2 1/2 miles south of Barnesn City or 3/4 of a mile north of the intersection of Victoria Ave and 130 th st. Pam White 641-673-3508 or pam-white@usa.net.

August 3, 2002, 10 AM - Walk at Eight-Acre Prairie, an Eight-Acre Prairie Remnant in Warren County. Contact Cindy at 515/232-3807 or email grantridge@aol.com for more information.

August 10, 2002, 10am - Learn about native plant gardening at the Reeves Wildflower Nursery. 28431 200th St., Harper Tour the production facility, look at established perennial beds, a newly seeded prairie, and a seed production plot. Learn about native plant gardening, including soil preparation, choosing plants and plant combinations. Refreshments will be provided. Go 8 miles east of Sigourney on Hwy 92. Turn north on county road V67, then go 2 miles to Harper. On the north edge of town, turn left on Yerger St. Nursery is 1/4 mile, on the right.

August 10, 2002, 10 AM - Walk at Stargrass, a good-quality local-ecotype planting near Ames. Contact Cindy at 515/232-3807 or email grantridge@aol.com for more information.

August 13, 2002, 6:30 PM - Tuesday Evening walks at Pohl Memorial Preserve at Ames High Prairie - The walks are sponsored by the CIPN, The Iowa Nature Conservancy and the Story County Conservation Board. For more information contact Trish Patrick at 515/382-2802, TNC at 515/244-5044, or SCCB at 515/232-2516.

August 25, 2002, 1:30 PM - Sundays at Finkbine Prairie, Iowa City. See http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/natural/finkbine.html for more information.