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"When
one tugs at a single thing in nature,
he finds it attached to the rest of
the world."
John Muir
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Dear
Reader,
We
are lucky to be Wisconsin! Though less than 1% of our State’s original native
prairie remains, many have been re-established, and Dane County is
the center of a regional effort to save and re-establish these
wonderful, lush habitats. In
fact, Wisconsin is and always has been an early leader in prairie
restoration – researching and replanting plant species that were
here long before European settlement.
What
makes a prairie so special? Farmers
will tell you it’s the rich soil they produced.
Historians will tell you it’s the stories they tell about
early pioneer life.
But
the real answer? During
my first experience in the prairie, the grasses swelled like lake
waves, the rustling sounds were music, and the floral smells just
amazing. Find out for
yourself at one of the many prairies in the area!
Kathe
& Betsy
The Folks at Nature Net |
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Did you know.....
Most prairie plants have roots
deeper than the plant is tall? For example, Big
Bluestem grass grows 3 to 6 feet tall, and its roots sink into the
earth 5 to 7 feet!
What to do this month:
Find a prairie plant that reminds
you of fireworks.
Build
an on-line prairie (only if you can't visit one in person!)
Check out the family events at area Nature Net
sites!
Tricks of the Trail for Parents:
Keeping Bugs at Bay
The warmth of July brings out the prairie's blooms... and summer
insects. To keep biting bugs from ruining your explorations there are many natural, non-chemical repellants for tender young
skin. Nature Net parents use Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellant
(with Lemongrass, Citronella & Rosemary Oils), or you might consider
Quantum Buzz Away, approved by the National Parenting Center.
And, if those buzzing bugs don't leave you alone, alleviate itching
mosquito bites by dabbing them with a white vinegar-soaked cotton ball and
stop the sting of a yellow jacket bite with a paste of baking soda and
water.
Instant
Outdoor Expert:
Prairie Plant Life
By definition, prairies are sunny, wind-swept places filled with
grasses, forbs and an occasional tree. With sunshine in
abundance, prairie plants have found unique ways of surviving the
heat. Remember those deep roots? They help plants reach water sources
and allow the plant to survive an occasional fire. Grasses use long narrow leaves
to avoid too much sun and broad-leaved plants avoid direct light by growing stiffly
upright, exposing only their edges. It's these non-woody,
broad-leaved plants (forbs) that give the prairie it's beautiful summer
color - in the form of wildflowers. As you walk through the prairie, feel
the leaves of plants you pass. Waxy, hairy, scratchy. These protective
coatings keep valuable moisture from evaporating in the ever-present
wind. Find out more about the
plants that make up a prairie on the DNR's
EEK website or on the University of Minnesota Bell Museum of Natural
History's Field
Guide to the Prairie Eco-Exercise:
Sunflower Stretch
Try this simple activity with toddlers and young children. Stretching and improving flexibility is an important part of
physical fitness and exercise:
In the prairie, the tall plants grow from tiny seeds.
Imagine you are one of these plants.
Crouch with your feet set slightly apart, cross your arms across
your chest and tuck in your head like a small seed.
Slowly begin to stand up from your crouch, keeping your head tucked
and arms curled up in front of you. Once
you are pretty much upright, slowly unfurl your head and arms, reaching
and stretching slowly up toward the sun.
Can you stretch a little further?
Reach a little higher? Slowly
relax and repeat 3 times. |
UW
Arboretum
The UW
Arboretum, in contrast to most arboreta, is a collection of native
Wisconsin ecological communities. Although
at first glance the Arboretum may look like a park, it is a research and
teaching facility that also provides a place for people to develop a
positive relationship with nature. A
Madison fixture since the 1930’s, the Arboretum is recognized world-wide
for its pioneering work in prairie, savanna, forest and wetland
restoration. Come explore some of the 20 miles of diverse trails on this
2-square mile tract of land – conveniently located near the UW campus
area. |
 Solar
Prints
Use the sun's light to create
art!
Collect natural objects for printing
such as leaves, flowers, grass (make sure to collect items already on the
ground or get permission to pick). Using special light sensitive or dark
construction paper, arrange the items on the paper and place in the sun. A
piece of Plexiglas can be used to hold the objects in place if using the
light sensitive paper, or tape can be used if using the dark construction
paper. If you're using light sensitive paper, expose it to sunlight for
about five minutes. Remove the objects and place paper in water to
"fix" the image. For dark construction paper, leave it in the
sun all day. If the paper hasn't faded enough on the first day leave in
the sun for another day. |
Nature Net News
