by Driftless Prairies | May 17, 2026 | Plants
The Story of Common Milkweed Author: Mary Nelson Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” Say hello to common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), a plant that, through the years, has been branded as a noxious...
by Driftless Prairies | Feb 25, 2026 | Uncategorized
Management that restores function and protects soil legacy is highly prized. I seldom put forth a recipe for restoration work because too much depends on the specific site, your goals and your resources. But the beauty of this sequence is that it can work within those...
by Driftless Prairies | Jan 17, 2026 | Plants
The Story of Lobelia Siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia) Written by Mary Nelson Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) is a stunning native Wisconsin plant! It grows 2 to 4 feet tall with a spread of 2 to 3 feet. Bright-blue, trumpet shaped flowers cover tall spikes,...
by Driftless Prairies | Nov 2, 2025 | Plants
Let Compass Plant Show You the Way! Written and researched by Mary Nelson Do you really need a GPS to get you to your location or could you just use the compass plant to point you in the right direction? Early pioneers used the compass plant to guide themselves on...
by Driftless Prairies | Apr 9, 2025 | Uncategorized
This is just one example of how prescribed fire is often praised without a firm grounding in fact. Fire’s benefits are often exaggerated, perhaps not maliciously but rather out of ignorance. In writing, when we take someone else’s work and claim it as our own, it’s...
