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Dolostone Speaks Softly...But it Rocks!
The bluffs in the Coulee Region, offering breathtaking views like those from Grandad and Lookout, owe their existence to dolostone. The...
jonathanrigden
Dec 8, 20249 min read


Plant of the Week #20 - Downy Gentian
Gentiana puberulenta, commonly known as downy gentian, is a special plant that was recently discovered by Friends of the Blufflands on...
jonathanrigden
Oct 1, 20242 min read


The Magnificent Magnicamporum
In September and October, many of the flowers that bloom in the bluff prairies have completed their cycle. Early bloomers such as...
jonathanrigden
Sep 13, 20242 min read


It's a Zabulon!
This is a follow up to the post done on August 19. "Plant of the Week #17...Again Blazing Star". A challenge was made to identify the...
jonathanrigden
Sep 4, 20241 min read


Rough False-Foxglove- Plant of the Week #18
Rough false-foxglove, known scientifically as Agalinis aspera , is currently in bloom across the bluff prairies in Hixon and the...
jonathanrigden
Sep 3, 20242 min read


Plant of the Week #17...Again Blazing Star!
On 8/17 there was a very interesting Driftless Area Bio Blitz organized by Justin Nooker and Laurie Arzaga at Holland Sand Prairie...
jonathanrigden
Aug 19, 20242 min read


Person of the Year and Plant of the Week #16
Regrettably, this upcoming week will mark Jaylen Vinney's final days working with Friends of the Blufflands. Jaylen, an AmeriCorp service...
jonathanrigden
Aug 13, 20242 min read


Plant of the Week #15- Purple Prairie Clover
The plant highlighted this week is the purple prairie clover, also known as Dalea pupurea. This species is commonly found throughout the...
jonathanrigden
Aug 5, 20241 min read


Plant of the Week #14- It's Groovy!
Our plant of the week for the last part of July is Grooved Yellow Flax which is known by its scientific name as Linum sulcatum. Although...
jonathanrigden
Jul 31, 20241 min read


Plant of the Week #13- Bee Balm
Bee balm, also known as wild bergamot, seems to be exploding on the prairies at this time! It is a common plant throughout North America...
jonathanrigden
Jul 23, 20243 min read


Plant of the Week #12- Hoary Vervain
Hoary vervain, also known by its scientific name Verbena stricta, is a common plant growing on our remnant bluff prairies. "Verbena"...
jonathanrigden
Jul 16, 20241 min read


Plant of the Week #11- Leadplant
According to the Illinois Wildflower website, Leadplant, Amorpha canescens is considered a sign of a high-quality habitat. It grows...
jonathanrigden
Jul 8, 20242 min read


Rusty Patched Bumblebees On Stry Prairie!
Friends of the Blufflands was doing restoration work on Stry Prairie on Miller Bluff yesterday, July 1, and saw rusty patched bumblebees...
jonathanrigden
Jul 2, 20241 min read


Asclepius Redux- Plant of the Week # 10
In a previous blog post on July 22, 2021, the milkweeds were highlighted. You can find the post here. These plants remain an important...
jonathanrigden
Jul 1, 20242 min read


The Plant that Gives You Three Fingers! Plant of the Week #9 for June 24th.
Coreopsis palmata, also known as prairie coreopsis or tickseed, is currently blooming on the prairies of Hixon and surrounding bluffs,...
jonathanrigden
Jun 24, 20242 min read


Plant of the Week #8- June 17
This week, the spotlight is on prairie rose, Rosa arkansana, offering a lovely touch of pink to the prairie landscape. This plant belongs...
jonathanrigden
Jun 17, 20242 min read


An Oak Savanna is Born
Converting a dense closed canopy forest overrun with buckthorn and other nonnative brush into an oak savanna has proven to be a...
jonathanrigden
Jun 13, 20243 min read


Plant of the Week #7- June 10
A plant that recently started blooming on the prairies is Pale-Spike Lobelia (Lobelia spicata), although it is easy to miss among the...
jonathanrigden
Jun 10, 20242 min read


Plants of the Week #6-June 3
Almost all plants have a symbiotic "mycorrhizal" relationship with fungi in which the plant produces sugar through photosynthesis, gives...
jonathanrigden
Jun 3, 20242 min read


Plant of the Week #5- May 27
Sometimes it takes a keen eye to spot a plant that is diminutive in size, yet alluring in charm and appeal. One that fits this...
jonathanrigden
May 27, 20241 min read
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