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Puzzle Answer and Pi Day
For those of you who have been losing sleep ever since the puzzle was posted just over a month ago in "What Comes Next on the Prairie?",...
jonathanrigden
Mar 6, 20253 min read


Vista Prairie- Small, But a Gem!
On February 21, the first brush piles were burned on Vista Prairie. Restoration began in the fall of 2023 by hiring a contractor funded...
jonathanrigden
Feb 28, 20252 min read


A Cedar Waxwing on the Bluffs in Winter!
On February 7th while working on the bluffs, a lone cedar waxwing paid us a visit. Usually present in flocks, it was sitting alone in a...
jonathanrigden
Feb 16, 20253 min read


Restoration Begins on Birch Point Prairie!
Recently Friends of the Blufflands began the restoration of Birch Point Prairie bringing the total number of prairies undergoing...
jonathanrigden
Feb 14, 20253 min read


Anatomy of a Prairie Burn
Residents living near La Crosse driving up Bliss Road to visit Grandad Bluff or travel beyond may have noticed that one of the prairies...
jonathanrigden
Feb 7, 20253 min read


What Comes Next on the Blufflands?
As we begin the new year, it's nice to reflect on the accomplishments of Friends of the Blufflands in the past year, as Mike O'Brien did...
jonathanrigden
Jan 28, 20251 min read


The Blufflands 2024 Review in Pictures Mike O’Brien
2024 was another productive year for restoration of our amazing prairies and woodlands surrounding La Crosse. Stry Prairie on...
pwilson
Jan 7, 20252 min read


Creating Something from Nothing on the Bluffs
As 2024 winds down, it's interesting to look back and think about what we learned about prairie restoration and management. The Prairie...
jonathanrigden
Dec 29, 20244 min read


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
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