jonathanrigdenMar 19, 20232 min readThose Beautiful Bugs of the Prairie and Our Backyards!As winter winds down and the days are getting longer, the early signs of spring are emerging. The first migrating birds are showing up...
jonathanrigdenMar 7, 20236 min readWhat Are Those Slabs of Cement and Pieces of Metal on Upper Hixon?Many of us enjoy the trails in Upper Hixon. It's a nice place for individuals or groups to gather and enjoy the outdoors. But have you...
jonathanrigdenFeb 19, 20238 min readZoerb 2023 Annual Work PlanFor those interested, here is the Zoerb 2023 Work Plan which includes a work summary for 2022: I. Review of Management Plan Goals,...
jonathanrigdenJan 23, 20231 min readMore Brush Piles!On January 22 we had a crew of seven out burning more brush piles, this time on Zoerb. The snow made it difficult to get the piles...
jonathanrigdenJan 7, 20231 min readAnother Brush Pile Bites the Dust...or Is Turned Into Dust!On 1/6/2023, 3 brush piles were burned on the lower part of Zoerb Prairie below the cliff edge which used to be thick with woody plants...
jonathanrigdenJan 4, 20233 min readPEMDAS on the PrairieIn our day to day lives we meet many challenges. Decisions have to be made. Each of us analyzes these challenges, find what we think are...
jonathanrigdenDec 13, 20223 min readProgress on the Bluffs 2022- Mike O'BrienIt has been another busy year for Friends of the Blufflands and its restoration efforts in the bluffs around La Crosse. Volunteers have...
jonathanrigdenNov 27, 20223 min readLittle Mice on the Prairie...but no VolesFriends of the Blufflands (FBL) recently teamed up with The Coulee Region Chapter (CRC) of The Prairie Enthusiasts in the La Crosse area...
jonathanrigdenNov 27, 20223 min readA Strange Pattern on Zoerb PrairieAfter a recent snowfall, a strange pattern emerged on Zoerb Prairie. What is that lopsided figure? Have aliens landed? Is it a race...
jonathanrigdenNov 1, 20222 min readThe Bunnies of Halloween!Another Halloween just passed yesterday with many very cute children parading through town in a variety of costumes. A couple of times...
jonathanrigdenSep 12, 20223 min readBuckthorn Beware!Friends of the Blufflands is conducting a study of common buckthorn, an invasive shrub that has infested many of the forests and prairies...
jonathanrigdenAug 31, 20221 min readLooking for Rare Voles and Mice!Friends of the Blufflands with the local chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts is conducting a survey for rare voles and mice on Holland...
jonathanrigdenJul 8, 20222 min readBird Nests and Other Surprises on Skemp 2!We often see bird nests on the oaks and other trees growing on the Skemp 2 property on the corner of F and FA on the way to Upper Hixon....
jonathanrigdenJul 1, 20221 min readMallards Nesting on the BluffsAs the prairies on the bluffs in Hixon are being restored, we are seeing more wildlife using them for habitat. For example, on 6/29...
jonathanrigdenJun 23, 20222 min readAdd Fringed Puccoon to the Mix!As Friends of the Blufflands works to restore the goat prairies on the bluffs surrounding La Crosse, we occasionally come upon native...
jonathanrigdenMay 30, 20222 min readEphemerals, or Not? -by Jim RogalaMike O’Brien’s blog post on ephemerals contained some lovely photos of plants that flower very early in the year. Although the definition...
jonathanrigdenMay 24, 20221 min readCream Gentian on the Bluffs!On a recent hike on one of the bluff prairies, a new species was identified- cream or yellow gentian: This is a new species added to the...
jonathanrigdenMay 21, 20222 min read Spring Ephemerals!A Large Flowered Trillium in full bloom. Below it are 2 small white flowers called squirrel corn, and some fading leaves of wild leeks...
pwilsonMay 5, 20221 min readLand Steward and Outreach PositionFriends of the Blufflands and Mississippi Valley Conservancy are filling an AmeriCorps Land Stewardship and Outreach position for June 6...
pwilsonMay 5, 20221 min readTurkey EggsA clutch of turkey eggs found in the blufflands by Jon Rigden.
