Published on September 12, 2023

About the Prairie:

Maintenance has been a priority on the prairie this year. The majority of the prairie was mowed this summer, except for the areas near the boardwalk. (The Liatris in this area has been in full bloom this month). The dry summer allowed better access to mowing areas that are often wet most of the year.

In addition to mowing, the oak motts have been thinned out and pruned up and many woody invasives were removed under the tree canopies. The pine grove on the East side has been thinned. Contractors and volunteers are working to remove woody species from within the prairie. Next steps will include addressing herbaceous invasive species. Work is being monitored by drone for documentation. Many thanks to Don Verser for taking the lead on this.

About the Education Center:

Phase I of the house remodeling is completed! This has moved us closer to the vision of a formal Education Center at Deer Park Prairie. Improvements include three new exterior doors and all exterior siding and paint; new upstairs windows, sheetrock, ceiling and wall insulation; necessary plumbing repairs; and a new air conditioning coil and all ductwork throughout the house. Additionally, the upstairs has been completely painted and new hardware and fans are replaced throughout. Many thanks to the State Board for funding these improvements and to Wally Ward for chipping in to cover project overages. Also, thanks to Beth Clark and Pam Smolen for spearheading this effort. Once the flooring is installed, the rooms will be set up to be available for overnight stays for NPAT members and researchers. Only about $4K is needed for the flooring – Please donate to help us finish!