JBtheExplorer
Native Plant Gardener
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2013
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- Location
- Southeastern Wisconsin
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- Hardiness Zone
- 5b
- Country
This is sort of a continuation of last year's post about My Prairie Adventure, which you can see HERE.
I returned again this year, camped out a couple nights and had a lot of fun again. This year, I went a month earlier and the temps were much cooler than last year. Actually, it was extremely comfortable, though it rained the first day due to the remnants of Cristobal.
Sandhill Crane families were once again roaming the prairie. There's always a couple families in this area that can be reliably found.
There weren't too many prairie flowers blooming yet since it's still only Spring, but there were splashes of color here and there.
Blue Flag Iris
Prairie Phlox
Spiderwort
All sorts of Dragonfly species could be seen perched on various plants and stems.
There were also plenty of birds other than the cranes. I saw three or four Eastern Bluebirds, and equally as many Eastern Meadowlarks. Barn Swallows had nests on every building nearby. Warblers and Orioles were all around the campsite, flying from oak to oak.
Had a really nice surprise one day when a flock of seven American White Pelicans flew over the campsite.
Woke up early one morning to hit the trails. Wanted to get there before the crowds did. Our state parks have been crowded since reopening, so I wanted to do my best at social distancing. That's pretty much the goal of every camping trip, to be honest.
White-tailed Deer
Paradise Springs.
Here's the view of State Natural Area #128, also known as Ottawa Lake Fen, taken from an unoccupied tent campsite.
Ottawa Lake at sunset.
Lastly, one of my favorite animals that live in the prairie, a Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel. They live in prairies across much of the U.S. They're closely related to prairie dogs, but are much smaller in size.
If you'd like to see the full slideshow, here it is!
and a short video of the cranes
I returned again this year, camped out a couple nights and had a lot of fun again. This year, I went a month earlier and the temps were much cooler than last year. Actually, it was extremely comfortable, though it rained the first day due to the remnants of Cristobal.
Sandhill Crane families were once again roaming the prairie. There's always a couple families in this area that can be reliably found.
There weren't too many prairie flowers blooming yet since it's still only Spring, but there were splashes of color here and there.
Blue Flag Iris
Prairie Phlox
Spiderwort
All sorts of Dragonfly species could be seen perched on various plants and stems.
There were also plenty of birds other than the cranes. I saw three or four Eastern Bluebirds, and equally as many Eastern Meadowlarks. Barn Swallows had nests on every building nearby. Warblers and Orioles were all around the campsite, flying from oak to oak.
Had a really nice surprise one day when a flock of seven American White Pelicans flew over the campsite.
Woke up early one morning to hit the trails. Wanted to get there before the crowds did. Our state parks have been crowded since reopening, so I wanted to do my best at social distancing. That's pretty much the goal of every camping trip, to be honest.
White-tailed Deer
Paradise Springs.
Here's the view of State Natural Area #128, also known as Ottawa Lake Fen, taken from an unoccupied tent campsite.
Ottawa Lake at sunset.
Lastly, one of my favorite animals that live in the prairie, a Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel. They live in prairies across much of the U.S. They're closely related to prairie dogs, but are much smaller in size.
If you'd like to see the full slideshow, here it is!
and a short video of the cranes
