Calendar of Prairie-Related Events
***SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012***
MPF EVENT
3:30PM Short-Eared Owl/Bird of Prey Trip
Jeff Cantrell will lead a trip to the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Penn-Sylvania Prairie, weather permitting. The group will meet in Lockwood at 3:30PM. More details will be available closer to the date.
For more information, contact Jeff at 417-451-4158 (work) or
417-476-3311 (home); or at swampcandle1 @ yahoo.com. (remove spaces)
***SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012*** MPF EVENT
10AM to 12PM Waterfowl Viewing at Massasauga Flats Join MPF member George Seek on a tour for MPF members of the wet prairie and wetlands of Massasauga Flats, a private 254-acre duck club adjoining Pershing State Park in Linn County. Up to 26 species of waterfowl and other birds may be seen. George, a part owner of the club, as well as Kelly Srigley-Werner of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will be on hand to identify waterfowl and interpret the natural history of the site. meet at the Fountain Grove Conservation Area Headquarters located 5 miles south of Highway 36 at the Meadville junction on Route W at 10AM The tour will last approximately two hours or longer as participants wish. Dress for the weather, wear rubber boots, and bring binoculars. Pole boats will be available for the more adventuresome. Free. RSVP to info @ moprairie.com (remove spaces) or 888-843-6739.
-composite photo of waterfowl species using Massasauga Flats by Dale Humburg
***SATURDAY, APRIL 21 & 28, 2012***
MPF EVENT
8AM to 1PM MPF Annual Spring Plant Sale at the City Market in Kansas City, MO at 5th and Walnut.l Purchase quality natives for your home landscaping and help MPF raise funds for prairie conservation at the same time. Contact MPF Vice President Doris Sherrick at
bjdjsher @ fairpoint.net (remove spaces) or 816-779-6708 if you can volunteer at the sale.
***SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 2012 *** MPF EVENT
10AM to 4pm (or earlier) MPF Member Tour of Spurgeon Hollow Glade Natural Area near Eminence MPF members are invited to join Natural History Biologist and MPF member Susan Farrington, tour leader, to enjoy scenic views of this beautiful large open glade grassland. The rare dwarf white lady slippers should be blooming, and the yellow paintbrush should be breathtaking. Susan will lead the group to several other beautiful glades in the immediate vicinity.
Meet at 10AM at the Eminence Mo. Department of Conservation office. The group will tour areas until approximately 4 PM, but participants can leave earlier if desired. Bring a bag lunch, snacks, and water, and dress for the weather. Sturdy boots are recommended, as the group will hike off-trail on rocky ground. Free. RSVP for hike by April 18: contact Susan Farrington at
susan.farrington @ mdc.mo.gov (remove spaces) or 417-255-9561 x307.
***SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012*** MPF EVENT
10AM to 2PM (or as long as the group wishes)
MPF Member Sand Prairie Tour
Natural History Biologist Bob Gillespie will be your guide to this rare prairie natural community in the Missouri's Southeastern Lowlands. Sand coreopsis and other wildflowers should be blooming. Meet Bob at the Cape Girardeau Nature Center Office parking lot at 10AM to carpool/caravan to Sand Prairie Conservation Area (about 20 miles south of the Nature Center) and perhaps some private sand prairies as well.
Tour will be from 10AM to 2PM, or as long as the group wishes to hike. The group will take a convenient store/rest stop break during the day. Bring a sack lunch and dress for a day in the field. The Cape Girardeau Nature Center address is 2289 County Park Dr., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701. From the Highway I-270 and I-55 junction in St. Louis, travel south on I-55. The Nature Center is 103 miles or 1 hour and 45 minutes, take exit 99 to the Nature Center Map to the Nature Center. Free. RSVP to robert.gillespie @ mdc.mo.gov (remove spaces) or 573-290-5858 ext. 249.
-Sand Prairie Conservation Area photo courtesy MDC.
***SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012*** MPF EVENT
10AM to 12PM MPF Member Tour/Hike at Locust Creek Prairie WEtland at Pershing State Park Join Pershing State Park Manager Tom Woodward for a tour through this northern Missouri gem. Many wildflowers should be blooming, and resident and neotropical migratory bird activity should be high. Meet at the boardwalk trail parking lot (see map) at 10AM. The tour will last until noon, although hikers may wish to continue exploring the park following the tour. Camping is available at the park. Dress for a day in the field, including off trail, and consider waterproof boots depending on the weather. Free. RSVP to tom.woodward @ dnr.mo.gov (remove spaces) or 660-963-2299. Park address: 29277 Hwy. 130, Laclede, MO 64651-7124 Park and camping directions and information. From Highway 65 and I-70 in Columbia, Pershing State Park is 93 miles or about a 1 hour and 45 minute drive.
-white beardtongue blooming at Locust Creek Prairie. Photo by Ken McCarty.
***SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012*** MPF EVENT
10am TO 12pm MPF Member Tour of MPF's Welsch Tract Restoration Project Join MPF President Stan Parrish and Prairie Operations Manager Richard Datema for a tour of the restoration in process at MPF's Welsch Tract, an 80-acre addition to Coyne Prairie in Dade County. On this walking tour, see and learn about the savanna restoration, brush clearing, and invasives removal techniques, and plans for seeding a cropped portion of the property to a diverse mix of locally harvested prairie seeds. Directions: At the junction of State Highways E and D in Dade County (2 miles north of 160), go east on E one mile then turn south on County Road 41. Go approximately 1 mile and park along the road. Dress for a walk through some tall vegetation. Bring a sack lunch if you wish to eat on site following the tour. Free. RSVP to 417-788-2308.
***SATURDAY & SUNDAY ,
JUNE 9 & 10, 2012***
MPF's 3rd Annual Prairie BioBlitz
BioBlitz begins on June 9 at 2PM and continues through the morning of June 10. Schwartz Prairie in St. Clair County is the location for this weekend of fun--after a winter burn on portions of the prairie, it should be showy with wildflowers and busy with pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. Help biologists document as many plants and animals as possible from the prairie. Fieldwork will be followed by potluck dinner, stargazing, and free tent camping. The BioBlitz will begin Saturday, June 9, 2PM, following the 10AM meeting of the MPF Board of Directors, to which members are welcome to attend. The BioBlitz will continue through Sunday morning, June 10. Free. Save the dates. Registration will be open once all field study groups have been set. Watch the website and future issues of e-news for more details.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY , JUNE 23 & 24, 2012
9AM TO 5pm Prairie Paint-Out, Art Show, and Botany Walks, Bethany Springs Farm, Berger, Mo.
Artists Theresa Long and Jan Trager have organized a Plein Air artist event at Bethany Springs Farm near Hermann, Missouri, where 30 percent of sales will benefit MPF's prairie conservation work.
Dr. Quinn Long and Dr. James Trager of the Missouri Botanical Garden will lead botanical walks through the 15-acre reconstructed prairie on this historical 165-acre farm featuring woodlands, glades, and streams.
All are invited to attend this free event, shop for nature-inspired paintings and fine crafts, and enjoy guided botany walks. For further information, directions, or if you are interested in participating as an artist/exhibitor, please contact Theresa Long at theresa.louise.long @ gmail.com (remove spaces) or call 573-834-2075.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JULY 21 & 22, 2012
MPF will have a booth at the Butterfly Festival at the Botanical Center in Springfield. Volunteers are needed to staff the booth. Please contact Susan Parrish at sparrish51 @ yahoo.com (remove spaces) or 417-788-2308 if you can help.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2012
Prairie Day at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Shaw Nature Reserve and the Missouri Department of Conservation. More details forthcoming. Volunteers are needed to staff the MPF booth. Contact Carol Davit at info @ moprairie.org (remove spaces) or call 888-843-6739 if you can help.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
Prairie Jubilee at Prairie State Park
Volunteers are needed to staff the MPF booth. Contact Carol Davit at
info @ moprairie.org (remove spaces) or call 888-843-6739 if you can help.
***SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012*** MPF EVENT
Evening on the Prairie and MPF Annual Meeting
As in years' past, Dr. Wayne Morton's prairie outside of Cole Camp is the location. The Annual Meeting and Evening on the Prairie will follow Cole Camp's Oktoberfest and Prairie Day events in town and on nearby prairies. Details forthcoming.
***2012 MPF Board Meetings***
Save the Dates!
All meetings will begin at 10AM unless otherwise noted. Some meetings may be followed by cookouts, campouts, or other special events. More information will be provided in future issues of The Missouri Prairie Journal magazine, at this site, and via the MPF e-news.
***SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012***
Lake of the Woods Lodge, Swope Park, Kansas City, MO. A hike at Rocky Point Glade will follow the meeting.
***SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012***
Schwartz Prairie, St. Clair County. The 3rd Annual Prairie BioBlitz will follow the meeting and carry over to June 10.
***SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012***
9AM Dr. Wayne Morton’s prairie outside of Cole Camp, to follow Prairie Day events the day before.