Wildflower Wonders Walk

REGISTRATION CLOSED. A rare glimpse of the rolling grassland and wildflowers that once carpeted much of this area can be seen on a free guided hike offered to the public by Mississippi Valley Conservancy(MVC) and The Prairie Enthusiasts. Gary Eldred, a founder of The Prairie Enthusiasts, and Chris Kirkpatrick of MVC will identify native grasses and flowers and show where prairie restoration efforts have created more habitat for pollinators such as butterflies and bees. The Wildflower Wonders Walk will be held Saturday, June 10, starting at 10 a.m. The hike is one of Mississippi Valley Conservancy’s Linked-to-the Land events, sponsored by Olson Solar Energy and WXOW/News 19. Registration is required – see below.

Borah Creek Prairie includes 181-acres of scenic remnant grassland of the sort that was prevalent throughout the area 200 years ago. The property is a boon for native plant, bird, and butterfly enthusiasts. Grasses include big and little bluestem, Indian grass, side-oats grama, and prairie dropseed, interspersed with wildflowers such as pasqueflower, cream wild indigo, rattlesnake master, rough blazing star, yellow coneflower, bird’s-foot violet, downy gentian. Birders will be treated to a cacophony of grassland birds, including bobolinks and eastern meadowlarks. 

Borah Creek Prairie was discovered by local prairie enthusiast Gary Eldred, who noticed the abundance of native wildflowers on the site and worked with the landowner to manage the prairie with prescribed fire and invasive species control. Borah Creek Prairie was acquired with funding from the Wisconsin DNR's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Partners in the permanent protection of the site include Mississippi Valley Conservancy, The Prairie Enthusiasts, Driftless Area Land Conservancy, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for this FREE guided hike. Registration closes at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7. With questions contact Sarah Bratnober at [email protected] or 608-632-4877 ext. 8.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED