The Smolenski Park Prairie Restoration

In the winter of 2019, an old, unused farm field was seeded with native plant species. It was the firs process of restoring this 18-acre piece of land to a native prairie habitat.

This year, 2023, the prairie is really starting to take hold! I identified 13 native species, and I'm sure there's more that I missed. There are still non-natives mixed in, but not nearly as many as were here just a year or two ago.

On today's hike around the outer boarder of the prairie, I counted more than 40 butterflies of 5 different species, and plenty of bees! I noticed a few birds hiding in the grasses, but couldn't identify. Toward the end of the hike, I saw three hawks fly over.

We need more of this! It's great for nature, and it's great for people!