The Prairie Walk and Gardens

When the Crex Meadows Wildlife Education and Visitor Center was built, plans were made for a educational prairie restoration area and gardens to be planted in front.  The Prairie Restoration Area covers about an acre of land and has a paved, handicapped accessible pathway that circles the prairie.  The Prairie Garden is directly in front of the center, with narrow paths traversing the garden.  Both areas were seeded with native Wisconsin prairie plants, including grasses and wildflowers.  Other native plants have seeded themselves or already occurred here.

Our volunteer gardener, Alan Roelfs, dedicates countless hours every week from early Spring through late Autumn to the prairie plantings.  He collects seeds and transplants from the wildlife areas and gets plants started at home, then, when the plants have established a good root system, he transplants them into the prairie gardens.  During the past few dry seasons, he waters the gardens (something that we cannot do out in the wildlife areas, of course, but we want these plants to grow and establish themselves for your viewing pleasure!). 

We have created a series of interpretive signs with information on each of the plants that grow there.  As the plants become identifiable, we place the sign out.  We also have plant signs in the wetland behind the center.

This spring, the crew at Crex Meadows did a prescribed burn in the center of the prairie path.  Prescribed burning is an effective tool to eliminate weedy plants and renew the prairie landscape. 

Which created a lovely summer flower show...

Stop by to see the ever-changing bloom and the insects that are attracted to the wildflower gardens.  These are some photos taken in front of the Visitor Center.

FRIENDS OF CREX, INC.   102 EAST CREX AVENUE, GRANTSBURG WISCONSIN 54840   (715) 463-2739         www.crexmeadows.org