Nursery-grown Prairie Plants Return
To Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

To restore the 19,000-acre Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, the USDA Forest Service site recently received 19,000 prairie plants that were grown through a cost-share program with the Illinois DNR's Mason State Nursery. The nursery is producing plants from the seeds harvested by Midewin volunteers and staff, and in turn the Forest Service is providing funds for the expansion of nursery greenhouse facilities.

Of the many species returning home, the staff is most excited to receive plants for their rare dolomite prairie, such as hairy beardtongue and side-oats grama. In order to restore this highly disturbed land, staff and volunteers are also beginning to harvest seeds for prairie sedges as well as minor grasses, including porcupine grass, prairie panic grass, vanilla grass, and June grass. These plants create a refuge for a number of endangered and threatened species of birds including the upland sandpiper, loggerhead shrike, and Henslow's sparrow.

Among the volunteers helping to restore the Midewin Prairie are the Mighty Acorns, a program that teaches third- through seventh-grade students the importance of preservation and restoration through stewardship activities. The 1,000 children participating come from schools in Wilmington, Elwood, Joliet, and Homer Township. The municipalities have been partners of the Midewin prairie since its establishment in 1996.

— Jennifer Tang