The Chippewa Savannas Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts presents two speakers' perspectives on creating a prairie in your space, whether it's somewhere rural or more urban place. Our annual business meeting with officer elections will follow.
Guest Speakers (10am - 11:15am)
Carolyn Carr & Cynthia Lane: Restoring Landscape Pattern: Prairie Restoration in Rural Landscape
A common approach in ecological restoration is to convert agricultural fields to prairie. Yet, we are working with a highly fragmented and altered landscape. Our presentation will offer insights into identifying where prairie grows best and will be the most successful in the long-term. We also suggest ways to consider which fields might be more successfully restored to woodland, and explore the wildlife implications of restoring large blocks of prairie versus woodland. To illustrate these ideas we'll use example rural lands we have worked on.
Daria Hutchinson: Incorporating native prairie plants into urban environments - Opportunities, challenges, benefits, and public perception.
Using prairie plants in urban settings can provide many benefits including drought resistance in the landscape, stormwater management, erosion control and wildlife habitat for local and migratory birds and pollinators but looking natural is not the same as providing environmental benefits. Urban neighborhoods tend to view well-kept parks and gardens as natural and attractive, regardless of the chemicals and fossil fuel emissions required to maintain them, or their impact on storm water runoff. Natural looking is not synonymous with being environmentally beneficial. In urban environments, prairies and wetlands are often perceived as messy and undesirable, despite their environmental benefits. A landscape's visible characteristics are the basis for public perception. Dense, messy plots can be perceived as undesirable while a well-groomed area is assumed to be safe, and orderly. Urban landscapes need to allow people to see through them, Gardeners can build in cues to care to gain public acceptance. Campus Landscape Architect, Daria Hutchinson, will discuss the challenges and perceptions experienced in establishing native plantings on the UW Eau Claire campus and integrating native plantings into more traditionally cared for landscapes.
Break (11:15am - 11:45am:- light snacks provided)
Business Meeting (11:45am - 1pm)
Report of events from the past year
Land management activities
Officer election results
Upcoming events and ways to get involved
This event will take place in the Riverview Room on the 3rd floor of the library.
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