Hello tweets,
I just spent the day on a Mima Mound prairie in southern Thurston
Co, Washington. These are remarkable prairies: with gravel soils, the
rain drains through so fast only dryland plants really prosper. The
Indians used to burn these prairies to keep them open; they planted
camas, brackenfern, lomatium and many other food & medicinal plants.
Streams wind through some of them; Garry Oaks form solid stands wherever
they can find a little extra water.
Todays highlights for birds: (mostly heard) include Solitary Vireo,
Western Tanager, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler,
Common Yellowthroat, Chipping Sparrow, Western Meadowlarks, and I think a
Warbling Vireo.
Butterfly highlights include Brown Elfin, Sara Orangetip ( male) and
Spring Azures- this despite very little sun.
Wildflower highlights include Camas, Shooting Star, Balsamroot,
Prairie Violets and Viola adunca, Chocolate Lily, Spring Gold aka
Lomatiums and many more.
There will be a Prairie Appreciation Day on May 11th held at several
sites on these prairies. Local folks will lead bird walks, geology
walks,wildflower walks, butterfly walks, Scotch broom pulling contests,
ethnobotany walks, cooking with native plants, etc. This is a great
opportunity to see these prairies, now vanishing inexorably under the
developer's bulldozer. Contact Friends of the Prairie at 360-786-5595 or
360-902-1677 for schedules and further details.

Janet Partlow
partlowj at elwha.evergreen.edu