Get thee to a prairie!

About five years ago, I wrote about June wildflowers on the dry prairie and expounded on the delights of the sensory explosion to be found there (see June 2009). Well, I cant help it, Im at it again. Just cant seem to get over this bounty of beautiful bunches of blossoms. So, this is your phenological task for this month – GO TO A DRY PRAIRIE!! You shant be disappointed. Hastings Sand Coulee SNA and Grey Cloud Dunes SNA are two metro sites I can attest to. For a sneak preview of what youll find: hairy puccoon, large-flowered penstemon, New Jersey tea, prairie phlox, spiderwort, prairie rose, slender penstemon, prairie larkspur.

New Jersey tea

Photo: Karen Schik / FMR

Penstemon

Photo: Karen Schik / FMR

Prairie Phlox

Photo: Karen Schik / FMR

Wildflowers at the Hastings Sand Coulee SNA

Photo: Karen Schik / FMR

Upcoming Events

Hand-broadcast native prairie seed at Orvin 'Ole' Olson Park [WAITLIST]
Thursday, May 14, 2026 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Near Broadway bridge, North Minneapolis
Tend a restored oak savanna at Davis Farm Park
Saturday, May 16, 2026 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Along a Mississippi River backchannel, Otsego
Pull invasive plants at Nicollet Island Park
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Nicollet Island, Minneapolis

See all Upcoming Events

Join us for Music for the Mississippi River 

Celebrate the Mississippi River and support FMR with Tina Schlieske and Molly Maher, May 30 at Dual Citizen Brewing in St. Paul.

Purchase tickets