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

Keep 'em Clean: Stencil St. Paul storm drains with FMR
August 13 through October 31, 2026
Throughout St. Paul
'We Are the River' documentary
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - 8:00pm to 9:30pm
TPT, Twin Cities PBS
Plant native plant species at St. Paul Park's Riverside Park [WAITLIST]
Thursday, September 10, 2026 - 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Near the Mississippi River backwaters, St. Paul Park

See all Upcoming Events

Take Me to the River 

Celebrate the Mississippi River and choose your own adventure while supporting FMR at our reimagined fall fundraiser on Thursday, Sept. 24.

 

Claim your spot by Sept. 10.