Prairie seed collection

Joe Pye Weed awaiting seed collection. This light pink-purplish flower towers high above the prairie.

It’s fall on the Preserve. The trees are changing colors, the wildflowers have faded and the prairie is ripe for the picking. Fall is the time of year to collect seeds to continue our prairie restoration work, adding beauty and diversity to our prairie.

This milkweed seed pod is opening to release its seeds to the wind. Milkweed is incredibly important for the survival of the Monarch butterfly population.

Our hard work is really starting to show some results on the Foxfield prairie. This summer our grasses were looking great and we saw an increase in native wildflowers adding color and variety to our prairie. We want this progress to continue, so we are planning a seed collection day!

New England aster — The purples of aster in the late summer and early autumn provide late season color to the prairie. Seeds can be collected from the flower head.

On November 2 at 1:00 p.m. we will be meeting with any interested volunteers at the Wilderness Center’s Interpretive Building. We’ll be collecting a wide selection of seeds from tall grasses and wildflowers. No knowledge or experience is necessary to help collect seeds – we’ll teach you all you need to know!

Blazing star — The purple tufts of blazing star are a beautiful addition to our prairie, while also providing a valuable food source for pollinators.

For more information on joining our Prairie Seed Collection Day, contact Sara.

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