Dear Friend,
Above is a depiction of an intact ecosystem; animals, prairie - and people. The intimacy that nessarily developed between land and people in this life style is nearly gone along with virtually all the prairie. In city and suburban areas mono-cultural lawns have replaced native plant communities. We need to realize that in our attempts to "maintain" our entire properties, our efforts are accuring an incalculable loss: natural resources consumption, species extinction, air, water, soil and light pollution.
People can now regain that connectedness to our planet. Even if we do not replant entire prairies, wetlands or forests we can leave areas of our properties unmowed, unmaintained. Mow only as much lawn as you will make use of and donate the remainder to habitat for two, four, and even no-legged.
When you decide to take the next step and replant native prairie species, our catalog can help.
Due to the increased costs of printing and mailing we can no longer place individuals on our mailing list who simply request a catalog. Individuals purchasing from Prairie Seed Source will be placed on our two year mailing list.
If you have any questions, please contact us. We will do our best to find answers.
Sincerely,
Robert Ahrenhoerster
Prairie Seed Source is dedicated to the preservation and proliferation of southeastern Wisconsin prairie genotype and related ecosystem members.
The prairie is a unique ecological system. As with all ecosystems, its parts - climate, soil, plants, and animals - are interrelated and constantly changing. It is characterized by a plant cover devoid of trees and dominated by grasses and forbs (perennial wildflowers). Less common but still important to the prairie are shrubs and sedges (grass-like plants with triangular stems). Prairie animals are specially adapted to thrive on grasslands rather than in forests and wetlands.
Prairies were very busy, very productive places, each year converting the sun's energy into a wild forage crop sufficient to feed, over their original expanse, 30 million bison. These large herbivores ranged in size from 40 pound calves to 2,000 pound bulls. Yet the prairie supported a wider variety of animal life than just bison. There were many species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects that were found almost exclusively on the prairie. It was through the continual recycling of this large and diverse number of plants and animals, that soil depth and fertility were gradually built up, making prairie soil some of the richest in the world.
Adapted from Prairie Primer by Stan Nichold and Lynn Entine, January 1976, University of Wisconsin Extension.
Prairie plants grow in a variety of soil and moisture conditions. Based on available moisture, prairie is divided into five types; wet, wet-mesic, mesic, dry-mesic, and dry. There is no sharp distinction between the types. One blends into the next. Basic to catagorizing prairie by moisture is understanding how soil, slope, wind exposure, sun exposure, and water-table level affect the amount of moisture that becomes available for a plant's growth. In general, sandy soils and steep south-facing slopes will support only dry and dry-mesic prairie. Low, flat areas with high water tables will carry wet and wet-mesic prairie. (Marsh lands with cattails would be too wet for prairie). Rich, well-drained soils on flat uplands will grow mesic prairie (most good garden soil is mesic). Some prairie plants grow in only one prairie type, while others tolerate nearly all moisture conditions.
Sand prairies or sand barrens, as they are sometimes called, are found on glacial and alluvial deposits that are made up of 50% or more sand. These communities are characterized by plant ground covers that range from 15% to 80% of the total surface area. In many sand prairies a large percentage of the ground cover is comprised of mosses and lichens. These species are capable of surviving under extreme conditions, yet in some ways they are very delicate. For example, a person's footprint can destroy the moss ground cover exposing the underlying sand to wind. As the wind blows over the exposed sand, it scoops out a hole. Sometimes the hole is scooped out faster than growing plants can repair it. When this happens a blow-out is formed. Blowouts can range in size from a few square feet to many acres.
The sand prairie species listed in our catalog are grown on our own restorations.
Where the prairie met the forests of the eastern United States there was a broad transition zone composed of a mosaic of prairie, savanna and forest. Savannas are grassland-forest hybrids, very open forests with less than twenty mature trees per acre and with an understory of grasses, forbes and shrubs. In the Midwest the most common kind of savanna was the oak opening. The trees of the oak opening were most frequently bur oaks, and the understory, with few exceptions, was prairie plants. Within the seed-species are several species found only in oak openings. These species are specially noted.
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This kind of diversity is important for a number of reasons |
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Consultation services are available. Please Contact Us. |
Prairie Seed Source P.O. Box 83 North Lake, Wisconsin 53064-0083  |
Environmental groups, schools and other related groups will enjoy the presentations offered below. Each presentation is a fact-filled, color-filled exploration of prairie knowledge and lore. Please contact us.
CHIWAUKEE PRAIRIE:
This program will introduce you to one of the world's most unique prairies.
It will take you from spring to summer then through fall, giving you a
rare opportunity to experience over 70 species in peak bloom.
1 hour 30 minutes
PRAIRIE RESTORATION FOR THE BEGINNER:
Learn how to restore a portion of the prairie plant community in your yard.
Learn why restoring a "true" prairie is impossible. Ideas on site
preparation and preparation, seed/species selection and seeding, first
year maintenance and other facts will be discussed. Techniques and tools
of controlled burns are also included.
2 hours
INSECTS IN THE PRAIRIE AND INSECT FOLKLORE:
Covers the importance of insects/insect diversity. Over 40 species from
ten orders. Learn how to attract them and hear how they came to be --
through lore.
1 hour 30 minutes
We can produce other prairie programs. Contact us with your request.
We present all programs. Programs are not shipped by themselves.
You must be completely satisfied with the condition of your shipment. If you are not, we will gladly refund to you the purchase price of all items returned within 30 days of the shipping date.
- Prairie Seed Source, Robert Ahrenhoerster
The seed we offer is representative of southeastern Wisconsin prairie and is harvested either from our restoration areas or from local natural areas where permission has been obtained. However, due to the amount of seed collected, completely clean seed and a guarantee of viability are not possible.
Germination rates of prairie species can vary greatly. It is part of the prairie ecosystem to stagger the germination of seeds over a period of several years. Those seeds that do germinate in the first year may be easily overlooked as most prairie species put a great deal of their early growth into their root system rather than producing foliage and/or blooms.
When ordering your seed, first determine the prairie type or types suitable for your site. The categorizing clues outlined above should help you identify your site's appropriate type or types. Then refer to the moisture guide on the right side of the species list.
Our packets are designed primarily for the prairie garden or to start under controlled conditions to use as transplants. Each packet contains enough seed to yield a seedling coverage appropriate for that species equal to ten square feet (an area just over 3.15' by 3.15').
Most packets of seed are $1.00 EACH
Some species are $2.00 EACH, these are indicated by red text
($2.00 each: ID 11, 12, 13, 64, 66, 69, 163, 165, 168, 169)
Maximum 5 Packets per Species
Bulk Seed Only to Southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois
Ship to:
Address:
City: State: Zip code:
Go to the following table, enter the numbers of packets you want, and then click the "Send Order" button.
If your email program does not open a send mail window when you click "Send Order" please mail your order.
AOL and Others Sometimes Block Our Form |
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If you do not receive an email reply, please Prairie Seed Source P.O. Box 83 North Lake, Wisconsin 53064-0083 |
127 | Liatris ligulistylis | blazing star | magenta | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   | |
Plants Blooming in September | ||||||||||
128 | Parthenium integrifolium | wild quinine | white | Forb |   | WM | M |   |   | |
129 | Silphium integrilfolium | rosinweed | yellow | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   | |
130 | Solidago rigida | stiff goldenrod | yellow | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   | |
131 | Sorghastrum nutans | Indian grass |   | Grass |   | WM | M | DM |   | |
132 | Aster lateriflorus | calico aster | white | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   | |
133 | Spartina pectinata | cord grass |   | Grass | W | WM |   |   |   | |
134 | Sporobolus heterolepsis | prairie dropseed |   | Grass |   | WM | M | DM |   | |
135 | Helianthus grosseserratus | sawtooth sunflower | yellow | Forb |   | WM | M | DM |   | |
136 | Silphium perfoliatum | cup plant | yellow | Forb | W | WM |   |   |   | |
137 | Prenanthes racemosa | wild white lettuce | pink | Forb |   | WM |   |   |   | |
138 | Aster oolentangiensis | azure aster (now oolang?) | blue | Forb |   | WM | M | DM |   | |
139 | Aster pilosus | frost aster | white | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   | |
140 | Celastrus scandens | bittersweet | light green | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   | |
141 | Conyza canadensis | horseweed | brown | Forb |   |   |   | DM | D | |
142 | Elymus canadensis | Canada wild rye |   | Forb |   | WM | M | DM |   | |
143 | Eragrostis spectabillis | purple lovegrass |   | Grass |   |   |   | DM | D | |
144 | Gerardia tenuifolia | gerardia | pink | Forb |   | WM |   |   |   | |
145 | Gentiana andrewsii | bottle gentian | violet | Forb |   | WM | M |   |   | |
146 | Gentiana puberulenta | downy gentian | violet | Forb |   |   |   | DM |   | |
147 | Gentiana quinquefolia | stiff gentian | lavenser | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   | |
148 | Gnaphalium obtusifolium | sweet everlasting | white | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   | |
149 | Hystrix patula | bottle brush grass |   | Grass |   |   | M | DM |   | |
150 | Eupatorium perfoliatum | boneset | white | Forb | W | WM |   |   |   | |
151 | Gentiana crinita | fringed gentian | violet | Forb | W |   |   |   |   | |
152 | Lobelia siphilitica | great lobelia | blue | Forb | W | WM |   |   |   | |
153 | Aster ericoides | heath aster | white | Forb |   | WM | M |   |   | |
154 | Sporobolus cryptandrus | sand dropseed |   | Grass |   |   |   | DM | D |
ID | Packets | Genus Species | Common Name | Color | Grass Forb Sedge Shrub |
Moisture Guide | Bloom | ||||
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W | WM | M | DM | D | |||||||
155 | Eupatorium maculatum | Joe Pye weed | light purple | Forb | W | WM | M |   |   | July/September | |
156 | Aster simplex | panicled aster | white | Forb | W | WM | M |   |   | August/October | |
157 | Asclepias syriaca | common milkweed | dusty rose | Forb |   | WM | M | DM |   | June/August | |
158 | Penstemon hirsutus | hairy penstemon | white | Forb |   |   |   | DM |   | June/July | |
159 | Verbena hastata | blue vervain | blue | Forb |   | WM | M |   |   | July/September | |
160 | Helenium autumnale | sneezeweed | yellow | Forb | W | WM | M |   |   | August/October | |
161 | Solidago tenuifolia | grass-leaved goldenrod | yellow | Forb |   | WM | M |   |   | August/October | |
162 | Gaura biennis | Gaura | pink | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   | June/October | |
163  $2 |
Opuntia humifusa | prickly pear | yellow | Forb |   |   |   | DM | D | June/August | |
164 | Smilax herbacea | carrion flower | light green | Forb |   |   | M |   |   | May/June | |
165  $2 |
Pyrus coronaria | prairie crab | pink | Tree |   | WM | M | DM |   | May | |
166 | Aquilegia canadensis | columbine | orange | Forb |   | WM | M |   |   | June/July | |
167 | Coreopsis lanceolata | lance-leaved coreopsis | yellow | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   | June/July | |
168  $2 |
Prunus pumila | sand cherry | white | Shrub |   |   | M | DM |   | June | |
169  $2 |
Convolvulus sepium | hedge bindweed | white or pink | Forb |   | WM | M | DM |   | August/September | |
170 | Zygadenus elegans | camas lily | white | Forb |   |   | M | DM | D | June/September | |
171 | Monarda punctata | dotted mint | pink | Forb |   |   |   | DM | D | July/September | |
172 | Physostegia virginiana | obedient plant | pink | Forb | W | WM | M |   |   | August/September | |
173 | Panicum libergii |   |   | Grass |   |   | M | DM |   | June | |
174 | Panicum subvillosum |   |   | Grass |   |   | M | DM |   | June | |
175 | Carex gravida | long awned sedge |   | Sedge |   |   | M | DM |   | July/August | |
176 | Carex muhlenbergii | sand bracted sedge |   | Sedge |   |   |   | DM | D | July/August |
ID | Genus Species | Common Name | Color | Grass Forb Sedge Shrub |
Moisture Guide | ||||
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W | WM | M | DM | D | Pick In Bloom for Drying | ||||
113 | Solidago speciosa | showy goldenrod | yellow | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   |
130 | Solidago rigida | stiff goldenrod | yellow | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   |
142 | Elymus canadensis | Canada wild rye |   | Forb |   | WM | M | DM |   |
157 | Asclepias syriaca | common milkweed | dusty rose | Forb |   | WM | M | DM |   |
164 | Smilax herbacea | carrion flower | light green | Forb |   |   | M |   |   | Pick In Seed for Drying |
15 | Potentilla arguta | tall cinquefoil | light yellow | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   |
44 | Penstemon digitalis | foxglove penstemon | white | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   |
49 | Monarda fistulosa | wild bergamot | pink | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   |
110 | Panicum virgatum | switchgrass |   | Grass |   | WM | M | DM |   |
120 | Eryngium yuccifolium | rattlesnake master | green/white | Forb |   | WM | M |   |   |
124 | Lespedeza capitata | roundheaded bush clover | cream | Forb |   |   | M | DM | D |
131 | Sorghastrum nutans | Indian grass |   | Grass |   | WM | M | DM |   |
140 | Celastrus scandens | bittersweet | light green | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   |
148 | Gnaphalium obtusifolium | sweet everlasting | white | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   |
ID | Genus Species | Common Name | Color | Grass Forb Sedge Shrub |
Moisture Guide | ||||
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W | WM | M | DM | D | |||||
11 | Lithospermum incisum | fringed yellow puccoon | yellow | Forb |   |   |   | DM | D |
12 | Lithospermum caroliniense | puccoon | gold | Forb |   |   |   | DM | D |
32 | Koeleria cristata | june grass |   | Grass |   |   |   | DM | D |
35 | Paspalum ciliatifolium |   |   | Grass |   |   |   |   | D |
66 | Asclepias amplexicaulis | blunt leaved milkweed | pink | Forb |   |   |   |   | D |
79 | Hieracium longipilum | long hair hawkweed | yellow | Forb |   |   |   | DM | D |
116 | Aster linarifolius | savory-leaf aster | blue | Forb |   |   |   | DM | D |
143 | Eragrostis spectabillis | purple lovegrass |   | Grass |   |   |   | DM | D |
146 | Gentiana puberula | downy gentian | violet | Forb |   |   |   | DM |   |
148 | Gnaphalium obtusifolium | sweet everlasting | white | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   |
171 | Monarda punctata | dotted mint | pink | Forb |   |   |   | DM | D |
176 | Carex muhlenbergii | sand bracted sedge |   | Sedge |   |   |   | DM | D |
ID | Genus Species | Common Name | Color | Grass Forb Sedge Shrub |
Moisture Guide | ||||
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W | WM | M | DM | D | |||||
33 | Helianthemum canadense | frostweed | yellow | Forb |   |   |   | DM | D |
91 | Desmodium paniculatum | panicled tick trefoil | pink | Forb |   |   | M |   |   |
106 | Aureolaria grandiflora | yellow false foxglove | yellow | Forb |   |   | M | DM |   |
149 | Hystrix patula | bottle brush grass |   | Grass |   |   | M | DM |   |
154 | Sporobolus cryptandrus | sand dropseed |   | Grass |   |   |   | DM | D |
The prairie mix is eleven seed packets of basic, easy-to-grow plants. Tell us the prairie type for your site, according to its moisture level, and we'll send you eleven starter species we recommend.
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If a specific species in a Prairie Mix is out of stock, another appropriate species will be substituted.       Prairie Mix - eleven packets $ 10 00
Bulk seed prices are available for Southeastern Wisconsin
customers. Please contact us.
Our bulk mixes for sites of 1 acre or more will contain (site dependant) 80-110 species
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A Comprehensive Field Guide - Second Edition By Merel R. Black and Emmet J. Judziewicz March 20, 2009 - 320 pp. 6"x9" 2100 color photos, 300 drawings, 1085 range maps This comprehensive guide to wildflowers in Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Ontario describes more than 1,100 species. The 2nd edition's introduction discusses wildflowers in the context of their natural communities. Although packed with detailed information, this field guide is compact and handy for outdoors lovers of all kinds.
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UW Press    uwpress.wisc.edu/books/4634.htm |
Amazon    amazon.com/Wildflowers-Wisconsin-Great-Lakes-Region/dp/0299230546 |
Barnes and Noble    barnesandnoble.com/w/wildflowers-of-wisconsin-and-the-great-lakes-region-merel-r-black/1100004398 |
This pamphlet covers what, when, and how often to burn and also equipment, weather conditions, fire breaks, and hazards. Wayne is Wisconsin's Dane County naturalist and his writing is easy to read and comprehensive. While this pamphlet cannot guarantee success, it gives you the information nescessary to do your first controlled prairie burn.
Paper, each | $300 | ||
Plus $0.50 postage and handling |
Have a friend who wants to learn how to begin a prairie? Know someone who will be traveling next summer and would love to know where to stop and see prairie? Prairie Restoration for the Beginner is jam-packed with lots of this information! For the beginner, there's a short prairie history, benefits of prairie and sections on beginning to restore a prairie, preparing the soil, selecting seed, sowing the seed, transplanting, maintenance, and picking your own seed. There's a suggested readling list for attaining further information about many aspects of prairie. Also included is a listing of prairies/restorations for 17 states and 3 Canadian provinces. Each one gives total acres, closest city or county, prairie type, points of interest and ownership.
Paper, each | $250 | ||
Plus $0.50 postage and handling |
The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) used to be a common sight in many areas including prairie oak openings, along wooded edges of prairie rivers and the transitional zone between eastern forests and prairie. With the elimination of its habitat came the dramatic decrease of its numbers. Now you can help increase the numbers of this beautiful insect eating bird, by purchasing one or more of our hand crafted bluebird houses. Each house has a handcarved 'wildflower' or dragonfly on the front. The front piece
hinges on two nails, after removing the latching wood screw, for
nescessary, easy cleaning. A short list of suggestions for placing
and cleaning are included with each house. Pine construction |
Bird House Picture |
Please allow 2-3 weeks delivery. Handling and fourth class postage (parcel post) Or include U.P.S. address (no P.O. Boxes)     First house $2.00,     Each additional house to same address $0.50 |
Each  $1595 |
Just great for that short note to a friend or to give as a gift. Delicate sketches of prairie smoke, spiderwort, birdsfoot violet and gray headed coneflower reproduced on 4x6 inch cards. They will add to your briefest messages "a thousand words", perhaps more. |
Picture goes here |
10 assorted cards | $1595 |
W hat is the connection between rain forest and prairies, you ask? Consider for a moment just a few of them. A large number of "our" birds that breed here in North America, winter in rain forests. With continuing loss of their winter habitat, fewer birds return each spring. Approximately one-quarter of prescription drugs we now use in the United States are derived from tropical forest plants. We have only investigated a fractional percentage of tropical plant species, and yet we have found plants like Vinca leucoblastine (common Periwinkle) which yield a compound to treat Leukemia. Research at the National Cancer Institute has shown that the fruit of Castanospermine australe (Austrailian Chestnut) contains a compound which inhibits the AIDS virus from infecting white blood cells. Approximately 95% of the ecosystems total nutrients are tied up in living plant materials. A large fraction of forests are destroyed to ranch / farm the land. One use is to plant the bare ground to grasses and raise beef cattle. First world countries in turn purchase this inexpensive beef. Another use is to grow tropical plants "truck farm" style to be sold to buyers for pennies a piece, the plants are sold in turn to office buildings and the like. Yet another useage is to plantation plant non-native tree species to grow several quick crops of pulp producing trees for cheap paper. All of these uses quickly deplete the 5% remaining nutrients and leave the soil dead. The ranchers / farmers then simply move on to destroy another area of forest. We should not fault those native people for wanting to make a living and feed their families. The fault lies with us in not conserving and recycling. Use these stamps to increase public awareness of this and related problems. |
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16 each of two types, 32 stamps in all | Per page  $125 | |
For 10 or more pages | Per page  $110 | |
Help protect rain forests by not purchasing products from those countries
not practicing sustainable lumbering. For a consumers guide, write: Rain Forest Allince 295 Madison Avenue Suite 1804 New York, New York 10017 |
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