The surrounding land has become dominated by thick stands of oak, hickory and pine trees. Sections of the forest are being removed, with large clumps of trees left to match the original landscape. The cleared land is then burned to remove dead plant debris. In early spring, the area is re-seeded. By late summer, these fast-growing grasses have taken hold, though because they are slow to become established, it may take two growing seasons before they stand several feet tall. With careful maintenance and periodic burns they will flourish, returning the next year more magnificent than before.

THE FIRE ELEMENT
Fire remains an integral part of the prairie ecosystem. Hundreds of years ago, native people used fire as a hunting tool: they knew the tender shoots of new grass sprouting after a fire would draw game like elk and deer. Lightning during summer storms would set off natural wildfires, as well.

Over the centuries, the prairie became dependent on periodic burns. Fire returns nutrients to the soil, clears away dead vegetation and other debris that inhibits grass growth, and will kill tree seedlings, maintaining the grassland. Some seeds require the intense heat of a fire to germinate.

We imitate this natural cycle by setting "controlled burns" on our prairie. Each year our biologists select areas they feel could benefit from fire. The burns are carefully orchestrated so they don't become out-of-control wildfires.