The Daily Bucket is a regular feature of the Backyard Science group. It is a place where we share our observations about the natural world. Whether we note the spring migrating birds or the first buds on your trees, we are building a resource to learn more about the patterns of nature and how they may be changing. Everyone is welcome to contribute! Just tell us what you are seeing in your backyard or wherever you are roaming and approximately where your observations come from.
East Central Iowa...
Our 6-acre rural lot was an alfalfa field just over 10 years ago. Ms. Janislav wanted to plant some of the lot into prairie, so our first planting covered about 2 acres of ground bordering our pond. The second planting, done about 5 years ago, added another 2 acres uphill from the original planting. (More prairie = less lawn to mow every week!) We had burned the original planting once before. It was time to do it again.
The older portion had become infested with Canadian Thistle (Cirsium arvense) and Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa). Thistles can be managed by hand-weeding, but the Pastinaca has a sap that produces open sores on skin, making management difficult. We decided that another burn would clear the ground and allow us to more effectively locate and deal with the early growth of the weeds this year.
Our prairies are crisscrossed with walking paths that we mow weekly in the summer. These paths serve as natural fire breaks between areas we want to burn and areas we do not plan to burn. The weather must cooperate for a safe burn. The prairie grasses from the previous year must be dry and winds must be light. The local fire department was called to notify them of the burn should someone report a grass fire. My neighbor and I were assisted by a member of the local volunteer fire department who was experienced in prairie burns. Also helping was our "good friend from up the road" who took 2 of the pictures that follow and manned an iron rake - the primary means of fire control. So off we go...
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