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Maxmillian sunflowers (Helianthus maximilianii). Photo: Pat Whalen
Why does MPF burn its prairies? Prairies and other native grasslands in the Midwest and many other areas of North America evolved with fire. In this geography, relatively ample rainfall supports more than herbaceous vegetation—it also encourages woody plant growth....
By Carol Davit, MPF Executive Director On December 8, MPF Technical Advisor Jeff Cantrell led an “MPF Short-eared Owl Investigation” at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Shawnee Trail Conservation Area in Barton County. The short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) is...
MPF hosted 88 guests across five of our prairies during the last two weekends of October for our Picnics on the Prairie event series. Depending on the weekend, visitors braved the cold or enjoyed the sunshine to explore hundreds of acres of remnant and reconstructed...
Participants on the MPF tours to Missouri’s Old-Growth Pine Forest, Pawnee Prairie Natural Area and Helton Prairie Natural Area learned about diverse native grassland communities in many parts of the state.
MPF’s most recent prairie acquisition is named for Mr. Rae Letsinger, whose sister Joan Letsinger purchased naming rights this year to honor her brother. Her generous contribution will support future prairie protection efforts.
By Bruce Schuette, MPF's Vice President of Science and Management Photo: Adult cloudless sulphur by Bruce Schuette The epic migration of the monarch butterfly between eastern North America and Mexico is well known. There are other butterflies that migrate too. One...
Thank you to our partners at the Missouri Department of Conservation for providing this sound recording of Missouri Tallgrass Prairie. You will hear many different sounds, and feel like you are walking through one of our many prairies across the state. Some of...
By Tim Smith, adapted from his "Missouri's Thistles" Missouri Prairie Journal article Photo: Great-spangled fritillary on a Field Thistle (Cirsium discolor) by Bruce Schuette Blooming now in prairies, along roadsides, disturbed fields, and pastures are tall,...
By Carol Davit, Executive Director, Missouri Prairie Foundation Photo: Regal fritillary on pale purple coneflower by Allen Woodliffe When visiting original, unplowed prairies in July, you may see this large, beautiful butterfly flying over the landscape and nectaring...
By Carol Davit, Executive Director, Missouri Prairie Foundation Photo: Penn-Sylvania Prairie by Bruce Schuette The concept of plant species conservatism was developed for Missouri flora by Doug Ladd, formerly director of conservation science for The Nature...
An extraordinary $1 million lead gift from Susan Lordi Marker and her husband Dennis Marker, along with other generous gifts and financial backing from MPF, made this new MPF acquisition possible. Your gift of any amount will help us raise necessary funds restricted to this project, which includes purchase cost, restoration, and stewardship of this remarkable 400-acre property.