Union High School students from both Emily Damro and Jennifer Gates’ classes listen as Tallgrass Prairie Center Director Laura Jackson (center, lavender shirt) speaks on May 30 at Irvine Prairie in rural Dysart. More than 100 students total attended the annual field trip this year. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

IRVINE PRAIRIE – More than 100 students from Union High School closed out the school year last month with a trip to Irvine Prairie – a nearly 300-acre ‘prairie-in-progress’ roughly five miles northeast of Dysart as the crow flies and stewarded by UNI’s Tallgrass Prairie Center (TPC) – ahead of what is shaping up to be a heyday of summer public programming on the preserve.

Spread across a morning and afternoon session on Friday, May 30, Union ag instructor/FFA advisor Emily Damro and science teacher Jennifer Gates accompanied sophomores and juniors on the annual trip during which students transplanted 3,987 prairie plant plugs of 29 different species across the 2022, 2023, and 2024 restoration areas. TPC Plant Materials Program Manager Laura Fischer Walter was particularly excited about the plantings of fringed gentian, tall green milkweed, swamp lousewort, rough false foxglove, fourflower yellow loosestrife, groovestem Indian plantain, and Hayden’s sedge, she told the newspaper.

In addition to getting their hands dirty, students also hiked the prairie alongside TPC staff including Director Laura Jackson, Justin Meissen (research and restoration program manager), and Fischer Walter. Local conservationist and retired educator Cathy Irvine, who made her first land donation toward the preserve in May 2018, was also present for the field trip.

According to TPC Community Engagement Coordinator Mallory Sage, plugs are chosen each spring based on a variety of factors including how well a particular seed mix species establishes itself.

“If a species included in the mix hasn’t germinated, it may become a good candidate for plug planting,” Sage explained. “Additionally, some species are too expensive to include in the mix at the seeding rates necessary for successful establishment, also making them a good candidate for planting as plugs. In some cases, the decision depends on what seed is available to grow plugs.”

Union High School students work together to transplant nearly 4,000 prairie plant plugs at Irvine Prairie on May 30. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Fischer Walter provided one specific example: “One of the species we planted in the old waterway [on May 30] was a pink-flowered member of the mint family, hairy hedgenettle, grown from seed collected from plants found in the ditch next to the prairie.”

Since the prairie was first seeded over seven years ago, volunteers have planted in total 12,672 plants from 69 different species, Meissen said. “Bringing in our seed mixes, we’ve planted 176 different species.”

Including students in those plantings has been key to Irvine’s original vision for the preserve.

“Cathy Irvine has a strong desire for students to learn from the prairie and experience what once was, inspiring the involvement of Union High schoolers since 2018. Initially, this partnership began through a science educator (Craig Hemsath) at the high school who has close ties to the Tallgrass Prairie Center,” Sage explained.

Hemsath – who left his life science position with Union last year in order to accept a job with the Waterloo Community School District – received his master’s degree in biology from UNI in 2007 and, from there, “encouraged the involvement of his vocational agriculture, horticulture, and biology students,” Sage said.

Justin Meissen (right), research and restoration program manager with UNI’s Tallgrass Prairie Center, speaks to Union High School students at Irvine Prairie on Friday, May 30, northeast of Dysart. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“This partnership not only allows students to experience the prairie but help create part of it,” she continued. “While their work helps us tackle the enormous task of planting thousands of plugs each year, we hope they walk away with a sense of pride and ownership knowing they’ve contributed to the species richness of this restoration.”

Prairie programming

As the plugs firmly take root (fingers crossed!) in the prairie this summer, two new Irvine Prairie programs are being planned by TPC staff in an effort to bring more of the public to the preserve.

Evening ‘Wildflower Walks’ with Director Jackson and Irvine will take place on the fourth Thursday of the month beginning at 6 p.m. with the first stroll set for Thursday, June 26, followed by July 24 and Aug. 28..

“These will be leisurely walks with some plant identification, birding, wildlife observation, and generally just spending time enjoying the prairie,” Sage said before adding the walks are geared toward everyone – “we will stick to the trails” – and should feel like “going on a walk with a group of friends.”

Local conservationist Cathy Irvine leads students on a hike through the Irvine Prairie on May 30. This summer, Irvine plans to co-lead monthly, evening strolls on the prairie for the public. PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY DAMRO

Participants of all ages are invited to attend and are asked to meet in the parking area on the south side of 55th Street near the iconic Irvine Prairie rock. Water, sun protection, closed-toe shoes, and long pants are encouraged.

Additionally in August, the Cedar Falls Public Library and Hearst Center for the Arts are jointly hosting an event at the prairie as part of a year-long series, Community Nature Quest. On Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 6-8 p.m., adults aged 18 and up are invited to learn more about Irvine Prairie with Meissen and Irvine. For more information including how to register, visit https://cedarfallslibrary.org/event/community-nature-quest-25/.

The Irvine Prairie, located at 1174 55th Street, Dysart, is open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset. Visitors are asked to park on the south side of the road in the grass, near the stone marker. A portable bathroom facility is available from April through October. For more information visit https://tallgrassprairiecenter.org/irvine-prairie#visitorpolicy.

Biologist Justin Meissen (far left) leads students from Union High School on a hike through the Irvine Prairie on Friday, May 30. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO