Prairie walk helps residents identify, maintain plantings

It didn’t take long for one prairie walk attendee to cut to the chase and ask a question on everyone’s mind: “How do we know what’s supposed to be here and what’s not?”

That’s precisely the reason behind the prairie walks, happening several times in June and July at the south campus prairie between Windcove and Windridge (accessible from the parking lot at the corner of Bluebell and Parsley).  

Prairie Wind resident Jim Heisinger leads the walks, providing printed handouts and drawing on his expertise in helping restore South Dakota’s 320-acre Spirit Mound Historic Prairie, now a state park. He is teaching others so they can share in prairie management – feeling empowered to remove plants that don’t belong there, like the white oxeye daisies he pointed out during a June walk.  

The prairie landscape changes every two weeks as various flowers bloom and fade, and stalks and leaves turn different colors. Jim created the schedule so someone could attend all the walks and see something new each time. He also chose various times of day because the prairie also looks different depending on the sun’s location in the sky.  

It’s a quiet place to appreciate nature, too, as butterflies, bees and dragonflies buzz around the plants. A new bluebird house may soon attract one of the colorful species to build a nest and raise a family, perhaps returning year after year.  

If you can’t join one of the walks, feel free to venture into the prairie on your own anytime. Wander through to admire the scenery. Take a lawn chair to sit and appreciate how the light changes your view as time passes. Bring a camera to record your favorites or use your smartphone to download a free plant identification app, and turn your tour into an educational experience.  Check out PlantNet or PictureThis, two well-regarded options.