Jeremy Clouse, 5, runs through a prairie while wearing a butterfly cape at the Glacial Heritage Preserve during the 22nd annual Prairie Appreciation Day in this May, 2018 file photo.
Katrina Hoza, 5, center-left, and Carson Hoza, 3, center-right, are seen using vintage water pumps to extinguish a fake fire at the Glacial Heritage Preserve during the 22nd annual Prairie Appreciation Day in this May, 2018 file photo.
A bird is seen among flowers and weeds in an open field at the Glacial Heritage Preserve during the 22nd annual Prairie Appreciation Day in this May, 2018 file photo.
Folks will get the chance to learn more about the Prairie that encompasses Yelm and the surrounding areas on May 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at one of four locations.
“Prairie Appreciation Day is a way to keep nature alive and preserve the land,” said Kathy Whitlock, treasurer for Friends of Puget Prairies, which puts on the event. “Houses and buildings and everything are moving out everywhere and this is some land that is being preserved in its own natural state.”
Whitlock said that the prairies support rare specimens like certain types of violets, camas, rare lilies, wild strawberries and even Gary oak trees. Many of these plants were cultivated as food for Native Americans and settlers alike.
Because plants in other areas have been pushed out by scotch broom and other invasive plant species, Whitlock said it is all the more important to protect the prairie.
“This day lets people know how to protect the land,” she said. “We have some rare plants that are available only in certain areas. Of course there’s the camas, the blue camas, the prairies are famous for that.”
The prairie also supports animals like pocket gophers and a herd of elk.
To put her money where her mouth is, Whitlock and fellows volunteer routinely throughout the year to preserve this delicate prairie. They gather seeds from the flowers and gather acorns from the oak. They also pull scotch broom and deadhead the thistles.
Next, they plant these seeds, these native plants, even around where the animals graze.
For Whitlock, Prairie Appreciation Day is an important starting point to help inspire people to protect the prairie all year round.
“We need to appreciate our prairies all the time and not just in that one day,” she said. “This brings the public out and makes them aware of what’s around them. A lot of people live around here — they see the sea of blue camas in the spring, but they don’t think about how it’s important.”
Visit www.prairieappreciationday.org for more information.
Colvin Ranch
The first location that one can visit is Colvin Ranch, located at 16816 Old Hwy 99 S.E., Tenino.
This fifth-generation ranch supports grass-fed cattle, using sustainable grazing practices to help preserve the prairie, helping native plants flourish along with the cattle.
Colvin Ranch is part of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, making it a leader in balancing cattle grazing the prairie conservation.
“For Prairie Appreciation Day, this ranch is hosting its annual open house on site,” states the Prairie Appreciation Day website. “Wagon ride tours through the ranch will occur at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Violet Prairie Seed Farm
A second location that a person can visit for Prairie Appreciation Day is Violet Prairie Seed Farm, located at 17843 Gibson Road S.W., Tenino.
The farm gates will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those participating in the event.
The Center for Natural Lands Management’s Violet Prairie Native Seed Farm is a 104-acre prairie preserve with nearby Scatter Creek and tall oak trees.
The farmers and volunteers tend to 13 acres of native wildflowers that produce 1,000 pounds of seed each year, which are used to rebuild the prairie.
“May is peak bloom and a great time to walk the seed fields and learn about the unique methods of native seed production,” states the Prairie Appreciation Day website. “Farm staff will be onsite to chat. The tools we use to work this farm are available for visitors to explore.”
Mima Mounds Natural Area
The fourth and final stop on the Prairie Appreciation Day journey will be at Mima Mounds Natural Area, located at 12315 Waddell Creek Road S.W., Olympia.
“Established in 1976, this 637-acre preserve was created to protect rare examples of mima mound landforms and Puget prairie grasslands,” states the Prairie Appreciation Day website. “This site includes a Garry oak woodland and savannah which support a wide variety of prairie dependent butterflies and birds.”
Located just west of Littlerock, down Waddell Creek Road, Mima Mounds is Prairie Appreciation Day’s signature ADA-accessible site, featuring a 1/2 mile ADA accessible loop. This is a great stop for those with limited time to enjoy “beautiful prairies and mysterious mounds,” the website states. Group tours are offered at this site full of the prairies and mysterious mounds — email prairieappreciationday@gmail.com for more information.
Glacial Heritage Preserve
The third location that a person might want to visit is the Glacial Heritage Preserve — visit www.prairieappreciationday.org/directions/ to find directions to this location.
Thurston County Parks and Recreation and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife manage this 1,110-acre site.
Its four habitats include Oregon white oak woodland, prairie grassland, riparian woodlands and coniferous forest, which are all crucial for many plants and animals to survive.
There will be two interpretive loops available for participants to travel: one is about 1 mile long, while the other is about 4 miles.
There will also be an activity trial with various tasks that range from making seed balls to trying to write with ink made from oak galls.
In addition, a self-guided trail will be available and a Audubon Society bird walk at 7:30 a.m. will transpire. If interested in the bird walk, visit http//blackhills-audubon.org for details.
