April 1 - April 3
MONPS
Spring Field Trip
Join us near Bolivar MO for the first state field trips of 2022 on April 1-3. Our weekend will include visits to remnant prairie, limestone and sandstones glades, as well as a dolomite glade and chert woodland at Niangua River Hills Natural Area. We are also likely to see the illusive state endangered geocarpon (Geocarpon minimum) and Missouri bladder-pod (Physaria filiformis).
Friday Afternoon -April 1st
1:00PM
Twenty-five Mile Prairie Conservation Area
The surface soils of this prairie range from just slightly acidic to neutral in reaction, which is unlike most remnant prairies in this region. Many plant species such as prairie turnip, scurfy pea, prairie dock, aromatic aster, Missouri coneflower, and narrow-leaved milkweed require higher levels of nutrients in the soil, including calcium, and are more prevalent here than on prairies developed over sandstone bedrock.
Friday Evening - April 1st
7:00PM
Friday Night Speaker
Comfort Inn Conference Room
Malissa Briggler will discuss the natural history and population status of rare plant species that we’re likely to see on the next day’s field trips.
Saturday Morning - April 2nd
Schuette Prairie
Our first stop Saturday morning will be Schuette Prairie. This new Missouri Prairie Foundation acquisition is a limestone/dolomite prairie—a rare natural community—with a prairie swale along the northern edge and many mima mounds. This prairie is unusual for Missouri in that it contains a number of glade species such as prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum), yellow coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa), and Missouri coneflower (Rudbeckia missouriensis). In addition to these dry-soil plants, the prairie’s swale provides habitat for wetter-soil species such as bunchflower (Melanthium virginicum).
Leave Comfort Inn at 8:00 AM
Wildflowers at Schuette Prairie, Photo by Bruce Schuette
Rocky Barrens Conservation Area
From Schuette Prairie we will head South to visit some limestone glade sites and hope to spot a small mustard plant called Missouri bladder-pod (Physaria filiformis). The plant, which is on both state and federal endangered species lists, is found only in four counties in southwest Missouri.
Saturday, April 2nd
Lunch Break
Jackson Street Park, Willard
On our way from Rocky Barrens CA to Correy Flatrocks CA we will be gather at Jackson Street Park in Willard to eat our lunches. Bring a sack lunch or pick up a sandwich at one of the fast food options in town.
Click Here for Detailed Directions
Saturday Afternoon - April 2nd
1:30PM
Corry Flatrocks Conservation Area
This area is a recent acquisition for the Missouri Department of Conservation. Half of the area was donated by The Nature Conservancy and the remaining was purchased for the protection of one of the largest known populations of geocarpon (Geocarpon minimum), a state and federal endangered species. Early spring will be the best time to find this tiny and rare plant.
Leave Comfort Inn at 8:00 AM
Click Here for Detailed Directions
Saturday Evening - April 2nd
7:00PM
MONPS Board Meeting
Comfort Inn Conference Room
Sunday Morning - April 3rd
9:00am
Lead Mine Conservation Area and Niangua River Hills Natural Area
We’ll wrap up the weekend with a visit to the Niangua River Hills Natural Area that features dolomite glades, chert woodlands, and we’re certain to enjoy the spring ephemeral flora before the forest canopy closes in. We might see flowering twayblade and showy lady slipper orchids along with other orchid species. The area also features a scenic overlook of the Niangua River.
Leave Comfort Inn at 8:00 AM
Bolivar Hotels
Make your lodging reservations soon as it’s difficult for us to block rooms in advance. Be sure to make reservations and let them know you are with the Missouri Native Plant Society.
Comfort Inn
(417) 326-6169
Block of 10 rooms reserved (double queen)
$99 + tax with the group rate
Includes hot breakfast
Make reservations by March 25
Reservations manager: Brandi
Group Name: Missouri Native Plant Society
Super 8 by Wyndham Bolivar
(417) 777-8888
Block of 9 rooms reserved (double queen)
$80.75 + tax with the group rate
Includes hot breakfast
Make reservations by March 21
Group Name: Missouri Native Plant Society