Written by Ely Grimm | June 2026
In the late winter of this year, we seeded a half-acre expansion of our five-acre prairie along the Kelly Creek woodland edge. The area was carefully prepared with intentional herbicide use and a prescribed burn. With the help of many volunteers, seed from different sources was sorted and spread on top of snow that would help give the seeds the freeze and thaw cycles that they needed to germinate. We were able to put down a seed mix containing over 50 different species, thanks to the following sources:
- Donations of seed from local individuals
- Donations of seed from organizations including the Natural Land Institute, Rockford Park District, Merrill Community Sharing Garden, and the Northern Illinois Native Seed Exchange
- Collected from our prairie and from other prairies with school groups and volunteers
- Purchased by The Confluence
The seed mix is rich in both short prairie grasses our prairie is lacking, and a higher percentage of native wildflowers than we currently have. Our hope is that in the future this area can not only be restored, but that species will spread from this area into our existing prairie.
This growing season, we have been routinely monitoring the area to be able to accurately prescribe land stewardship practices that will help best establish the planting in these early stages. Many weeds that are common in disturbed ground have come up, but also present are many of the native plants one would expect in a first year planting. Among these are bergamot, black-eyed susan, common milkweed, whorled milkweed, purple coneflower, vervain and evening primrose. Many of these plants are in their first year, and won’t get as big or flower the same as they will in later years – and many of the seeded plants we don’t expect to see at all until later years when they are established. We have already done one selective herbicide spray to control some of the more aggressive invasives and will be mowing others. We also planted seedlings in the area this spring, and are excited to continue monitoring and working to establish this area through the year.
I am continually inspired by what a caring community can do with a vision- that an incredibly degraded and neglected piece of land can become something beautiful and worth spending time with. Dozens of people contributed even just a small amount of their time, money, seed, encouragement, or advice to make this planting possible. It reminds me of how Nature At The Confluence began with just a vision and an imaginative and inspired community, and I’m grateful to be able to continue to care for this land with all of you.
Bergamot and false sunflower
Hoary vervain
