Friends of Nachusa Grasslands
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Stop 4 — Sandstone Bluff Planting

By Jan Grainger, VOLUNTEER LAND STEWARD
​On November 17, 2008, I loaded three big barrels onto a truck and drove them out to a field on the preserve in a section that is known as Tellabs Savanna (The Tellabs name results from a generous contribution). The field is nestled below spectacular sandstone outcrops so I call the area Sandstone Bluffs. The barrels were full of seed. Today was the day to plant some prairie. I drove the tractor round and round at “turtle“ speed until the hopper had shot out all of my precious seed on to the sandy soil. 110 pounds,105 species. I spent several hours planting special seeds by hand as well—poking porcupine grass tips into the sand or carefully “stepping in” (dropping a few seeds on to the ground and rubbing them into the soil with my feet) the lupine and violets.
 
I have now joined the club of Nachusa Grasslands Volunteer Stewards who have collected, weighed, dried, recorded, mixed and planted many pounds of those marvels of nature—seeds.
 
What a package of potential a seed is! Most of the prairie seeds I harvested weigh almost nothing but contain the genetic plans for a future. Housed within is a tiny embryo, a bit of stored nutrient and a protective coating. There is so much uncertainty 

in a seed’s future. Will it germinate? Is it viable? Does it require freezing, or fire? Does it need to pass through an animal’s gut? Does it need battering by the wind and rain? Does it need fungal threads busting through its seed coat?
 
If a seed’s environment supplies what it needs it may send out root and shoot, but then what challenges does it face? Will there be a partnership with surrounding microbes or will it be consumed in the food chain? Will it succumb to competition from its many neighbors?
 
As a child I wore a mustard seed around my neck. (It was trapped in plastic I think) That necklace came from my mother and a short verse was included about the faith of a tiny mustard seed and moving mountains. It helped me develop a hopeful and positive outlook. Here at the Sandstone Bluffs, the seeds hold the secrets and I have the hope.

Stop 5 — Restoration Activity

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  • Home
  • About Friends
    • Mission, Leadership, Objectives, and Financials
    • Friends Annual Meeting 2024
    • Endowments
    • Heritage Heroes Initiative
    • Friends Annual Reports
    • Newsletters >
      • PrairiE–Update (email)
      • A Prairie Calling (print and digital)
    • Commenting Policy
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours & Parking
    • Directions and Map
    • Visitor Center
    • Pet Policy
    • Public Bison Tours
    • Bison Viewing
    • Hiking >
      • Hiking Guidelines
      • Hiking Destinations
      • Guided Hikes
      • Stone Barn Savanna Tour
      • Visitor Center Trail
      • Scavenger Hunt
    • Autumn on the Prairie >
      • Yearly Festival
    • What's In Bloom?
    • Exploring Nachusa Grasslands on Your Own
    • Things to Do
    • Places to Eat and Stay
    • Local Sites to Visit and Explore
  • Donate
  • Calendar
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Thursday and Saturday Workdays >
      • Workday Signup
      • Workdays – November to February
      • Volunteer Workday Safety Protocols
      • Leader Workday Safety Protocols
      • Steward Workday Tips
    • Workday Email List
    • Volunteer Recognition
    • Docents
  • Stewardship
    • Nachusa Stewardship
    • Restorations
    • Planting Histories >
      • Stewardship Unit Planting Histories
      • Planting Histories in Chronological Order
    • Weed Reports
    • Native plant resources
    • Volunteer Stewards
    • Groups and Committees
    • Available Units
    • Controlled Burns
    • Prescribed Fire Recruitment
    • Restoration Publications
    • Stewardship Resources >
      • Seed Collection Guides
      • Invasive Plant Management
      • Invasive Identification
      • Monitoring
      • Resource Links
  • Science
    • Science at Nachusa Grasslands
    • Science Symposium 2025
    • 2025 Science Symposium Abstracts
    • Science Grants >
      • Science Grants 2025
      • Science Grants 2021 to 2024 >
        • Science Grants 2024
        • Science Grants 2023
        • Science Grants 2022
        • Science Grants 2021
      • Science Grants 2016 to 2020 >
        • Science Grants 2020
        • Science Grants 2019
        • Science Grants 2018
        • Science Grants 2017
        • Science Grants 2016
      • Science Grants 2011 to 2015 >
        • Science Grants 2015
        • Science Grants 2014
        • Science Grants 2013/2012/2011
    • Potential Research Topics
    • Scientific Publications
    • Anderson Science Award
    • Science Videos
    • Become a Community Scientist >
      • About Community Scientists
      • Butterfly Monitoring
      • Calling Frog Monitoring
      • Dragonflies & Damselflies
      • RiverWatch
  • About Nachusa
    • General Info
    • Nachusa Staff
    • Prairie Smoke Annual Reports
    • Plant Inventory >
      • Common Names
      • Genus Species
    • Animal Inventory >
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Bison Bison >
        • Bison
        • Bison Babies Broadcast Videos
      • Fish
      • Insects
      • Mammals
      • Other Arthropods
      • Reptiles
    • History
    • Jobs
    • Hunting
    • Geology >
      • Geology Part 1
      • Geology Part 2
      • Geology Part 3
    • Websites of Interest
  • Teacher Resources
    • K-2nd grades
    • 3rd-5th grades
    • 6th-8th grades
    • High School
  • BLOG AND MEDIA
    • Nachusa Blog
    • In The News
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Spring Photos
      • Summer Photos
      • Autumn Photos
      • Winter Photos
    • Videos
  • Contact Us / FAQs