Thelma Carpenter Prairie

​In 2000, Nachusa Grasslands purchased this ecologically rich property from Don and Nola Colwell, whose family roots reach back to early settlement days. For years, the Colwells mainly used the land for grazing cattle. Yet, thanks to its steep, rolling topography, portions of the prairie were never plowed—preserving rare prairie remnants. On these remnants thrived treasures like Amorpha canescens (lead plant) and a new species for the preserve, Zizia aptera (heart-leaved meadow parsnip), reminders of the biodiversity that once blanketed Illinois.
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​Today, the land is a mosaic of remnant prairie, planted prairie, and fallow meadow. It has become a haven for native plants and wildlife. It bears the name of Thelma Carpenter, a devoted prairie enthusiast who included Nachusa Grasslands in her estate plan.

For 32 years, Thelma served as a librarian at the Oregon Public Library. Upon her passing, her gift became the largest individual donation to The Nature Conservancy in Illinois—a remarkable legacy from someone who lived so humbly that few imagined such generosity. Her legacy endures through the library she cherished and through the land that now bears her name: Thelma Carpenter Prairie.
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This prairie stands as a living tribute—not only to Thelma but to the resilience of nature when given a chance to endure.

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