There are several sites of prairie
restoration at Lapham Peak. These restorations are attempts to
show examples of the vegetation in this area prior to settlement and
its associated land uses such as farming. The native plantings
provide an ever changing array of color and an opportunity to observe
the insect life that is abundant in prairies.Purpose of fires
Most prairie plants have about two-thirds of their mass below ground
in deep roots and rootstocks, which provide buds for the next year's
growth. Most prairie plants are perennials - the tops die back
in winter, but the rootstocks survive and sprout again in spring.
Hot spring fires, burn the dried, dead tops of plants without damaging
the roots and cleans the surface of land. Fires warms up the
soil faster, and more rain reaches the soil, so shoots begin to grow
sooner.
For more information on prairie
plants,
click here.
