The half acre prairie planted around Whitley Cemetery, has continued to grow and change.  More of the prairie natives are becoming noticeable as they establish, although we are still fighting the early successional weedy species.  Queen Anne’s lace, or wild carrot, was our biggest nemesis this year.  Volunteers, including Dave Horn’s classes from Millikin, the Friends of LTHSP, and from the Macon County Conservation District, cut and removed literally truckloads of this common biennial from our prairie.  Our work was rewarded when the prairie species, including beautiful purple coneflowers, burst into bloom as they were released from competitive suppression!  Purple coneflower is not only striking when in flower, but it also was one of the few Native American medicinal plants that Plains settlers adopted, using it for control of pain and infections.  Currently there is considerable scientific research conducted on the pharmaceutical properties of this precious plant that shows promise as a botanical antibiotic and immune system stimulant, and there is evidence of its positive effects in controlling certain cancers.

Volunteers also spent hours cutting seedling trees and honeysuckle that were invading the prairie and removing thistles and giant ragweed before it    produced pollen.  To further control the invasive woody species and stimulate the fire-adapted prairie species, the IDNR sent a team to burn the prairie in November.  Unfortunately, conditions weren’t amenable for much success, but they may try again in the spring.

We were delighted to receive a Community     Foundation grant from the Nims Foundation that will  allow us to purchase more prairie plants and seeds to enhance and expand this little glimpse of what the Prairie State looked like to the Lincoln family.