Hullett's Tall Grass Prairie Hike
Be sure to join us at 10 am on Saturday, September 8th for our Tall Grass Prairie Hike. Hullett has about 11 hectares (27 acres) of native tall grass prairie grasslands for you to come out and explore. These areas are a declining breed. Ontario used to have over a thousand square kilometers of native prairie grasslands, now we have only 3 percent of them left.
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) is the predominant grass of our prairie area. It is nicknamed ‘turkey foot’ because its flower clusters are arranged in three spikes that resembles its namesake. This grass grows to a height of 2.5 meters or 8.2 feet. Big Bluestem is easy to identify in a field of tall grass, as the ‘turkey foot’ pattern is simple to pick out. As this species matures, the entire plant turns shades of red, brown and deep purple – this is easily observable as you pan around the entire prairie grassland area. Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) is another species found within Hullett’s native grasses. Growing to 2 meters or 6.5 feet in height, this type of grass is identified by its brilliant, but small yellow flowers. Mature seed heads of this plant sometimes get so heavy that they bend or droop down under their own weight, hence the Latin ‘nutans’, meaning ‘to nod’. Indian Grass is host to the larvae of the Wood Satyr and Wood Nymph Butterflies (both common at Hullett). The final grass type in our tall grass mix is Switch Grass or Panicum virgatum. This species has a diamond shaped appearance in profile and grows to a height of 2.1 meters or 7 feet. Flowers on this plant are originally purple, but fade to tan with age. The flowers are sparse on the stem (called the inflorescence) and the wiry ‘branches’ are naked most of their length. In winter, Switch Grass turns a straw colour, adding colour to the landscape.
Witness the amazing sight and enjoy the soothing sounds when you’re in the middle of a stand of our native tall grass prairie, and a breeze wafts through putting the grasses in motion – it’s pure bliss!
On the walk we will also observe migrant songbirds on their way south. See warblers, vireos, and others as they pass through the region to wintering areas in Mexico and Central America. We may even get to see a few hawks or falcons migrating past as well at this time. Other things to explore are a vast array of wildflowers and the wide variety of insects that frequent them. See brightly coloured and conspicuous butterflies and dragonflies, plus more stealthy, but interesting beetles and other insects. We’ll be able to see quite a few species of each within this unique and diverse habitat type. Learn about the tree species of Hullett, like Maple, Ash, Hemlock, and more in a fun and interactive environment. We will meet at the parking lot at 81044 Wildlife Line at 10:00 am. Be sure to bring sunscreen as the late-summer Sun still has power to it and don’t forget to apply your insect repellant. Bring comfortable shoes or hiking boots and bring the whole family. Don’t miss a chance to see this natural wonder. View a real, natural prairie area, right here in your own backyard. Join us for the Hullett Tall Grass Prairie Walk! For more information, contact us at 519-482-7011 or email outreach@hullettmarsh.org
