Strandness Prairie

Monarch Butterfly

The high number of species found within the confines of Staffanson Prairie creates a parade of flowers throughout the season, from pasque flowers in April to asters in October.

Location
Pope County

Size
40 acres

How to Prepare for Your Visit
For more information on visiting this and other Minnesota preserves, check out our Preserve Visitation Guidelines.

Directions
From Lowry, take Highway 55 to Highway 114. Travel south on Highway 114 approximately 1.4 miles to Route 83, and turn east (left). Go a half mile to a gravel road. Turn south (right) and proceed 1-1/8 mile to the parking area on the east side of the road.

From Glenwood, go west on Hwy 24 for approximately four miles. Turn north at the NSP Lowry substation and drive 7/8 mile to the parking area, which is on the right, shortly after curving around Strandness Lake and before the first intersection.

Plants
More than 150 forb species have been recorded at Strandness, including pasque flower, buffalo bean, yellow star grass, wood lily, bottle gentian and prairie gentian. The tract is reasonably free of alien plants introduced from adjacent agricultural land.

Animals
Insect inhabitants at Strandness include one threatened butterfly, the Dakota skipper, and four insects of special concern: the Arogos skipper, Poweshiek skipper, regal fritillary, and phlox moth. Visitors will be serenaded by red-winged blackbirds, yellowthroats, sedge wrens, clay-colored sparrows, and bobolinks.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Strandess Prairie was acquired by The Nature Conservancy in 1972. The prairie is managed by prescribed burning to reduce accumulated plant debris from the previous growing seasons, and to suppress invasion by woody species. Three acres of agricultural trespass on the east edge have led to a severe problem with Canada thistle and bird's foot trefoil, which is being treated with herbicide and mowing. A prairie reconstruction project could convert trespass areas into native species.