National Public Lands Day is celebrated each year on the fourth Saturday of September. The day is the nation’s largest, single-day event for public lands volunteerism. It is an opportunity for nature enthusiasts to give back to public lands by providing land stewardship. This year, the Iowa Native Plant Society was able to partner with Boone County Conservation Board (CCB) and the Iowa Prairie Network to celebrate not only, National Publics Lands Day, but also a newly discovered remnant prairie in Boone County Iowa. Over 25 individuals showed up to explore the remannt prairie, learn about Iowa’s natural history and current on site research, and help with brush removal and native seed harvest.
In early 2025 INPS awarded Boone CCB with a small grant to conduct a floristic inventory of the remnant. Dr. Tom Rosburg was hired to do the research and presented his results to participants of the event on National Public Lands Day. The Iowa Prairie Network also contributed funds to help support this work. As a way to say thank you to the sponsors and to highlight the significance of the remnant, Boone CCB unveiled a brand new sign to dedicate the remnant for all visitors. The remnant is perfectly named, Violets Ridge. Prairie violets were the very first remnant indicator species discovered on the property.
Thank you to everyone who attended the event and gave back to move natural resource management forward. Like many of Iowa’s remnants, more work is needed to improve the conditions of the site. We all have a responsibility to provide the tender loving care these fragile ecosystems need to presist.
