Butternut Valley Prairie SNA

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

Minnesota DNR logo

 
     
 

Links

 
 

Minnesota DNR

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

This SNA was designated June 29, 2009.

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

Detail map (MN DNR)

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
  Printable map      
         
 

Size

 
 

12½ acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

There is no ditch crossing or field access that would allow a visitor to pull off of the road. Park on the west shoulder of 478th Ave.

N44 7.538, W94 20.947

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

Get driving directions from Google Maps to this destination from any address, and send those directions to your phone.

   
          Blue Earth County  
          Southeast Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

No maintained trails

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

No hunting

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Prairie Parkland Province

   
  Ecological Section    

North Central Glaciated Plains

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Minnesota River Prairie

   
  Land Type Association    

Gibbon Till Plain

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Mesic Prairie (Southern)

Wet Prairie (Southern)

   
  * Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources      
         
 

Natural Features

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Parking

 
    Butternut Valley Prairie SNA      
           
 

Mesic Prairie (Southern)

 
    Butternut Valley Prairie SNA   Butternut Valley Prairie SNA  
           
    Butternut Valley Prairie SNA      
           
 

Wet Prairie (Southern)

 
    Butternut Valley Prairie SNA      
           
 

Serotinal

 
    Butternut Valley Prairie SNA   Butternut Valley Prairie SNA  
           
    Butternut Valley Prairie SNA   Butternut Valley Prairie SNA  
           
 

On a recent trip this local resident offered to act as guide

 
    Butternut Valley Prairie SNA   Butternut Valley Prairie SNA  

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Butternut Valley Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
Brian
 
  Butternut Valley Prairie Scientific and Natural Area  
 
About

These photos are from one of the many unique ecosystems that are protected through Minnesota's array of Scientific and Natural Areas.

The Butternut Valley Prairie Scientific and Natural Area is a mixture of well-preserved mesic and wet prairie.

 
  Butternut Valley Prairie SNA
minnesota_snas
 
  Butternut Valley Prairie SNA  
 
About

Described by regional SNA staff Brad Bolduan as "a little jewel," this small prairie remnant showcases outstanding biodiversity with little invasion of non-native species. Never drained, cultivated, nor grazed the only regular activities included haying, seed harvest and burning which has contributed to the site's excellent condition.

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Prairie Rose Cafe
Dale Bohlke
 
   
 
About

The prairie rose is a common prairie wildflower and a good place to watch a variety of insects dining. The insects range from slow moving beetles to these flies that are in constant motion. The challenge is filming them on a day that is not too bright or windy, both conditions that the insects thrive in but are a nightmare for recording. Both video and audio were recorded using an iPhone6. Flight was slowed recording at 240 fps and played at 30 fps.

 

 

Camcorder

           
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Share your sightings or comments about of this destination.

 
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

10/2/2012

  7/11/2013            
 
 

Birds

 
 

Minnesota DNR Bird checklist

 
 

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

 

American Robin

Red-winged Blackbird

 
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
  Crown Rust (Puccinia coronata)   Crown Rust  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

northern crescent (Phyciodes cocyta)

orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella)

widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)

 

northern crescent

widow skimmer

 
 

Mammals

 
  plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)   plains pocket gopher  
 

Plants

 
 

Two plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:

Threatened

Sullivant’s milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii)

Special Concern

rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Mesic Prairie (Southern) UPs23a

Wet Prairie (Southern) WPs54b

     
 

 

alfalfa (Medicago sativa ssp. sativa)

American black currant (Ribes americanum)

American plum (Prunus americana)

black medick (Medicago lupulina)

butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa ssp. interior)

Buxbaum’s sedge (Carex buxbaumii)

Canadian horseweed (Erigeron canadensis)

Canadian tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense)

chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana)

common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

curly dock (Rumex crispus)

downy phlox (Phlox pilosa ssp. fulgida)

field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

four-flowered yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia quadriflora)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium)

Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)

leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

mountain death camas (Anticlea elegans var. elegans)

narrow-leaved meadowsweet (Spiraea alba var. alba)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

porcupine grass (Hesperostipa spartea)

prairie coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata)

prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)

prairie lettuce (Lactuca ludoviciana)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea)

rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium)

reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

sandbar willow (Salix interior)

shining bedstraw (Galium concinnum)

silverleaf scurfpea (Pediomelum argophyllum)

smooth oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra)

smooth rose (Rosa blanda var. blanda)

smooth scouring rush (Equisetum laevigatum)

southern blue flag (Iris virginica var. shrevei)

spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida)

Sullivant’s milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii)

tall thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana)

timothy (Phleum pratense ssp. pratense)

Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)

water smartweed (Persicaria amphibia)

western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)

white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. candida)

white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana)

yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius)

 

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed)

Amorpha canescens (leadplant)

Anemone virginiana (tall thimbleweed)

Anticlea elegans var. elegans (mountain death camas)

Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)

Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage)

Asclepias sullivantii (Sullivant’s milkweed)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Asclepias tuberosa ssp. interior (butterfly weed)

Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed)

Carex buxbaumii (Buxbaum’s sedge)

Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock)

Coreopsis palmata (prairie coreopsis)

Dalea candida var. candida (white prairie clover)

Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover)

Desmodium canadense (Canadian tick-trefoil)

Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)

Equisetum laevigatum (smooth scouring rush)

Erigeron canadensis (Canadian horseweed)

Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium (rattlesnake master)

Fragaria virginiana (common strawberry)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Galium concinnum (shining bedstraw)

Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (smooth oxeye)

Hesperostipa spartea (porcupine grass)

Iris virginica var. shrevei (southern blue flag)

Lactuca ludoviciana (prairie lettuce)

Lysimachia quadriflora (four-flowered yellow loosestrife)

Medicago lupulina (black medick)

Medicago sativa ssp. sativa (alfalfa)

Pediomelum argophyllum (silverleaf scurfpea)

Persicaria amphibia (water smartweed)

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

Phleum pratense ssp. pratense (timothy)

Phlox pilosa ssp. fulgida (downy phlox)

Prunus americana (American plum)

Prunus virginiana var. virginiana (chokecherry)

Pycnanthemum virginianum (Virginia mountain mint)

Ratibida pinnata (gray-headed coneflower)

Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn)

Ribes americanum (American black currant)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rosa blanda var. blanda (smooth rose)

Rumex crispus (curly dock)

Salix interior (sandbar willow)

Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod)

Spiraea alba var. alba (narrow-leaved meadowsweet)

Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy)

Tragopogon dubius (yellow goat’s beard)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

alfalfa

American black currant

American plum

chokecherry

downy phlox

leadplant

prairie rose

purple prairie clover

rattlesnake master

smooth rose

Sullivant’s milkweed

yellow goat’s beard

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

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