Picture Perfect – Images of Nisku Prairie in Early July

A visit to Nisku Prairie on the 5th of July revealed a grassland flourishing from the spring rains earlier this year.  Grasses in particular were outstanding: the iconic plains rough fescue grass was in flower, after a several-year hiatus, and the rare Canada ricegrass was the most numerous we had ever seen! As well, many of our familiar forbs just asked to be photographed!

Plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii) flowering this year in Nisku Prairie grassland. 2024-07-05. Photo: M. Parseyan.

Three-flowered avens (Geum triflorum) showing wispy, pink seed heads which have given it the alternative name of “prairie smoke.” 2024-07-05. Photo: M. Parseyan.

Flower of heart-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus cardiophyllus). Note the glossy petals, numerous stamens and head of green achenes characteristic of the buttercup genus. 2024-07-05. Photo: M. Parseyan.

Graceful cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis). Note the similar flower to the buttercup but in the cinquefoils the petals are matte, not glossy. This plant is a member of the rose family. 2024-07-05. Photo: M. Parseyan.

Canada ricegrass (Piptatheropsis canadensis) is a rare grass doing well this year with a large population. Generally, grasses are thriving in the Prairie, with particularly large numbers of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). 2024-07-05. Photo: M. Parseyan.

Wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum) stands out amidst the greenery. 2024-07-05. Photo: M. Parseyan.

Prairie onion (Allium textile) is also thriving this year. It has colonized some of the bare patches created by the removal of smooth brome. 2024-07-05. Photo: P. Cotterill.

Shining arnica (Arnica fulgens) grows in moist meadows, and has heads of bright yellow ray florets and centres composed of bisexual disc florets. Populations are a bit lower this year. Its congener, leafy arnica (A. chamissonis), was still in bud in the Prairie at the time of the visit. 2024-07-05. Photo: M. Parseyan.