Purple Coneflowers - used with permission from the Prairie Garden Trust

Purple Coneflowers – used with permission from the Prairie Garden Trust

The April membership meeting, held at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd, Columbia MO, will consist of a presentation by Lorna and Henry Domke. Lorna will tell the story of the Prairie Garden Trust (PGT), a public nature garden and birding hot spot just south of Fulton, MO. Using images of the property taken by Henry, she’ll show how they’re using native plants in diverse habitats to create a special place to experience the beauty and magic of nature.

The property that became Prairie Garden Trust has been in the Domke family since 1971. The old farm has gradually been transformed by the creation of formal gardens and by restoration of the natural landscape. Starting in 1986, the property’s fescue pastures have been gradually replaced with native prairie plants, under the guidance of Merv Wallace of Missouri Wildflower Nursery. After PGT became a  nonprofit foundation 2010, restoration has picked up momentum with the development of a master plan and the hiring of a full time horticulturist and groundskeeper.

Blue-winged Warbler - used with permission from the Prairie Garden Trust

Blue-winged Warbler – used with permission from the Prairie Garden Trust

The visitor center, gardens, trails, and restored natural habitats at PGT have made it one of the most popular destinations for Columbia Audubon field trips in recent years. We hope you’ll join us for Lorna’s presentation and be inspired to participate in our subsequent field trip to PGT on Saturday, April 21.