Prairie comes from a French word meaning "extensive meadow," a flat, treeless community of grasses and forbs (flowering plants). Because prairies grow in areas where long periods without rainfall
are common, the plants have adapted by developing intricate, interwoven root systems that may extend nearly 20 feet below the surface.
Tall- grass prairies also adapted to periodic burning and now depend on fire for survival.
In the past, fires were started naturally by lightening striking dry grasses in the fall. The flat ground encouraged the fires to spread over wide distances, burning off shrubs and small trees, whose shade would otherwise slowly kill off sun-loving plants.
Historical accounts tell us that Native Americans set fire to prairies every year to keep them open and grassy, improving forage for bison and elk.
On Saturday, April 6, 2002 Ray Schulenberg and David Kropp burned their recently restored 3-acre prairie in Plainfield, IL.
People from Du Page county and volunteer naturalists from various forest preserves also helped.
It was a proper, prescribed burn. The weather, temperature and humidity had to be "just so" and they were.
Art and Linda both participated.
Afterwards, there was fellowship and hospitality.
