The Ridges Sanctuary recently closed on 3 additional parcels of land, totaling 53 acres. All are adjacent to property already owned by the Sanctuary, and will help to protect the watershed which feeds into the swales and Lake Michigan. Funding for these purchases was provided through the Wisconsin Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Wetland grant program. Ridges members, through their generous contributions to our Land Fund, also helped to make these acquisitions possible.
A more comprehensive blooming list, with 100 species of The Ridges, can be downloaded here.
Related Plant Links
University of Wisconsin Herbarium - the website features a searchable database of Wisconsin plants and lichens, including photos, habitat descriptions, distribution maps and more.
Orchids of Wisconsin - a somewhat technical site, with detailed descriptions and photos of all Wisconsin orchid species.
The photos shown above are just a few of the wildflowers and other plants found in the Sanctuary. They are arranged chronologically so that you can view an entire blooming season, from early spring through late fall.
Phragmites australis is an aggressive, non-native grass which threatens the biological integrity of The Ridges. It spreads rapidly by underground rhizomes, very similar to species like quackgrass but much more extensive. Phragmites can form solid stands and crowd out native vegetation in large areas along shorelines and in wetlands.The Ridges has been using various measures to control the spread of this plant in the Sanctuary.
More information about Phragmites can be found here.
The Door County Invasive Species Team (DCIST) is a group of natural resource professionals and interested public members that are concerned with preserving Door County’s natural environment. DCIST seeks to halt the invasion of exotic non-native plants by empowering citizens with the education, the tools and the skills necessary to control invasive species. Currently DCIST offers advice, presentations, and training sessions on invasive species control, if you are interested in or have questions about invasive species on your land or on other properties in Door County.
