As I tend to make notes for myself at random times and in many notebooks, it is not unusual for me to be unable to put my hands on a set of notes or a list that I want to refer to. That is less of a problem than it might sound like as I can usually recreate the idea or list, but one always wonders if that re-creation is complete. What am I missing that I came up with earlier? This is complicated by my lack of ability to speak, meaning that I communicate primarily by writing notes, and the notebooks soon become a jumble of hopefully thoughtful musings, conversations with my wife and lists of plant species. Things get lost. Thus, since I am working in a targeted way towards increasing the populations of many species in the restorations in 2023, I decided to put my list of those species with some attendant notes in cyberspace, where I know that I can always come back for reference. Here it is:

1. Groundplum Milkvetch (Astragalus crassicarpus) Perhaps 100 in my restoration and many in two of my prairies, but I am trying to get enough to gather more seed for others. This is part of my cooperative project with Dr. Arvid Boe and Dr. Lora Perkins, along with the next three milkvetch species. The idea is to start seedlings of these species from seed gathered from several locations and get them transplanted into a couple of my restorations. They can then have morphological and phenological observations taken for comparison of possible different genotypes and perhaps genome analysis. I hope to transplant a significant amount, 100 plants the first year and more in subsequent years, of all of these, both for the ecosystem services they provide for the restorations and as part of what could become a research project on propagation of these species. Ultimately they would then be a seed source for other restorations. Groundplums seed is available from several vendors, but usually in very small amounts. December, 2024 note: Have put many transplants in plus placed some seed. Will spread some of Levi Waddell’s cleanings, which likely contain hundreds of seeds out over the 20 acre new seeding to hope for more recruits. Slow, steady progress.
2. Slender Milkvetch (Astragalus flexuosus) About 20 in my restoration and 60-100 in my prairies. I have not found a vendor within several hundred miles that sells this species, and after gathering it I understand why: It is either clearly not ripe, or the seedpods are splitting and flinging seeds to the ground. Different branches of the same plant ripen weeks apart. In other words, a collector has to cover each plant repeatedly in order to gather much seed. There is no “Goldilocks” timing when it is just right. 2024 note: Again, have transplanted perhaps 100 the past two years and had a good seed collection year in 2024, so should continue progress.
3. Standing/Prairie Milkvetch (Astragalus adsurgens) Only a couple in the restoration, and 30-40 in my prairies. A big target for increase, if only to cement its place in the prairie complex, but hopefully enough to provide seed for others. Once again, I hope to get 100 transplants out. And again, not available from seed vendors. 2024 note: Same as the other two milkvetches, including a good collection from last summer. Saw perhaps 6-7 in the restoration last year and believe that I will see more in 2025.
4. Field Milkvetch (Astragalus agrestis) The final member of the milkvetch genus that I may work on. This is common in dry mesic areas of the prairies which have not been heavily grazed and I have yet to gather seed from it, but I may be able to get some seed from Arvid. If not field milkvetch, I may try to get Missouri milkvetch (Astragalus missouriensis) going, as I know Arvid has seed. I think I have seen it in my prairies, but was not sure. There are no plants of either of these two species in the restoration, and they are not easily found from seed vendors. (Update: The fourth milkvetch species may end up to be A. plattensis, Platte River milkvetch, as Arvid has interest in it, as well as some seed) 2024 note: Not much progress here. I gathered a little seed this year, but not enough to spread over much. May try to make a priority for seed next year.
5. Plains Muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) This is a second project with Arvid which I have contributed to in a a small way. Plains muhly is a western species, and my native plants are a far eastern outpost which Arvid is studying in partnership with the USDA Plant Materials Center in Bismarck. There are scattered plants in my prairies and none yet in the restoration. I will feel fortunate if I can get 10-20 transplanted into the restoration. 2024 note: I have transplanted perhaps 30 plugs the past two years, and have no idea how many survived. This is a subtle little grass, and it may take a couple years of scouting to know how I have done.
6. Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) The milkweeds listed are part of a different collaboration, this one with Dave Ode, my friend who retired from a position as the state botanist with South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. Dave is growing and sharing seed of a variety of milkweed species he has gathered from prairies in central South Dakota. Green milkweed is found widely scattered in all my gravel prairies, not particularly rare, but I doubt there are more than 100 plants in all three prairies combined. Thus, this is another species to augment, both in numbers and in genetic variety. There may be a few from last year’s transplants living in the restoration. This is another species where I will shoot for 100 transplants. I have planted those 100 plugs and in a year or two I will see how survival went. I have also individually planted 200-300 seeds, and have about that many more to plant this year.
7. Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) A fairly common species, but only a few in the restoration. As this is a very rhizomatous species I think I will try to dig a few rhizomes to transplant. 2024 note: I never got around to trying the rhizome idea, but was able to gather 40-50 pods this year, so will get to try some things in 2025.
8. Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) Only a few in the native prairie, and perhaps a few more in the restoration from last year’s transplants. Perhaps 20-30 transplants to try, or I may just scatter some stratified seed. 2024 note: I planted a few seeds and put in a few transplants and doubt I have made much progress.
9. Dwarf/Plains Milkweed (Asclepias pumila) This is a western species that I don’t have in my prairies, and is unlikely native in the neighborhood, but I am starting some plants as I was given some seed by Dave. It fits my site, so I may just stratify and put seed out in appropriate areas. 2024 note: These ended up as plugs and perhaps 50 were planted. Early survival was very good, so I hope to be seeing more in the future.
10. Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis) This is a common species, so a lower priority, but I haven’t had a catch in the restoration. I will either put some seed at the base of a hill, or perhaps dig a few rhizomes this summer to transplant. 2024 note: No progress.
11. Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale) Same notes as for Canada anemone, including the rhizome method of seeding. 2024 note: My transplant attempt of bedstraw rhizomes failed in 2023 because of a hot, dry spring, but the good rains of 2024 revealed numerous bedstraw plants in the restoration making them a low priority.
12. Alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii) I have spread seed of alumroot several times, but usually from purchased seed. I saw quite a few plants originally, but far fewer last summer, making me think that I had spread poorly adapted seed. Thus, I hope to start plants from the seed that I gathered in my prairies last summer and transplant a batch. Alumroot is fairly common in the native prairies, and I have hundreds of plants in the native prairies. I am hoping to get 30-40 transplanted. 2024 note No transplants occurred, but 2024 was a spectacular seed year with lots to play with for next year. I am optimistic for next year.
13. Grooved Yellow Flax (Linum sulcatum) This is the only annual on the list. I gathered more last summer than the four summers previous combined, so I have a little to play with. In years with little early summer rain it won’t germinate, which is what happened in 2020 and 2021, but last year we were lucky to get a couple rains in late June/early July, and the hills were covered in flax blooms which allowed me to get some seed. This indicates the seed has some staying power and I will likely just fling some out on the tops of hills and ridges. If I get some going and have good luck with weather it should seed itself and spread naturally. 2024 note: There was no seed to gather in 2023, and I have yet to see plants from the seed that I spread from 2022, but a lot of seed was gathered last year and will be spread on the 20 acres that were burned this fall and the 20 acres we hope to burn next April.
14. Prairie turnip (Pediomelum esculentum) I found one prairie turnip in the restoration in 2021, and did not notice it last year. I transplanted some, but had little luck with getting the transplants to live. Thus, I will try another batch of transplants and try to care for them more carefully and hope to have better luck. I have quite a few in a couple of my prairies, at least a couple hundred, and see them in the neighbor’s pastures, meaning they are very tolerant of grazing. Still, I have hopes of getting a larger population in the restorations and will put effort into the attempt. I have fun memories of digging and eating them as a kid and they are important to me. Hopefully I can get 40-50 transplants out. 2024 note: We have transplanted a lot more, but they are more fragile than they appear, and I think I will use the bounty of 2024 (5000 seeds or so) to plant them as individually as is practical, perhaps after some scarification, early next spring.
15. Prairie Larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum ssp. virescens) I am not sure how many larkspurs I have in my native prairies, because they don’t bloom every year, but it is likely less than 100. I found a few in the restoration in one spot last summer for the first time and would like to establish three or four additional groups to allow cross pollination. Perhaps 15-20 transplants will be enough. 2024 note: Many more larkspurs showed up in the restoration last year, perhaps 25-30, which means I am already close to my stated goal. I was able to gather a little seed as well, and perhaps I can start another population or two.
16. Downy Gentian (Gentiana puberulenta) Another of my favorites. I have 30-50 plants in two of my prairies, and found two blooming in the restoration in 2021. Downy gentian doesn’t bloom every year and can seem more rare than it actually is, but I have found it in several other mesic prairies in my corner of South Dakota. It is also generally available from seed vendors, so similarly to the larkspur, I would just like to establish a few more populations to give more cross pollination possibilities.
17. Early Figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata) I have three valleys in my prairies with about 20-30 plants, and started to see plants from seed in two of my restorations last year, maybe 10-20 plants. Those likely came from purchased seed, so I would like to transplant about 20 plants grown from gathered seed to put in the restorations for the best cross pollination.
18. Pennsylvania Cinquefoil (Potentilla pennsylvanica) These are scattered across the hilltops on two of the prairies, but likely less than 100 plants. I also see them in the neighbor’s overgrazed pasture, as I believe they are an increaser species. I have 10-20 that I have noticed in my restoration, and would like to supplement that with at least 20-30 more, giving a population that might provide a little harvestable seed. The seed is very small, and seems to do a good job establishing on xeric sites, so it is worth trying.
19. Textile Onion (Allium textile) This is a very humble little onion which produced a lot of seed last year, so I hope to get it started on some of the hills of the restorations. I am not sure if I will spread stratified seed, or also grow some transplants. With a bulb and shallow roots it will be super easy to transplant. If I don’t get seedlings established in the greenhouse I may just spread the seed and transplant some from my native prairies where it is common on the most xeric hills.
20. Wood Betony (Pedicularis canadensis) This is one of three species on this list that I don’t have in my prairies, but I have seen it in other prairies nearby. I bought some seed that had been gathered locally and hope to transplant 20-30 plants and also spread some stratified seed.
21. Pale Spiked Lobelia (Lobelia spicata) This is one of many species that had a prolific reproductive year in 2022, though I don’t have many plants. I find them mostly on the north base of one hill in a pasture, and saw about 100 little lobelias blooming. Gathering seed was complicated by the cattle grazing in the area as they ripened, but I got some seed that I hope to have plants started from. Low priority.
22. Bastard Toadflax (Comandra umbellata) I have lots and lots of these on the gravel hilltops of the native prairies, where they likely parasitize blue grama, but none in the restorations. They are reputed to be difficult to start from seed, so I hope to gather some for Lora to start next winter or I may just dig some rhizomes to transplant this spring.
23. Silver Leaf Scurfpea (Pediomelum argophylum) After several frustrating attempts to gather scurfpea seed in the past I was able to finally get some with the help of Bri Lind and her friend Robin last year. While this is a common plant, considered almost weedy by some people, I have none in the restorations. I would like to transplant 20-30 into the restorations and then let it spread naturally.
24. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) Gathering licorice seed is easy, but I have yet to find one from the seed that I have spread in the restorations. Once again, this is a fairly common species that is rhizomatous, so 20-30 seedlings to transplant would go a long way.
25. Rattlesnake Root (Prenanthes racemosa) This is another of the three species on this list that is not found in my prairies, but I find it scattered in other mesic prairies that I visit. Thus I will try to get some started to establish a population in my restoration, but it is a low priority for me.
26. White Camas (Zigadenus elegans) I have just a few camas plants in a couple mesic areas of one prairie, and it is a fairly common plant so this is another lower priority, and I have not gathered seed for it, as I would have to ask permission from the owners of one of the prairies where I see it. I hope to do that this year, but it is a low priority species for me.
27. Panicgrass (Dichanthelium oligosanthes) I have lots of this in the piece of prairie that was only hayed (until I had it fenced in 2021) and I rarely see it in the pastures, meaning it is likely sensitive to grazing. That makes it a lower priority, as I plan to graze the restorations once the CRP contract has ended. Still, I would like to gather a little seed if I can and start a few plants to transplant.
28. Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) Yet another of my favorite species. I have zero in my prairies, however, so by definition that makes it a lower priority. There are plenty spread through the countryside, favoring wetter sites than downy gentian. If it works out, I would like to start a few plants to transplant, attempting to get a viable population in my restorations over the next couple years.
29. Pincushion/Ball Cactus (Coryphantha vivipara) I transplanted 8-10 individual balls last year that cattle had dislodged, and it will be interesting to see how many survive. In addition, I gathered about 50 berries after a big reproductive year for them, and hope to get quite a few seedlings started, perhaps 30-40 to transplant. I wonder what the seedlings even look like.
30. Nuttall’s Violet (Viola nuttallii) This one is a long shot, unless I find some seed to buy this year. I hope to flag some plants in my prairies and gather some seed this summer, looking towards next year. After blooming is over the plant becomes invisible to me, so I hope flagging works.
31. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) I had blanketflower in the original mix of purchased seed planted in the spring of 2018, and the hills were covered in blanketflower blooms in 2019. The seed source was Colorado, however, and the phenotype is not close to my native phenotype. Most died in a tough winter three years ago, and that might have been a good thing. I gathered a fair bit of it last year, and meant to spread it on the new 20 acre restoration that was seeded last fall, but the bag was misplaced and not found until recently. I will likely stratify the whole batch and spread it on the two newest restorations, along with another 20 adjacent acres which have none (or very few) of the Colorado plants. If I get a catch, these areas can then be a gathering area. This may be towards the end of this list, but it is one of the higher priorities.
32. Rough Gayfeather (Liatris aspera) Most of my supply of L. aspera was in the same container as the blanketflower, and thus didn’t get into the seeding last fall. I only have a few in my own prairies, and have never gathered any of the seed, but it is a relatively common plant, even showing up in ditches and random bits of grass. As it is relatively common in mesic prairies of the area I would like to augment my paltry population, bringing in reinforcements. I have seeded it in the past in the restorations, mostly gathered and a little purchased seed, and saw 30-40 blooming plants last year. I think this is a pretty robust competitor, and if I can get it a few more places it may become ubiquitous in my restorations. I also have some L. ligustylis growing in the restoration, a closely related species that will hybridize with L. aspera, so I will accept that I may have a genetic mish-mash and just enjoy the beautiful blooming stalks in late summer.

So there’s the hit list. About half are high priorities which I will try very hard to get in the ground. Perhaps a fourth are a bit less important to me, but will be planted if I am able, and the last fourth are lower priority or will wait until I can gather some seed for use in 2024. Many of the species are not easily found from seed vendors, meaning even small amounts of gatherable seed would be significant to another restorer. As attested by the notes following the species they will be increased by different techniques and with different partners, though Lora’s greenhouse space and cadre of grad students is integral to it all. I am certain that I will not be able to accomplish significant increase of all 30, but I will at least develop a plan for each that provides a path forward and be ready for opportunities. Half are already found in the restoration, but in numbers that I would like to increase. While all are species that I would like to have enough of to gather seed to give to others, there are perhaps 8-10 where that is a primary purpose, while simply developing the deep diversity of the restoration is the goal of the rest. I apologize for the boring nature of this post, but I did this for myself to refer back to in the future, and not so much for casual readers. I am steadily progressing in both the conceptualization of what these restorations could become and in the strategies I can use to achieve those goals, and sometimes I just need to get things on paper to review. There are likely to be additions and subtractions that may become edits to this in the future. Ultimately I hope to augment my native populations of all of these to avoid the “island effect” where genetic drift causes impoverished genomes and inbreeding, and to provide more resiliency to environmental challenges that could otherwise cause them to disappear from my place.

Now I just have to stay healthy enough to accomplish some of this. I am about to go back to Chicago to see the grandkids, and on at least half of my visits the little plague spreaders provide me with a virus that leads to a bronchial infection that can lead to pneumonia. That’s just a price I am eager to pay at this point in my life, and I have to try to stay strong enough to pay that price. When I was in college 45-50 years ago I read several of Carlos Castenada’s trippy series of books about the indigenous sorcerers of northern Mexico, and one thing really stuck with me. His magical spiritual guide, Don Juan, was describing his concept of being a warrior and admonished Carlos for his view that it was mostly about bravery in battle. As I remember it, Don Juan said that the heart of being a warrior was discipline and preparation, living a life that prepared you for great tasks. I promise to live the life of a warrior for the rest of my days as the life before me is certainly one of great and noble tasks, and just as the old gospel song says, “I want to be ready.”