Acreage Living - Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan

he Saskatchewan
f prairies had
I their beginnings I6,000 years
ago as the glacial ice melted. The
soil types and landforms left in
the wake of the glaciers, along
with a harsh climate and
disturbances resulting from
periodic fires and grazing
animals, created a unique
environment. Over thousands of
years, the prairie landscape
evolved to include a wide variety
of plant and animal species
particularly suited to and
dependent upon, these
environmental conditions. The
open grassland interspersed with
lakes, ponds, creeks, river valleys,
shrubs and trees supported
aboriginal peoples, huge herds of
grazinganimals and a myriad of
birds, insects and other wildlife.
These age-old plant communities
of the prairie and parkland
regions of Saskatchewan are what
we refer to as native prairie.
Grasses dominate native
prairie, but it is incredibly diverse!
A close look at the prairie
uncovers hundreds of different
species of grasses and wildflowers.
In addition to open grassland, we
see wetlands, saline patches,
shrubs and even forested tracts.
These com mun ities contain
different groups of plants, each
providing a different habitat for
wildlife. From early spring to late
fall, the display of flowers, colours
and textures in the prairie
constantly changes and delights.
Does your land contain native
prairie? Old furrow lines or rock
piles likely mean the area
was cultivated in the past,
but some cultivated fields
may have reverted to native
species if they were not
cropped for long. Native
prairie vegetation contains
many different kinds of
plants and you will notice a
changing variety of flowers
throughout the growing
season. Plants such as Needle and
Thread Grass, Prairie Crocus and
Western Snowberry ( Buckbrush)
are good indicators of native
prairie. For help with
identification, use plant
identification guides or consult
with a local expert.
Did you know that
on a 4-hectare (]O-acre)
parcel of native prairig
you may find as many as
200 different types of
grasset flowers and
shrubs!