About • Location • Activities • Ecology
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Overview |
Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo is a County of Olmsted park less than 20 minutes west of Rochester. The 620 acres of mostly woodland span both sides of a bend in the Zumbro River, South Branch, Middle Fork. It includes about 12½ miles of hiking trails. The trails pass through moist oak-hickory forest along the river, through drier oak forest along the crests and upper slopes of the river bluffs, and around a restored or recreated prairie carved out of the woods at the bluff top. Some of the trails are narrow footpaths through dense forest, some are two-track seldom used utility roads through more open woodlands, some are wide mowed paths skirting the prairie. Oxbow Park contains two native plant communities. Seven plants with conservation status in Minnesota are found here, including handsome sedge, an endangered species, and rattlesnake master and white wild indigo, both special concern species. The Nature Center and Zollman Zoo are open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. They may not be open yet when you arrive early in the morning, and may be already closed when you finish your hike in the late afternoon. |
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Activities |
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Hiking Trail running Biking Mountain biking Horseback riding Picnicking Camping Swimming Boating Canoeing Birding Nature photography Horseshoes Volleyball Geocaching Cross country skiing Skate-skiing Winter hiking Snowshoeing Snowmobiling |
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Trails |
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Hunting and Fishing |
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Ecology |
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Ecological Classification |
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Ecological Province | Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province |
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Ecological Section | Paleozoic Plateau |
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Ecological Subsection | Rochester Plateau |
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Land Type Association | Chester Ridge Stewartville Plain |
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Native Plant Communities* |
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Oak - Shagbark Hickory Woodland Southern Mesic Maple-Basswood Forest |
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* Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources | |||||
Natural Features |
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Visitor Photos |
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Wayne Rasmussen |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
Park entrance |
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Parking lot and federal signal modulator |
Visitor center | |
Zumbro River, South Branch, Middle Fork |
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Oak - Shagbark Hickory Woodland |
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Zumbro Trail |
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North Meadow Trail |
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Bluff top prairie |
First Bridge |
Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
Let's Go, Minnesota! (Episode 105) Oxbow Park w/Mark Hall |
About
Jul 27, 2018 Hiking on the Maple Trail with host Brenda Piekarski and special guest Mark Hall. Enjoy the beautiful golden colors, and check out Mark's glass blowing studio. (Legacy, MPTA, KSMQ, 7-28-18) |
New nature center planned at Oxbow Park |
About
May 19, 2021 (ABC 6 News) - A new nature center with a price tag of more than 7 million dollars is being built at Oxbow Park. A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new center Wednesday. The current building was built in the 1980s and was never meant to handle the traffic the facility has grown to expect. "What we have here is a gem of southeast Minnesota with respect to nature, learning about nature, experiencing nature. It's a place that people from far and wide come and enjoy and as we get our new nature center, they will come from even further and enjoy and learn and be part of this very, very special place," Senator David Senjem said. The project will cost over 7 million dollars with funding from multiple places. 2.1 million comes from the state's parks and legacy fund while Olmsted County is contributing 3.5 million dollars. The Friends of Oxbow Park organization is hoping to raise 1 million from the public and donors to pitch in as well. "There's basically three different funding pools that are really helping push this along. We have always had really great community support for this park and I don't see anything less coming from this building," Olmsted County Park Director Karlin Ziegler said. The building will take about a year to construct and the additional amenities including a new entrance will be unveiled next fall. |
Oxbow Park Hike, Byron , MN |
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Published on May 18, 2015 Savannah and I go on a hike in Oxbow Park, Byron, MN. Peaceful nature trail. Enjoy and get out there! Wilter's World. |
Oxbow Park Promo |
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Published on Jun 2, 2014 A short promo video about Oxbow Park and what it has to offer. |
Federal Signal Modulator 6024 Oxbow Park, Minnesota |
About
Published on Aug 6, 2014 Here is my video another county park modulator. I have recored this one couple time but I wanted to get it 1080p and have the two voice messages. it was great to watch all of the parents and kids reactions to the FSK and The test |
An Autumn Walk at Oxbow Park |
About
Published on Oct 17, 2015 Come along with me as I walk through Autumn Splendor. Filmed at Oxbow County Park, Byron, MN on October 14, 2015. |
Oxbow Park.m4v |
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Published on May 19, 2012 Oxbow Park Trail, Byron, MN. Saturday, May 19, 2012 |
Visitor Sightings |
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Wayne Rasmussen |
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Oxbow Co Park & Zoo, Olmstead County The idea of a new park for Olmsted County was fostered by the Olmsted County Park Board and residents of the ark area. The initial 465 acres of land were purchased in 1967. Located in the Zumbro River Valley, the area offered ideal recreational opportunities. A large bend in the river, called an "oxbow" because of its resemblance to an ox yoke, gave the park its name. This "oxbow" has been preserved through bank stabilization and now surrounds the main picnic area. During the years since 1967, the park has been transformed from farm fields into a beautifully preserved area. A zoo was established in 1969 with the donation of native Minnesota animals from John Gilbertson, the regional game warden at that time. This zoo is now an integral part of park activities. In 1974, an additional 107 acres north of the park were purchased, protecting the park from future development. This brought the total size of the park to 572 acres. A nature center, completed in December, 1981, is located near the zoo. This facility expands both programming potential and work capabilities at the park and offers additional exhibit areas for public use. The uniqueness of Oxbow Park is found in the amount of public participation and support it has received since its founding. The dedication of park visitors to its well-being has made Oxbow a favorite spot for many in southeastern Minnesota. —from Olmstead Co. site |
Birds |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
Visits |
6/23/2016 |
The list below does not include fauna seen only in the zoo or in animal pens. The plant list does include a few plants seen only at the “Restored Prairie” demonstration plot next to the Visitor Center parking lot. |
Birds |
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American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) Eastern Wood-peewee (Contopus virens) Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) |
Fishes |
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Fungi and Lichens |
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Cedar-hawthorn Rust (Gymnosporangium globosum) Artist’s Conk (Ganoderma applanatum) Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa) Crown-tipped Coral (Artomyces pyxidatus) Dryad’s Saddle (Cerioporus squamosus) Elderberry Rust (Puccinia bolleyana) False Turkey Tail (Stereum ostrea) Mica Cap (Coprinellus micaceus) Purple Bordered Leaf Spot (Phyllosticta minima) Scaly Rustgill (Gymnopilus sapineus) |
Insects and Arachnids |
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ash bead gall mite (Aceria fraxini) common wood nymph (Cercyonis pegala) convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens) ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) elm finger gall mite (Aceria parulmi) goldenrod bunch gall midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis) goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis) hackberry nipplegall maker (Pachypsylla celtidismamma) Leconte’s haploa (Haploa lecontei) linden wart gall midge (Contarinia verrucicola) maple spindle-gall mite (Vasates aceriscrumena) phylloxera gall of hickory (Phylloxera sp.) red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) white snakeroot leaf miner (Liriomyza eupatoriella) widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) wood nettle gall midge (Dasineura investita) |
Mammals |
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American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) |
Plants |
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Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List |
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Plants frequently found in: |
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Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana) American cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum) American elm (Ulmus americana) American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana) American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis) American woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca ssp. americana) annual fleabane (Erigeron annuus) balsam fir (Abies balsamea var. balsamea) Bell’s honeysuckle (Lonicera × bella) big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi) Bigelow’s bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix var. bigeloviana) bigleaf aster (Eurybia macrophylla) bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata) bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis) bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) black bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus) black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina) black maple (Acer saccharum ssp. nigrum) black medick (Medicago lupulina) black mustard (Brassica nigra) black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima) black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii) bland sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii) bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo) bristly greenbrier (Smilax tamnoides) bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare) bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa) butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa ssp. interior) Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) Canada moonseed (Menispermum canadense) Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) Canadian clearweed (Pilea pumila) Canadian honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis) Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense) Canadian woodnettle (Laportea canadensis) chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana) clammy groundcherry (Physalis heterophylla) common agrimony (Agrimonia gryposepala) common blue violet (Viola sororia) common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) common burdock (Arctium minus) common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale) common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) common false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum) common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) common motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca) common mullein (Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus) common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) cut-leaved coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata) dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis ssp. matronalis) dotted hawthorn (Crataegus punctata) downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) early figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata) early meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum) eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) fragrant bedstraw (Galium triflorum) garden yellowrocket (Barbarea vulgaris) garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) giant chickweed (Myosoton aquaticum) giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) golden alexanders (Zizia aurea) gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) hemlock water-parsnip (Sium suave) interrupted fern (Claytosmunda claytoniana) jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) kidney-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus abortivus) large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) large-fruited black snakeroot (Sanicula trifoliata) late horse gentian (Triosteum perfoliatum) long-leaved bluet (Houstonia longifolia) lowland hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata var. comosa) marijuana (Cannabis sativa var. sativa) Maryland black snakeroot (Sanicula marilandica) May-apple (Podophyllum peltatum) Missouri gooseberry (Ribes missouriense) Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) narrow-leaved purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) northern hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) northern lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum) northern maidenhair (Adiantum pedatum) northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) northern prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) northern red oak (Quercus rubra) northern shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) northern starflower (Lysimachia borealis) northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica) pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata var. fasciculata) Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus) pineapple-weed (Matricaria discoidea) plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera) plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides ssp. acanthoides) pointed-leaved tick-trefoil (Hylodesmum glutinosum) prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea) purple-stem angelica (Angelica atropurpurea) quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium) * red clover (Trifolium pratense) red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa) reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) rose twisted-stalk (Streptopus lanceolatus var. longipipes) rough bedstraw (Galium asprellum) rough cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) rough oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra) round-headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata) sandbar willow (Salix interior) scouring rush horsetail (Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine) sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) sharp-lobed hepatica (Anemone acutiloba) shorthair goldenrod (Solidago altissima var. gilvocanescens) silver maple (Acer saccharinum) spinulose wood fern (Dryopteris carthusiana) spotted lady’s thumb (Persicaria maculosa) spreading Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans var. reptans) stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida) sugar maple (Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum) sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) tall thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana) timothy (Phleum pratense ssp. pratense) touch-me-not (Impatiens sp.) upright carrionflower (Smilax ecirrhata) virgin’s bower (Clematis virginiana) Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) Virginia stickseed (Hackelia virginiana) Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum) western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii) white bear sedge (Carex albursina) white campion (Silene latifolia ssp. alba) white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens) white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. candida) white rattlesnake root (Nabalus albus) white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima var. altissima) white wild indigo (Baptisia alba var. macrophylla) white-flowered leafcup (Polymnia canadensis) wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata) wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea) woundwort (Stachys pilosa var. arenicola) yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis)
Abies balsamea var. balsamea (balsam fir) Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder) Acer saccharinum (silver maple) Acer saccharum ssp. nigrum (black maple) Acer saccharum ssp. saccharum (sugar maple) Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) Adiantum pedatum (northern maidenhair) Ageratina altissima var. altissima (white snakeroot) Agrimonia gryposepala (common agrimony) Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) Ambrosia trifida (giant ragweed) Amphicarpaea bracteata var. comosa (lowland hog peanut) Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem) Anemone acutiloba (sharp-lobed hepatica) Anemone virginiana (tall thimbleweed) Angelica atropurpurea (purple-stem angelica) Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine) Arctium minus (common burdock) Arisaema triphyllum (jack-in-the-pulpit) Asarum canadense (Canadian wild ginger) Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) Asclepias tuberosa ssp. interior (butterfly weed) Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum (northern lady fern) Baptisia alba var. macrophylla (white wild indigo) Barbarea vulgaris (garden yellowrocket) Brassica nigra (black mustard) Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed) Cannabis sativa var. sativa (marijuana) Carduus acanthoides (plumeless thistle) Carex albursina (white bear sedge) Carya cordiformis (bitternut hickory) Carya ovata (northern shagbark hickory) Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh) Celtis occidentalis (northern hackberry) Chamaecrista fasciculata var. fasciculata (partridge pea) Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle) Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle) Clematis virginiana (virgin’s bower) Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood) Crataegus punctata (dotted hawthorn) Cryptotaenia canadensis (Canadian honewort) Dalea candida var. candida (white prairie clover) Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover) Dryopteris carthusiana (spinulose wood fern) Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leaved purple coneflower) Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower) Echinocystis lobata (wild cucumber) Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye) Elymus hystrix var. bigeloviana (Bigelow’s bottlebrush grass) Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine (scouring rush horsetail) Erigeron annuus (annual fleabane) Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus (Philadelphia fleabane) Erigeron strigosus (prairie fleabane) Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium (rattlesnake master) * Eurybia macrophylla (bigleaf aster) Fallopia convolvulus (black bindweed) Fragaria vesca ssp. americana (American woodland strawberry) Fragaria virginiana (wild strawberry) Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash) Galium asprellum (rough bedstraw) Galium triflorum (fragrant bedstraw) Geranium maculatum (wild geranium) Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy) Hackelia virginiana (Virginia stickseed) Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (rough oxeye) Heracleum maximum (American cow parsnip) Hesperis matronalis ssp. matronalis (dame’s rocket) Houstonia longifolia (long-leaved bluet) Hydrophyllum virginianum var. virginianum (Virginia waterleaf) Hylodesmum glutinosum (pointed-leaved tick-trefoil) Impatiens sp. (touch-me-not) Laportea canadensis (Canadian woodnettle) Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca (common motherwort) Lespedeza capitata (round-headed bush clover) Lonicera × bella (Bell’s honeysuckle) Lonicera morrowii (Morrow’s honeysuckle) Lysimachia borealis (northern starflower) Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower) Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum (common false Solomon’s seal) Matricaria discoidea (pineapple-weed) Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica (ostrich fern) Medicago lupulina (black medick) Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweet clover) Menispermum canadense (Canada moonseed) Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot) Myosoton aquaticum (giant chickweed) Nabalus albus (white rattlesnake root) Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose) Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern) Osmorhiza claytonii (bland sweet cicely) Claytosmunda claytoniana (interrupted fern) Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana (American hophornbeam) Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel) Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine) Pastinaca sativa (wild parsnip) Penstemon digitalis (foxglove beardtongue) Persicaria maculosa (spotted lady’s thumb) Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass) Phleum pratense ssp. pratense (timothy) Physalis heterophylla (clammy groundcherry) Pilea pumila (Canadian clearweed) Pinus strobus (eastern white pine) Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain) Podophyllum peltatum (May-apple) Polemonium reptans var. reptans (spreading Jacob’s ladder) Polymnia canadensis (white-flowered leafcup) Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera (plains cottonwood) Populus grandidentata (bigtooth aspen) Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen) Potentilla recta (sulphur cinquefoil) Prunus serotina var. serotina (black cherry) Prunus virginiana var. virginiana (chokecherry) Quercus ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak) Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak) Quercus rubra (northern red oak) Ranunculus abortivus (kidney-leaved buttercup) Ratibida pinnata (gray-headed coneflower) Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn) Ribes missouriense (Missouri gooseberry) Rubus allegheniensis (Allegheny blackberry) Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry) Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima (black-eyed Susan) Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata (cut-leaved coneflower) Salix interior (sandbar willow) Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa (red elderberry) Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot) Sanicula marilandica (Maryland black snakeroot) Sanicula trifoliata (large-fruited black snakeroot) Scrophularia lanceolata (early figwort) Silene latifolia ssp. alba (white campion) Sium suave (hemlock water-parsnip) Smilax ecirrhata (upright carrionflower) Smilax tamnoides (bristly greenbrier) Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet nightshade) Solidago altissima var. gilvocanescens (shorthair goldenrod) Solidago flexicaulis (zigzag goldenrod) Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod) Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod) Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed) Stachys pilosa var. arenicola (woundwort) Streptopus lanceolatus var. longipipes (rose twisted-stalk) Tanacetum vulgare (common tansy) Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion) Thalictrum dioicum (early meadow-rue) Thlaspi arvense (field pennycress) Thuja occidentalis (northern white cedar) Tilia americana var. americana (American basswood) Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy) Trifolium pratense (red clover) Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover) Triosteum perfoliatum (late horse gentian) Ulmus americana (American elm) Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle) Uvularia grandiflora (large-flowered bellwort) Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus (common mullein) Viola pubescens (downy yellow violet) Viola sororia (common blue violet) Xanthium strumarium (rough cocklebur) |
Reptiles |
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Created: 7/1/2016 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |