Robinson Park Hill Praires

Description

Robinson Park Hill Prairies Nature Preserve contains forest and high-quality, glacial drift hill prairies characteristic of the Grand Prairie Section of the Grand Prairie Natural Division. The preserve occurs on two long, narrow ridges and steep valley slopes drained by Moon Creek. A series of small glacial drift hill prairies occur on steep southwest-facing slopes along the two major ridges. Upland forest covers the slopes and valleys. Prairie openings are dominated by little bluestem and side-oats grama. Common prairie wildflowers include scurf pea, pale purple coneflower, yellow false foxglove, golden alexanders, purple prairie clover, and birdsfoot violet. Forested upper slopes are dominated by white oak, red oak, and shagbark hickory, while predominant trees on lower slopes and moist ravines are sugar maple, red oak, and basswood. Spectacular displays of wildflowers grace some of the rich, wooded slopes in the spring.