Walks With Matt: Summertime in the Prairie

Instructor: Matt Schuth, Naturalist, Author and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum expert for more than 40 years. Discover the awakening natural world around you through Matt's wealth of wisdom, trivia, and wit. Matt starts each walk with a show-and-tell from his collection of mammals, bird specimens, nests and eggs, for a hands-on experience of nature.

Take a guided stroll into the Bennett-Johnson Prairie, where a rich diversity of plants, animals and insects thrives. Listen for sedge wrens, indigo buntings, eastern kingbirds and field sparrows as they flit among the grasses. Spot keystone species like pocket gophers and badgers, whose underground work shapes the prairie.

Surrounded by big bluestem and wild Canada rye, you’ll find prairie wildflowers in full bloom — cup plant, prairie dock, rattlesnake master and wild indigo. Butterflies, including great spangled fritillaries, red admirals and eastern tiger swallowtails, add flashes of color, while the rare rusty patched bumblebee hums among the blooms.

As you walk together, you will: 

• Get naturalist-guided insights into the Bennett-Johnson Prairie, where a rich diversity of plants, animals and insects thrive.
• Listen for sedge wrens, indigo buntings, eastern kingbirds and field sparrows as they flit among the grasses.
• Discover how these species have adapted to fire, drought and shifting seasons in this ever-changing landscape.

Weather: As Minnesotans know, Mother Nature can be unpredictable…that is the joy and spontaneity of nature, and of these explorations. Be prepared for the weather and a possible change of subject matter based on what Mother Nature has in store for participants during this session. Walks will run rain or shine, and will not be canceled due to weather unless extreme conditions cause safety concerns.

Bring from home (suggested)

• Binoculars
• Magnifying glass
• Water bottle
• Practical shoes for walking over uneven paths
• Dress for the weather