PRAIRIE PARKLAND
(TEMPERATE) PROVINCE
part of the Great Plains!
Prairie Parkland Province
Includes the partial parts of the states of:
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Illinois
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Iowa
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Missouri
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Indiana
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Kansas
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Minnesota
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Nebraska
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Oklahoma
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North Dakota
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South Dakota
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Continental climate with cold winters and hot summers.
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Moderate amounts of precipitation that occurs mainly during growing season.
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Mainly plains with areas of low hills, intermingled with dry and moist prairies, and deciduous trees found near water sources, with oak and hickory in abundance, as well as cottonwood and elm.
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Prairies consisting of medium height grasses: Big and little bluestem, switchgrass, and Indian grass. (These areas are much smaller due to farming and encroaching forests)
Flora and Fauna ...
Our geographical area, the Prairie Parkland/Temperate Province, in regards to beekeeping, creates some really wonderful honey, inspite of it's unique challenges (weather changes, for one).
This is by no means a complete listing of all the plantings that bees choose to visit throughout our growing seasons, and although beekeeping will not make you an entomologist, master gardner, or a meteorologist, you will gain more knowledge and be more aware of critters, plants and the weather changes in your environment ...
Bloom Time Beginning in MARCH
Phlox
Weeping Willow
Rhu Anemone
Henbit
Maple
Wild Indigo
Dandelion
Bloom Time Beginning in APRIL
Tickseed
Chokecherry Bloom
White Sumac
Wild Columbine
Bee Balm
Eastern Redbud
Box Elder
Wild Plum
Bloom Time Beginning in MAY
Beardtongue
Wild Blackberry
Violets
Wild Rose
Primrose
Queen Ann's Lace
Hawthorn
Black-eyed Susan
Bloom Time Beginning in JUNE
Spirea
Lead Plant
Red Prairie Coneflower
Purple Coneflower
Purple Prairie Clover
Common Milkweed
(Butterflies)
Bloom Time Beginning in JULY
Aster
Prairie Dock
Cardinal Flower
Buttonbush
Ironweed Plant
New Jersey Tea
Joe-Pye Weed
Bloom Time Beginning in AUGUST
Gentian
Goldenrod
Gayfeather