Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Harkening back to an era when bison roamed our prairie-covered region, the Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum on the UW-Fond du Lac campus is an oasis of an ecosystem to be understood and treasured. Tracy McDermott, Gottfried executive director, will explain the history and value that prairies bring to our region at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 10, at the Fond du Lac Public Library. The program is free; no registration required.

Bradley Gottfried, former dean of UW-Fond du Lac, was a major force behind the creation of the arboretum, which began in 1991. The goal was to represent the original plant communities of Wisconsin before the prairie ecosystem disappeared from Wisconsin. Most of the wildflower seeds used at the Gottfried were collected from some of the last remaining original prairie sites in Fond du Lac County.

McDermott is a local environmental advocate who has had the opportunity to work with many

local environmental groups and educational organizations. Her presentation will cover a brief history of native prairies in the United States, our region’s unique ecosystem and the Gottfried’s role in preservation.