Minnesota in Photos

An exploration of our state in images.

September 19, 2012

Photos: Harvesting native Minn. prairie species


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The fall harvest is under way at Prairie Restorations, Inc. in Princeton, Minn., where more than 100 native plant species are grown and sold. The business, which was started by two brothers in 1977, specializes in the supply and support of native prairie, wetland, woodland and shoreline plant communities. Owner Ron Bowen said the company restores about 1,500 acres of prairie a year and produces seed for roughly 5,000 acres of prairie a year.

Prairie harvest

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Princeton, Minnesota, USA — Trista Backlund and other Prairie Restorations, Inc. employees harvest Hoary Vervain in Princeton, Minn. Sept. 12, 2012. Prairie Restorations, Inc. specializes in the designing, restoring and managing of native plant communities. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Prairie harvest

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Princeton, Minnesota, USA — Trista Backlund holds a sample of Hoary Vervain during harvest in Princeton, Minn. Sept. 12, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Seed cleaner

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Princeton, Minnesota, USA — Greenhouse manager Raina Kujawa uses a seed cleaner to separate Prairie Cinquefoil seeds from the chaff at Prairie Restorations, Inc. in Princeton, Minn. Sept. 12, 2012. Prairie Restorations, Inc. sells more than 100 wildflower, sedge, grass and tree species. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Prairie Restorations brothers

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Princeton, Minnesota, USA — Prairie Restorations, Inc. founder and president Ron Bowen, right, chats on the phone with his brother and vice president John Bowen nearby. The brothers started the business in Princeton, Minn. in 1977 and the company has grown to a staff of 40 full-time employees in six locations. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Harvesting Little Bluestem

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Princeton, Minnesota, USA — Al Nord harvests a field of Little Bluestem at Prairie Restorations, Inc. in Princeton, Minn. Sept. 12, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Combining

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Princeton, Minnesota, USA — The combine rolls through a field of Little Bluestem at Prairie Restoration in Princeton, Minn. Sept. 12, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Emptying the combine

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Princeton, Minnesota, USA — Al Nord feeds Little Bluestem seed through an auger during harvest at Prairie Restorations, Inc. in Princeton, Minn. Sept. 12, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Drying seedheads

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Princeton, Minnesota, USA — Stiff Sunflower seedheads dry on a table at Prairie Restorations, Inc. in Princeton, Minn. Sept. 12, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Woodland plants

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Princeton, Minnesota, USA — Raina Kujawa examines a tray of plants in the woodland greenhouse at Prairie Restorations, Inc. in Princeton, Minn. Sept. 12, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Greenhouse manager

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Princeton, Minnesota, USA — Prairie Restorations, Inc. greenhouse manager Raina Kujawa collects plants from a greenhouse in Princeton, Minn. Sept. 12, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Drying the harvest

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Princeton, Minnesota, USA — Aaron Lueck, left, and Trista Backlund pile Hoary Vervain for drying at Prairie Restorations, Inc. in Princeton, Minn. Sept. 12, 2012. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

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