Breiter-Palm Prairie

Breiter-Palm Prairie. . , Ephemeral Wetland Prairie , The park's center is an ephemeral wetland prairie. That means that it is a wetland only during the wet season. Plants that grow here are adapted to the seasonality of the moisture level in the soil. , , Dry Prairie , The east and west sides of the park feature dry prairie. Typically, dry prairies are found on hillsides and where there is sandy soil. , , When the first settlers came to the Bensenville area in the early 1800s, the Illinois landscape was made up mostly of prairies. In fact, Illinois had over 22 million acres of prairie! , , A prairie is a type grassland that is made up of grasses and forbs. Forbs are a type of flowering plant with soft stems and deep roots. The deep roots of prairie grasses and forbs can form a thick mat underground that traps and holds water. Above the ground, hundreds of different types of prairie plants can live together, providing food and shelter to many animals. , , While this area was once cultivated as a greenhouse business, conservation experts have restored this area back to its natural prairie ecosystem. , , Mesic Prairie , In the northern corners of Breiter-Palm Park are mesic prairie systems. A mesic prairie is one with soil that is slightly damp for much of the year, but not the whole year. , , You Can Save Prairies Too! , Only about 2000 acres of original Illinois prairie remains. Volunteer with one of the many organizations doing prairie restoration work in your area and you'll be helping to provide habitat for Illinois threatened plant and animal species.