Education & Interpretation at CSRA
Try these ways to learn about the trees, shrubs, and prairie plants found within Capital Springs Recreation Area.
Free Download Guide to Prairie Forbs & Grasses
Look for these plants walking prairie trails in the Capital Springs Recreation Area.
This Guide was developed by the Friends of Capital Springs Recreation Area and made possible by a grant from the Foundation for Dane County Parks
Prairie Learning Center’s Plant Labels
Learn to identify prairie plants while hiking at Capital Springs Recreation Area! These labels are made possible by two generous grants from the Foundation for Dane County Parks.
- Prairie plant labels alongside the drumlin prairie at Lewis Nine Springs E-Way prairie, Moorland Road
- Prairie plant labels alongside north prairie (north of group camp) at W.G. Lunney Lake Farm County Park, 4330 Libby Road (see park map)
Lead Plant label 
Cream Gentian label
The Prairie Learning Center’s Demonstration Gardens: Pollinator and Sensory Gardens
Thinking about starting a new perennial bed or need ideas to refresh an old one? Consider using native prairie plants! Not only are they resilient to harsh soil, moisture, and weather conditions, Wisconsin’s pollinators love them: watch as scores of butterflies and bumblebees visit your yard.
Monarch on Pale Purple Coneflower 
Pollinator Garden at the PLC: Smooth Penstemon 
Pollinator Garden at the PLC: Sky Blue Aster 
Pollinator Garden at the Prairie Learning Center in June
Visit the Pollinator Garden – located near the Lussier Family Heritage Center, 3101 Lake Farm Road, Madison, 53711 – to get ideas of great plants for full sun, mostly dry conditions, and clay soils.
Mayapple blooming 
Columbine blooming 
Solomon’s Plume blooming 
Starry Solomon’s Plume blooming 
Solomon’s-seal flowers emerging 
Starry Solomon’s Plume flowers emerging 
Woodland Phlox blooming 
Solomon’s Plume 
Solomon’s-seal 
Starry Solomon’s Plume 
Annual Bedstraw blooming 
White Trillium blooming 
Large-flowered Bellwort blooming – note the flying ant! 
Trout-lily blooming 
Greater Bee Fly – a bumble bee mimic! 
Wood Poppy blooming 
Yellow Forest Violet 
Jacob’s Ladder 
Spring Beauty blooming 
Sweet Cicely emerging 
Toothwort blooming 
Rue-anemone 
Columbine emerging 
Bloodroot with pollen-loaded Metallic Green Sweat Bee 
Hepatica blooming 
Mayapple 
Prairie Trillium 
Virginia Water-leaf 
Wild Strawberry 
Twinleaf emerging 
Dutchman’s Breeches in full bloom 
Bloodroot in bloom 
Wood Anemone emerging 
Wild Geranium emerging 
Spring Beauty not yet in full bloom 
Pennsylvania Sedge 
Small-flowered Buttercup 
Jack-in-the-Pulpit emerging 
Virginia Bluebells blooming 
Wood Anemone blooming 
Blue Cohosh blooming 
Jack-in-the-Pulpit blooming 
Common Wood Violet, white 
Pussytoes blooming 
Jacob’s Ladder blooming 
Wild Geranium blooming
Tree & Shrub Species Markers in CSRA
Find these tree and shrub species markers as you hike, bike, run, and ski on Capital Springs Recreation Area trails.
| Tree & Shrub Species Map & List in PDF |
