Romance Prairie features a dry prairie remnant and overgrown oak savanna and forest overlooking Cox Creek and the nearby town of Romance. The site is located nearly 6 miles east of Genoa on STH 56 and approximately 1/2 mile east of the North Fork of the Bad Axe River. The DNR site references an access lane but elsewhere states this lane is closed to public use. Park on the side of the road and make your way up the side of the bluff, using the aforementioned lane at your own risk.
Upon arriving at the base of the slope, I began the ascent as it were through various shrubs and trees. Eventually reaching the top, I found an overgrown woodland. It seemed to have good bones, but needs some serious management. I then headed toward the southwest corner of the bluff, aiming for the small, 5 acre, dry prairie remnant. Here too, management is needed as woody species are encroaching on the prairie. Honeysuckle was a noted offender. The most common flowering species noted were prairie coreopsis and harebell with pale-spike lobelia and thimbleweed mixed in. A few rough blazing stars were just beginning to flower but hadn’t yet fully regaled the prairie with their resplendent blooms. My understanding is that a formal management plan is being developed for this site and a visit will be in order in the future to see the benefits of this plan in action.
More of my photos (and full-res) from Romance Prairie can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 418 |
| County | Vernon |
| Natural Communities / Geology | Bluff, Southern Oak Forest |
| Size (Acres) | 77 |
| Parking | Wayside |
| Trails | No |
| Easy to Find | Yes |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | No |
| Ownership | Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within |
n/a |
| Dates Visited | 6.25.11 |
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State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 