Nebraskaland

October 2024 • Nebraskaland 37 violets into grasslands during the coolness of late September, allowing the plants to avoid the stress of summer's heat, but giving their roots time to take hold in the soil before entering winter dormancy. Bailey grows and transplants between 1,500 and 2,000 violets annually. The majority are prairie violets, but she also grows other violets regal fritillary caterpillars are known to eat, including Missouri violet (V. missouriensis), which is native to eastern Nebraska wet meadows; lance- leaved violet (V. lanceolata), which is native to northeastern Sandhills wet meadows; and downy blue violet (V. sororia), which is common in grasslands and woodlands throughout the state. Her violets have been planted into prairie restorations and existing prairies throughout eastern Nebraska. Measuring Success In September 2018, 300 of Bailey's prairie violets were planted into two go-back prairies, long-abandoned farm fi elds now mostly colonized by native and non-native grasses, in Pawnee County. They were planted in marked rows with plants spaced a yard apart to allow follow-up monitoring. Luckily, a week of good rain followed. The following spring, the plants were counted, and beyond expectation, 93 percent survived through their fi rst winter. Bailey said that at most transplant sites, 40 to 60 percent of violets survive their fi rst winter. Better yet, at the go-back prairies and other transplant sites, new violet plants are now becoming established from the originals via seed or rhizomes, shallow underground stems with buds. Transplants and wild violets need energy and require full exposure to the sun in spring for leaf growth, fl owering and seed set. If shaded by tall grass or thick thatch during this critical time, they will not reproduce and may not even survive. The go-back prairies are managed with grazing, which limits both grass growth and thatch. Well- timed haying and prescribed fi re can also achieve the same result. Proper grassland management at transplant sites is crucial to sustain violets and a variety of other wildfl owers adult regal fritillaries need for food. Bailey admits that the return on investment of her violet transplants for regal fritillaries is still unknown, and true success will only be realized when the transplant site's violet population can sustain the butterfl y's caterpillars. Unfortunately, the caterpillars are extremely hard to fi nd; after years of searching, Bailey has encountered only one, complicating the measuring of success. While the long-term eff ects of her work are still being evaluated, she will continue to grow violets and learn. It's the passion and knowledge of people like Bailey that drives conservation. N Sarah Bailey poses for a photo before planting prairie violets in a grazed mixed- grass prairie on the Sherman Ranch in Hamilton. GERRY STEINAUER, NEBRASKALAND A regal fritillary caterpillar feeds on a prairie violet. SARAH BAILEY, PRAIRIE PLAINS RESOURCE INSTITUTE

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