With echinacea identification under our belt, it was time to get acquainted with our new friend: stipa. (Officially Hesperostipa spartea, but we’re on a first-name basis now.) While it blends in better among the other grasses, we learned the tell of its long, wispy, thread-like leaves. And of course, the flowering culms reminiscent of a porcupine with their quill-like awns.
As we visited our new stipa friends in exPt01, we were met by a variety of personalities: large, outgoing stipa who made their presence known from meters away; sneaky characters who attempted to elude our sight; self-care stipa taking a year off from flowering; a couple of rogue stipa who sprung up somewhere unexpected; and of course, those unfound who may have passed away this year. Rest in peace. We also encountered a few creatures along the way, including a large garter snake who, while very friendly, likely did not want to be our long-term sidekick and was thenceforth returned to the cool earth.
Over the 4th of July weekend, I visited Willow River State Park in Wisconsin, where I put my new stipa identification skills to use in the wild and located a stipa plant, pictured below. I was very excited. My hiking-mates smiled and nodded, not quite under the same stipa spell as I. Can you spot the stipa?
After waiting for the improved visibility of a cloudy overcast to conduct one final search through exPt01, the day arrived and we found the final 19 flowering stipa plants still lingering among the grasses, concluding our stipa collection expedition.
Overall, we found 100 flowering plants and 52 basal plants this season. The total culm count was 358 with one plant having 24 culms. Of the 152 plants, 40 were at locations not planned on being searched this year, meaning they may have been marked as missing the past couple years when a plant was still there. Two were rogue plants (new offspring). This was a big year for flowering stipa, as last year there were only 44 flowering plants but 150 basal plants.
Reproduction in plants can be limited by access to pollen and resources. We previously found that Echinacea plants in the remnants are pollen limited, meaning that if they had access to more pollen, they would produce more seeds. However, the long-term effects of pollen limitation are unknown. Do plants that are super pollen saturated and have high amounts of pollen have a higher lifetime fitness than plants that are pollen limited? Also, we know that the plants in the remnants are pollen limited, but are the plants in the common garden environment also pollen limited? To answer these questions and more, 14 years ago Gretel randomly selected 39 plants from p1; half of these plants were randomly assigned to the pollen addition group, and the others were assigned to pollen exclusion. Every year, plants in the pollen exclusion have their heads bagged and they are not pollinated, while we hand cross every style in the pollen addition group.
In the summer of 2026, NONE of the original 39 addition/exclusion plants were flowering. If any had been flowering, the exclusion treatment plants would be covered with exclusion bags to prevent pollination, and the addition plants would be hand-pollinated multiple times throughout the summer. Of the 25 plants that were identified as alive last year, 24 were successfully found again this year.
Our 2026 field season kicked off on Monday, June 29th! Stuart, Aaron, Maria, Yavonne, and I (Max) met at the Hjelm house in the morning for a brief but comprehensive introduction to the project before heading out in Stuart’s truck to see some of the study sites.
We started at Staffanson Prairie, where Stuart gave us the lay of the land and introduced us to some prairie plants while a swarm of ravenous mosquitos introduced us to some prairie insects. Then an unexpected storm cloud rolled through to introduce us to some prairie weather and we hopped back into Stuart’s truck. The rest of the tour was given through the truck windows, except for a brief stop at Hegg Lake (where I promptly lost my sunglasses).
Stuart, Aaron, Yavonne, and Maria at StaffansonA bee hiding out from the sudden downpour under an Echinacea head
Tuesday was our introduction to experimental plot #1 (exPt01). After a quick demonstration of Visor data entry, we were set free to measure inbreeding experiment 1 (INB1). We would be recording plant status (Basal/Flowering/Can’t Find), counting basal and flowering rosettes, and counting basal leaves. For flowering plants, we would also be twist-tying and recording flowering head information. This task was daunting at first, but we quickly figured out how to identify individual rosettes and sort through a thick layer of duff to count leaves. It helped that we had Aaron, who had already worked with the Echinacea Project for a full summer last year, to answer our questions.
By the end of the day on Thursday, we had finished our measurements in INB1 and INB2. Between the two experiments, we searched 381 positions for plants. We were unable to find 66 plants (we’ll return to these later in the summer to search again), and recorded 310 plants. These numbers are roughly on par with what was expected, given last year’s plant count (329) and a year’s worth of mortality. What surprised us was the frequency of flowering plants: while last year’s team found 92 flowering plants between the two experiments, we encountered only four!
Why this discrepancy? It probably has to do with fire. ExPt01 was burned last year, and we know from the past three decades of research that fire enhances Echinacea angustifolia flower and seed production. Maybe the Echinacea plants in INB1 and INB2 are still rebounding from last year’s flowering event? Maybe the somewhat cool start to the summer delayed flowering phenology? Maybe we made an outrageous counting mistake and missed 80+ flowering plants? All of these explanations are plausible. Only time and future flog posts will reveal the truth. Stay tuned!
I’m interested in the natural world around me. I want to learn more about and help all the plants and animals around me. I am excited to learn more research skills and how experiments in nature can be run.
Statement
I am from Morris; I have grown up in west central Minnesota and lived here my whole life. I love getting to see the little parts of nature hidden between towns or fields that otherwise get ignored. I have been lucky enough to visit almost every state park in Minnesota. I loved seeing what the land has to offer and all its little secrets. Indoors, I love music, playing instruments, art, and of course playing with my pets. I have three dogs and two ball pythons who bring me joy and entertainment everyday. I think that if a person finds anything scary in nature it just means they don’t know enough about it, everything is worth learning about and understanding.
I am a rising senior at Northwestern University majoring in Biological Sciences and Environmental Science. This summer I am a field research technician with Team Echinacea!
Pronouns: She/her
Research Interests
I’m interested how we can help protect and conserve the amazing ecosystems and species found on our planet, especially working to prioritize this even in the face of expanding human development and economic and political pressures. I’m also interested in evolution and genetics and how species adapt and change over time in the face of stressors. I am fascinated by research, like that done by the echinacea project, can be used to inform large-scale decision making.
Statement
I’m from Blaine, Minnesota, and I’m super excited to be back in MN after spending a couple summers away. I love being outside, exploring new places, and taking slow moments to sit and observe wildlife. I enjoy listening to music, going to concerts, and playing guitar. I also enjoy reading and going to antique, thrift and record stores.
I am a field research technician beginning my career in ecology with the Echinacea Project! I recently graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, where I studied environmental science with a focus on conservation biology.
Pronouns: he/him
Research Interests
I’m interested in restoration ecology and plant conservation, particularly in highly human-disturbed areas such as the agricultural lands of Douglas County, Minnesota where the Echinacea Project does its work. I plan to pursue a PhD in the near future, and am hoping to learn more about the research process this summer.
Statement
I grew up near Los Angeles, California, spending much of my childhood exploring the nearby Santa Monica Mountains. I like backpacking, surfing, doodling, dinosaurs, and native plants. Although I have often visited my family in the Midwest, I’ve never lived here, and I am excited to experience everything that West Central Minnesota has to offer!
Myself (Max), thrilled to be surrounded by vegetation
I am Highschool Research Intern this year, as well as, I am a freshly admitted student at the University of Minnesota: Twin Cities, for a degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior. I am excited to be on the team for a second time!
Pronouns: He/Him
Research Interests
This year I am excited to learn more about the prairie, seeing some of the same and different flowers, and working with a new team.
Statement
I have always been here in the area. I grew up in Alexandria, Minnesota. Some fun facts about me is that I am very involved in the arts. I throw pottery, I sing, and I have played violin for 10+ years. In the fall I plan to audition for the U of M Orchestra! An interesting fact about me is that I became an uncle at 3 years old.
Congratulations to Maddie Sadler! Maddie graduates this weekend with a Masters degree from Northwestern University. Well done, Maddie! Last night the Program in Plant Biology and Conservation hosted a very nice ceremony for 17 graduates. Stuart, Gretel, and Maddie’s parents, brother, & friends attended, including Maddie DiMarco. It was great to see everyone at this joyful event.
Maddie’s thesis title: Asteraceae species richness along Minnesota prairie corridor: what types of prairie harbor the most diversity
Searching for somethingLea and Ashley in Perkins.Gina, Matt, Lea, Taylor, and Ben 2015Lea and Alex Volunteers show Sam, Lea and me how to dissect heads and count achenes. From left, Suzanne, Bill (in back), Char, me, Art, Aldo, Sam, Lea, Suzie.Lea Surveys Plants at Staffanson Prairie Preserve August 2018Lea does the reverse-sauna in the freezer.Lea, Elif, and Riley at a volunteer appreciation eventInterns, graduate students, volunteers, and full-time scientists convene for the Team Echinacea annual potluck! 2019Lea in 2016First row (L to R): Lois, Art, Leslie, Amy, Laura; Second row: Susie, Char, Gretel, Anne, Stuart, Allen, Mike, Ivy, Lea, Scott, Shelley. Not pictured: Aldo, Susan, Michele, Marty, Naomi, Sam, Kathryn, Lou, Suzanne, Nicolette, Sarah.the scholar at workLeah watching the Runestone Days parade.The Team from summer 2017Lea Richardson in the prairieLea and AmyTeam Echinacea 2015Lea in the prairieTeam members learning the ways of aphids.
Lea Richardson died on Friday April 3rd due to complications from melanoma. She was surrounded by friends and family in a hospital in California.
Lea joined Team Echinacea in June 2015 when she participated in a Research Experience for Teachers internship at our field site in Minnesota. It was a bold move for a teacher from Los Angeles public schools to try out research in rural Minnesota. She loved working with the team and developed a passion for fieldwork. She also relished fun times like swimming at the lake after work and adventures with the team. Lea liked it so much she stayed longer than she planned that summer and returned the next summer.
Lea joined the Ph.D. program in Plant Biology and Conservation at Northwestern University and conducted research at our field site in Minnesota. Lea was a valued member of the department and looked out for those excluded from opportunities and advancement in science. She was a stellar student earning many academic honors.
Lea was an accomplished teacher and believed in the power of education to empower students—especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition to classroom teaching, Lea engaged students from diverse backgrounds in her research and conservation activities in the field and in the lab. She modeled a growth mindset in formal and informal settings.
Lea enjoyed facing the many challenges (physical, intellectual, and logistical) of conducting ecological research. Lea’s dissertation made substantial contributions to basic science and to conservation. She used multi-year experiments to investigate how prescribed fire and other disturbances affect the timing of flowering of prairie plant populations and their persistence in the face of environmental change. We are proud of Lea and of the good work she did for people, the prairie, and the planet. She made many diverse contributions through her work with Team Echinacea.
After her graduation Lea returned to California as a post-doctoral research fellow. Lea dedicated her substantial talents to science, mentoring, and conservation. She continued to collaborate with Team Echinacea on research papers and projects until she fell ill in spring 2025.
Team Echinacea gained so much from Lea. Lea will be missed.
Lea Richardson in a prairie in western Minnesota.
UPDATE: Memorial service Friday, May 8th at 2 pm All Saints Church 132 N Euclid Ave Pasadena, CA 91101
