On this annual day of Thanksgiving, it is appropriate to thank those who have donated property to conservation organizations; as relentless human "development" gobbles up natural ecosystems, their gifts are especially valuable. Among those who deserve our thanks are Herb and Joan Domke; now deceased, they donated their farm in New Bloomfield, Missouri, to the Prairie Garden Trust.
Stretching along and atop the east wall of the Hillers Creek Valley, the preserve is a mosaic of forest, prairie, wetlands and ponds, accessed by a fine network of trails. Open to the public from April through October (though permission must be requested in advance), we were granted off-season access yesterday.
We enjoyed a two hour walk through the refuge, encountering the usual mix of winter songbirds and a flock of wild turkeys along the way. Several overlooks offer spectacular views of the Hillers Creek gorge and we were pleased to discover that Mississippian limestone within the creek bed harbors ancient coral fossils (see photo). Our personal thanks to the Domkes for donating the property and to the Prairie Garden Trust for protecting and managing this oasis of native natural habitat.
