Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area

Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area is a protected grassland on a low hill in south-central Wisconsin. The site contains native grasses and wildflowers including silver beachweed, wild camas, and nodding onion among numerous other species.

This prairie piece escaped the plow because the Rettenmund family grazed it lightly rather than farming it intensively. The Prairie Enthusiasts organization took over management in 1999 and gained full ownership by 2007 to ensure permanent protection.

The name comes from the Rettenmund family who stewarded the land through generations and protected it from plowing. Today volunteers maintain the trails and remove invasive plants, keeping the native grassland visible and accessible for those who visit.

A simple walking trail leads from a parking area on Fesenfeld Road through the prairie. Access is straightforward and the site is easy to reach on foot, with gates and signs marking the way for visitors.

The protected area harbors rare plants such as pomme-de-prairie and the threatened rough-stemmed false foxglove species. These uncommon species indicate why this preserved prairie matters for the regional ecosystem.