BRIT Prairie
The BRIT Prairie is both a time machine and a living science experiment that gives guests a glimpse at the local landscape before the arrival of farmers and ranchers in the 1840s.
The Front Prairie features native grasses and wildflowers. Developed in cooperation with the Central Texas Native Seeds Program, a program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services, the Front Prairie employs best practices for encouraging native plants to thrive.
The main BRIT Prairie recreates the landscape of the Fort Worth area before settlement in the 1840s. It also allows conservation scientists to study prairie ecosystems and research methods for restoring these native spaces.
Please tread lightly in this area as it’s an active groundwater recharge zone.
Highlights
The BRIT Prairie is designed to recreate the tall grass prairie that existed for millennia in this part of Texas.
The prairie contains a variety of native grasses, including little bluestem grass (Schizachyrium scoparium), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), and tall dropseed (Sporobolus compositus).
Eliminating invasive plant species from the prairie is an ongoing challenge. Invasive grasses, vines, and shrubs would quickly take over if they weren’t removed.
Native prairies were regularly subjected to wildfires and grazing by bison, elk, and deer. Periodically, the Garden conducts controlled burns and is currently planning to host grazing animals on the prairie to recreate these effects.
BRIT scientists conduct studies on the prairie to learn the best methods to help state agencies and landowners restore their own prairies.
Garden Gallery
Lightbox
FWBG | BRIT
Interactive Map
Explore our interactive map to plan your route and locate gardens, amenities, and attractions throughout the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
See Also:
Carousel items
