Every year, the City of Milton Parks & Recreation Commission teams up with the Rock County Conservationists to offer community members the opportunity to collect prairie wildflower seeds from established prairies owned by the City of Milton during free public programs.
The collection dates for 2020 are as follows:
- Tower Hill Park (Enter from St. Mary Street) - Saturday, October 10, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Crossridge Park (Enter from Brown Drive) - Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. to Noon
Each day during the established two-hour period, it will be possible for participants to collect a large volume of seeds, but participants are free to collect for less time than this if they desire. Participants can keep the seed for use on their own properties, or they can gather the seed for the City to use on various City-owned properties. On-site assistance will be provided to help you learn to identify the plants. Some tips for cleaning, storing, and planting the seeds will also be provided.
The seeds are best collected into large paper grocery bags. A pair of garden clippers is also recommended for clipping off the tough, spiny seed heads of some plants. Participants should be dressed for the weather and wear a pair of work gloves. We also ask participants to wear a face mask or cloth face covering and practice physical distancing.