Prairies, or warm-season grasslands are composed mainly of grasses and forbs that are native to Ohio. Prairies were once common in southwest Ohio. They were remnants of a time some 6000-8000 years ago when western Ohio was drier. Prairie plants grow mainly in the summer and set seeds in the fall.
Most MetroParks prairies, like this one, have been planted on abandoned farm land.
Over 100 acres of degraded farmland and dumps have been cleared and planted into native Ohio prairie at Possum Creek. The prairie took years to establish, but now thrives on the poor ground. It is currently one of the largest and most diverse planted prairies in Ohio.
