Ecological Features - Herbacious Cover Types
Old
Fields
Much of Merry Lea’s landscape was in row crop agriculture from the
early 20th century until the late 1970’s. Many of these sites were
abandoned and left to
natural succession. 
They are represented by herbaceous species, mainly
non-native
(introduced/exotic), but also some which are native. Typical species include:
Canada and tall goldenrods, Queen Anne’s lace, brome, orchard grass,
tall fescue, crimson
clover, sweet clover, black-eyed Susan, beebalm, ironweed
Prairies
Bear Lake Prairie, a wet prairie with little bluestem grass and sedges, represents
the tall grass prairie type that would have been found scattered throughout
N.E. Indiana. It developed on a marl clay ridge that emerged when Bear
Lake water levels were lowered for agricultural drainage at the end of
the 1880’s. 
Prairie plantings have been established on about 50 acres of abandoned cropland across Merry Lea since 1994. They contain species that are documented to have been native to Noble County.
