Ben Lee of Prairie Restoration watches over the prescribed burn late November at the Juniper Partners property in the LaCrosse Blufflands in LaCrosse, Wisc.  The prescribed burn is necessary in order to control invasive species and restore the original habitat.

Andrew Aher of the Winona State University Nursing Club helps cut buckthorn in October at the Ledebuhr property.  The Ledebuhr property is privately owned but is has an easement with MVC to gurantee the preservation of the land in case it is ever sold.

WSU student Pete Swansen looks at snail shells shown by Abby Crown-Vetch of MVC in October at the Ledebuhr property in Bluff Siding, Wisc.  Education is part of gaining awareness for area conservation according to MVC.

The Medary Quarry leaves a once natural prairie scarred in the LaCrosse Blufflands in LaCrosse Wisc.  The LaCrosse Blufflands is a combination of public property, private easements and MVC acquisitions totaling 864 protected acres.

Abbie Church of MVC cuts into a Black Locust tree late November in the LaCrosse Blufflands in LaCrosse, Wisc.  The Black Locust is an invasive species that has a central root system but sprouts out of the ground in many spots over a large area making it hard to find and control.

Sara Randle of MVC girdles Black Locust trees to kill sprouts.  The invasive species is girdeled instead of cut down because it would grow more sprouts.

The sun sets over the Juniper Partners property, a part of the LaCrosse Blufflands in LaCrosse, Wisc.  On the other side of this bluff a prescribed fire burns to restore the bluff to it’s original environment.

Chris Kaolin of Tallgrass Restoration ignites a head fire as part of a prescribed burn late November at the Juniper Partners property in LaCrosse Wisc.  The prescribed burn will allow native vegetation to grow faster and stronger next spring.

A mix of gasoline and diesel is used to ignite prescribed burns.  The burn kills dead vegetation and invading plants which returns vital nutrients to the ground and exposes the ground to more oxygen and sunlight for native species to thrive.

Matthew Edens began giving free hugs to others when he saw a video about the original ‘free hug guy,’ Juan Mann.  Edens said he will celebrate his third year of free hugs Tuesday.

Edens offers hugs to passing perspective students Friday in WSU’s courtyard.  Edens had one taker.

Edens takes a break mid November at the Newman Center.; Edens doesn’t like to wear shoes or socks; he said he will wear sandals until there is snow on the ground.

Edens directs WSU’s Catholic Newman Center choir Sunday at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.  After last year’s director resigned, Edens took her place.

WSU student James Metellos leaps onto a rock for a hug Friday in the Winona State University courtyard.  Matello said this was his second hug from the ‘free hug guy,’ Matthew Edens.

Other shots from November 15, 2009

Josh Hessler lines up a put at the East Lake Winona frisbee golf course in Winona, Minn.  Hessler said he plays everyday at the 18-hole disc golf course.

Joe Burbach, a crossing guard at Madison Elementary School, waits at the corner of Seventh and Dacota Streets Wednesday in Winona, Minn.  Being a crossing guard is a family business for the Burbach’s, Joe’s sister (pictured) and parents also work at Madison.

WSU students and MVC employees break for lunch Tuesday at the top of the Ledebuhr Bluff Property in Bluff Siding, Wis.  After the hike students helped clear Buckthorn and Honeysuckle from the site.  MVC said Buckthorn and Honeysuckle are invasive species choking the natural prairie.

Winona State University student Pete Swanson looks at snail shells Tuesday presented by Abby Crown-Vetch of Mississippi Valley Conservany at the Ledebuhr Bluff Property.  Crown-Vetch said that it’s a mystery how the snails were able to survive on top of a bluff which has a dry climate. Both sides said the partnership of WSU and MVC will help answer some of these questions.

The stumps of Buckthorn are sprayed with an environmentally safe chemical that prevents the tree from growing.  The stumps glow green when sprayed to keep track of which ones have been sprayed.

WSU students helped cut down Buckthorn and Honeysuckle with the MVC Tuesday at the Ledebuhr Bluff Property in Bluff Siding, Wis.  WSU professor Drake Hokanson said in the future WSU biologists will help identify, catalog and examine the habitat on the 20-acre property.  The goal is to return the land to its original state.

Anna Flores, a Winona State University student and member of the WSU Photo League took photos and helped clear brush Tuesday at the Ledebuhr Bluff Property in Bluff Siding, Wis.  Students will be able to come to the property in the future to take photos as the land improves.

All apples are handpicked at Ecker’s Apple Farm in Trempealeau, Wis.   Apples are picked from 50 acres of trees on the 80 acre farm from August until November.

Crates are filled with 740 pounds of picked apple Monday at Ecker’s Apple Farm in Trempealeau, Wis.  Apples are sold at $2 a pound retail, but most are sold to a co-op at $1 a pound.

Apple pickers cut the stems from apples Monday at Ecker’s Apple Farm in Trempealeau, Wis.  The stems must be cut off or they will puncture other apples when they are stored.

Deer repelent hangs from an apple tree Monday at Ecker’s Apple Farm in Trempealeau, Wis.  Employees must fill cans with a mixture including manure by hand for every tree.

An antique apple peeler cores and peels apples in seconds Monday at Ecker’s Apple Farm in Trempealeau, Wis.  A 10-foot pie in Galesville was made from 500 apples peeled with this machine, it took five hours.

Carmel apples are made with homemade carmel at Ecker’s Apple Farm in Trempealeau, Wis.  Ecker’s also offers apples, honey, jams, cider and apple pies made daily.

SP 4449, a steam locomotive carrying tourists for a fall colors tour Friday at the Winona train station.  SP 4449 took a special trip from Winona to La Crescent before returning to Portland.

SP 4449, a steam locomotive carrying tourists for a fall colors tour Friday at the Winona train station.  SP 4449 took a special trip from Winona to La Crescent before returning to Portland.

SP 4449 made it first stop in Winona Friday as it heads back to Portland.  SP 4449 built in 1941, weighs 433 tons, can apply 5,500 horsepower and exceed 100 mph.

Train enthusiasts line up at the Winona train station Friday to capture the steam locomotive SP 4449.  The train drew a crowd of all ages armed with cameras, radios and adorned with memorabilia.

An employee on SP 4449 says goodbye Friday as it left the Winona train station.  The locomotive made a rare trip from Portland to La Crescent.

A banner is reflected in a puddle Friday at Winona State University.  Looking to see what is reflected in puddles is a great way to pass a rainy day.

Rain collects on the vines of Phelps Hall Friday at Winona State University.  After a dry summer, Winona had a wet week.