2: Increase the number of people that use native plants (NP) as part of their landscaping (LS). HOW: explain the benefits of LS with NP and provide information regarding how to select and legally obtain native plants.
Ideas for how we might present this on the display:
3: Work on name recognition for Wild Ones. How: include our name
and the new logo in a prominent location.
4: Encourage people to attend WO events and consider joining. How:
post either the current calendar OR just have that available and
post the next one or two events, have available a copy of the
Journal and Handbook, and our fliers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Here is some information regarding two (of many) programs at Hartley Nature
Center or coordinated by Hartley that native plant enthusiasts may be interested
in:
May 26 Wednesday Adult Night Out, 6 pm
Join Larry Weber for the annual "Wildflowers of Jay Cooke." Arrive
by 6 pm for a hike to see the Lady Slippers that blanket the hillside and other
flowers in bloom, bring wildflower field guides, flashlights optional and be
prepared to hike until dark. Cost $2/members and $4/nonmembers. MN State Park
sticker required. Meet at the main visitor center of Jay Cooke State Park
Saturday Program: May 8, 10 am to noon
Beware: Buckthorn is everywhere. Can you identify this invasive shrub? Do you
have it in your backyard? Come to this FREE program to learn about what you
can do to control this invasive species in one of Duluth's largest green spaces,
Hartley Park. This is a hands-on program, come ready to work. Gloves, shovels
and refreshments provided. Contact 724-6735 if you are interesting in volunteering.
3001 Woodland Avenue, Duluth.
C. Mosquito habitat seminar
This seminar is located in Cross Lake, just South of Grand Rapids (maybe Bill
Steele can check it out and tell us what he learns?!)
May 15, 2004 (Sat.), 10:30am, Crosslake, MN
* Sponsor: Metropolitan Mosquito Control District.
* Background on mosquitoes and the Nile virus, findings
on what physical habitats (landscapes) are most likely to
produce mosquitoes, and information on biological bug
prevention and control. Talk and slides will touch on rainwater
gardens and other basins that dry up in less than 5 days and
which are beneficial for reducing mosquito habitat. Also
covered:
problems with rip rap, benefits of deep wetlands.
$10. Details and registration by calling WoodSpirit
Gardens at 888/947-2414.
D. AND NOW, getting progressively farther away, here's an announcement from
the Wild Ones Twin Cities' chapter regarding two events they are hosting in
May, in case anyone plans to be down that way (note that WO members get in FREE
for the garden tours, so bring your membership card):
DATE: May 18, 2004
EVENT: Favorite native plants for sun and shade by Chuck Levine, garden lecturer and author of several books.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, NO RESERVATIONS NECESSARY
SPONSORED BY: Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes, Twin Cities Chapter
TIME: 7 p.m.
LOCATION: Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis, MN
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: See the website, www.for-wild.org, or call 651-645-7709
DATE: May 23, 2004
EVENT: Wild Ones Spring Garden Tour featuring two Kenwood and two Edina native plant gardens.
ADMISSION: Free for Wild Ones members; $10 for non-members, which may be applied toward membership. Tickets and tour maps will be available at the time of the tour at the following two tour sites: 1512 W. 26th St., Minneapolis and 5501 Hunter Street, Edina. No reservations are necessary.
SPONSORED BY: Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes, Twin Cities Chapter
TIME: 1-5 p.m.
LOCATION: Start tour at either 1512 W. 26th St., Minneapolis or 5501 Hunter Street, Edina
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: See the website, www.for-wild.org, or call 651-645-7709
WILD ONES' SPRING GARDEN TOUR TO FEATURE KENWOOD, EDINA GARDENS
The Twin Cities Chapter of Wild Ones, a national not-for-profit organization that promotes landscaping with native plants, will hold its spring garden tour on Sunday May 23, 2004 from 1-5 p.m. The tour features four diverse native plant gardens, two in the Kenwood neighborhood of Minneapolis and two in Edina. Admission is free for Wild Ones members. Admission for non-members is $10, which may be applied toward membership. Tickets and tour maps will be available at the time of the tour at the following two tour sites: 1512 W. 26th St., Minneapolis and 5501 Hunter Street, Edina. No reservations are required.
Monica Angle's Kenwood garden highlights native and ornamental grasses and woodland plants among stands of small trees. A front-yard woodland garden is planted like a dry stream underneath a canopy of cherry trees. Multi-stemmed serviceberry, attractive to birds, are planted along the east side of the house. Along the west edge of the lot are shrubs, including chokeberry, red-osier dogwood and American highbush cranberry. In the backyard, instead of turf grass, is a no-mow mix of fescues, which forms an edge to a berm planted with native forbs and grasses. Visitors to this wildlife-friendly yard over the seasons have included deer, small hawks and wild turkeys.
In the midst of a traditional urban setting of orderly lawns and structured plantings, Mary Miller's native woodland garden celebrates nature and biodiversity. In contrast to an orderly decorative garden, the plantings create a more wild and spontaneous look. Miller's front-yard garden was designed in 1997 by ecologist Douglas Owens-Pike of EnergyScapes. As the garden matures, Miller is excited to discover toads, butterflies, hummingbirds, and a host of other wildlife finding shelter and food among her native plants. "I began by restoring nature in my yard and now nature, just outside my front door, restores my spirit every spring," says Miller.
Expert birder and Wild Ones member Arden Aanestad has turned his Edina property into a savanna garden, which serves as a haven for birds. The garden contains numerous native shrubs such as nannyberry, hazelnut, sumac, snowberry and elderberry, which are magnets for birds, providing them with food, cover and nesting sites. Native plants and grasses also grace Aanestad's savanna garden, including spring-blooming wild garlic, wild ginger, marsh marigolds, alum root, and heartleaf golden alexanders.
Dianne Plunkett Latham, who is on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Native Plant Society and President of the Edina Garden Council, has over 30 varieties of wildflowers, mostly woodland, in her Edina garden. Plunkett Latham's specialty is native orchids, and nine varieties of them grow in her garden among trillium, shooting star and mertensia. Some of her small yellow lady's slipper clumps have as many as 60 blooming orchids. Native shrubs in Plunkett Latham's garden include highbush cranberry and pagoda dogwood, which provide food for birds. Shady areas of the garden have several varieties of ferns including native maidenhair ferns. Spruce and pines provide habitat for wildlife.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susan Damon
Public Relations Chair
Wild Ones, Twin Cities Chapter
Telephone: 651-645-7709
e-mail: pdamon2003@yahoo.com
E. Jill Jacoby says: I spent all day Sunday with Patricia Johanson, who does
ecological restoration in an artistic way! I really want to share my enthusiasm
with you all and
invite you to hear her speak on Tuesday night - 7 PM at Hartley Nature Center
(free admission). She is a gift to the Living Water Garden project and for Duluth's
waterfront.
Return to the News from our President Page.