In this issue...

Reflections from the President

How the Nature Area Works with Other Groups

Education Committee

Nature Area Happenings

Garlic Mustard - Another Damaging Exotic

Nature Area Entrance - Native Garden

Did you know?

Upcoming Events...

November 6
Annual Meeting
10:00 AM
Centennial Farm
Members & Public

November 13
Work Day
9:00 AM
Nature Area

Nature Area Happenings

by Barbara Leeper

Visitors to the Nature Area have described it as “Walden”, “a wonderful community asset”, and the often heard ”I didn't know we had this!” These visitors are usually from the Island or the Downriver area, we have had visitors from Canada, Sweden, Poland, and South Africa this summer. These visitors were hosted by our Board members during our expanded hours; Thursday 6-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.; and the third Sunday of the month 1-4 p.m.

The visitors have found our newly landscaped front entrance and parking area inviting. This update was made under the direction of Margarete Hasserrodt, and uses stones from construction projects and milkweeds and cottonwoods as anchors for the planting of native wildflower.

This spring and summer the visitors to the Nature Area included hundreds of nesting mute swans among which was a black swan. The swans have since moved on to their summer habitat. The turtles that laid their eggs in sand piles and along trails have stayed, and can be observed basking on the stones in the marsh and logs in the Quarry Pond.

An osprey has visited us in the spring and again in July. He was sighted roosting, fishing, and eating fish at Quarry Pond.

Another rarity for SE Michigan was the number of sightings of Eastern Fox snakes reported along the Nature Area trails.

We hope to greet all our members and their families and friends at the Nature Area. Look for us at the always-improving GIN&LC Nature Area.