Rain Fills Up the Wet Meadows

The Weather Underground reports 1.57 inches of rain in the Ann Arbor area. The wet meadows collected their fair share and then began to overflow.

Wet Meadow 2, the largest of the wet meadows, did not show signs of overflowing. It is large and mature (and part of it is built on a pile of sand).

Here are some photos from a walk around the park on the evening after the rain.

raindrops, so many raindrops

The newly-plated wet meadow extension is the wettest area of all those we've worked on.

Here's a photo after yesterday afternoon's squall line wet through.

Mother nature helps water the new plants

As everyone knows by now, May 2011 was one of the wettest months on record. And it poured buckets both Saturday and Sunday, so the festival was called off. We did get the plants in, thanks to heroic efforts by some Super Swampers, alumni and others. We started planting under cloudy skies on Saturday afternoon. As the rain started, we began to see just how much run-off comes from the parking areas by the pool and ice rink. By early evening there was an ankle-deep torrent flowing into the west end of the newest basin. The basin is certainly in the right spot!


Native plants are tough and most have thrived in their new homes. A few days later we finished planting along the sidewalk.
Stop by and see the newest wet meadow!

Planting is finished - thanks to all

Thanks to a crew of 36 focused planters Friday May 20 the planting is finished! Next will be a celebration! We’ll send the date soon.

Thanks to all who braved the wet and cold on Sunday(May 15)! About half the plants and all the shrubs are in their new homes and looking good. A new woodchip edge adds an attractive feature.

planting day update

Thanks to all who braved the wet and cold on Sunday! About half the plants and all the shrubs are in their new homes and looking good. A new woodchip edge adds an attractive feature. We have scheduled several more times to finish up the planting:

Thursday, May 19, 7-8:30pm
Friday, May 20, 4-8pm
If needed: Sunday, May 22nd , 1-4pm (call [see below]or check the website [www.wetmeadow.org] before coming- It may be all done!)

COME and HELP get the rest of the plants into their homes! We’ll have a celebration in a few weeks.
THANK YOU!
The Wet Meadow Team

Get Ready for May 15 Planting Day

Come and plant wildflowers in Buhr Park
Free family-friendly fun for all ages

Schedule for Planting Day (Sunday, May 15, 2011)

(Planting will be continuous through all the following additional
activities)

• Come early for yoga


• 10:00 - Sign in and welcome; planting begins


• 11:00 - Singing with Joe Reilly


• 11:30 - 1:00 Pilar's tamales available


• 1:15 - Welcoming ceremony


• 1:30 - 3:30 Planting continues; music and children's games with Dale Petty


• 4:00 - celebration, parade and seed dance

What to Bring
Bring a small shovel or trowel, a water bottle, sunscreen, sunhat, friends & family, and lunch (or buy Pilar’s Tamales.)

Buhr Park is located on Packard Road in Ann Arbor, east of Eisenhower.
The Wet Meadow planting will be on the east side of the park, south of the first wet meadow and just past the first parking lot.

Click to download a) a full-page flyer, or b) a page of 6 small flyers.

Change comes from vision and understanding

"What has turned out to be a very important aspect of this whole effort though is what I learn from the children and youth. They have a tremendous capacity to be active participants and leaders in the real issues of our lives.

Water, healthy water, is critical to the existence of life. They get it! Given opportunities, tools and resources, they empower themselves and all of us to find our voices – to tell others what is going on and how they can help; they empower themselves to act and to involve others in those actions.

Yesterday, at our table at the Earth Day Festival, as I watched and listened to them talk with the public about protecting our water and inviting them to help plant the newest wet meadow area, I was awed and humbled by their understanding and commitment.

I have renewed faith that we can return health to our waterways, that we can rebuild our lives to a sustainable level. "

(from Jeannine's remarks to Ann Arbor City Council, May 2, 2011.)