The lupines are coming, the lupines are comng!

Lupines are one of my favorite native plants. The blossoms are a delicate purple color. And they attract many butterflies, bees and other pollinators.

I'm delighted that lupines are blooming in two places in Buhr park. One is the sand prairie in the upper (north) basin of WM II, on the west side of the park behind the swimming pool.

The other is in the original Wet Meadow, at the base of the sledding hill, on the east side of the park.

Here are a few shots of pollinators in action!

Wet Meadow 1 Extension and Path

This fall, the City of Ann Arbor reconstructed the path from Easy Street into Buhr Park. The new sidewalk replaces one that had been sitting in the lowest part of the park. The reconstructed path goes has been re-routed so that it is a little higher and it also allows for expansion of Wet Meadow 1.

Originally, the first wet meadow was going to be in this location, but because of the existing sidewalk (now removed) and a shallow underground drain tile, Wet Meadow 1 was built just to the north.

During construction, the Super Swampers investigated where the drain tile was located by finding the west and east catch basins.

The new design also includes a grass path between wet meadow 1 and the expansion, sometimes called 1b.

Morning at the Meadow

I passed by the wet meadow this morning and saw a few things in bloom and a nice misty feeling.

Wet Meadow captures Big Thaw

With the big thaw that started on Saturday, February 7, Wet Meadow I is capturing a lot of water from melting snow. By Sunday afternoon, only about 2" on the seat rock was above water.


Even on Saturday, Wet Meadow I was capturing a lot of water from melting snow.


Since the ground is frozen, water will not soak in very quickly.


If the weather stays warm, more water will collect on the Wet Meadow.

July Morning at Wet Meadow I

Wet Meadow I at Buhr Park.

Wet Meadow I

The Wet Meadow still has some snowmelt.

Wet Meadow Full of Snow

A day of sledding near Wet Meadow I. A beautiful sunny day, but the forecast was for a thaw.

Sunday Morning Stroll

Wet Meadow 1 is looking lush. This photo was taken yesterday morning.








Coreopsis are in bloom, as well

planting the west wet meadow - June 5 2004

More than 180 volunteers gathered on a sunny Saturday to plant the three basins of "Wet Meadow 2" on the west side of Buhr Park.

We used the plants we grew from seed.


Jane told everyone about the process.


Soon everyone was planting.


Children and adults pictched in, using plants grown from seed.


People of all ages helped water the plants.


The three basins have carefully-engineered spillways lines with large stones. Thanks to Chris Mueller for his careful excavation and construction of the spillways.


Cooperation releases abundance.

Growing tiny plants - March 2004

We planted our seeds and kept them in a greenhouse. In late March, we transplanted them to larger containers.



Jane showed us how to do it.


Lots of people helped.


This is another project that attracts volunteers of all ages.






Thanks to Chad and the Matthei Botanical Gardens for the use of their greenhouse, and for watering our tiny plants.

Collecting seeds Nov 2003

As part of the teen project to create a second wet meadow, we collected seeds (with permission) on November 9, 2003.



Seed collecting is enjoyable - even newcomers can quickly get the hang of it.


We had permission from the land owner to colect seeds on their property.

high water - March 16 2003

Early Spring can be a time for high water - especially when rain falls while the ground is frozen.



This is the first wet meadow, north of the farmhouse and barn.




Next time it rains, stop by and see the wet meadows catching water.