Butterfly Observations

A local expert in butterfly identification visited the wet meadows recently, with particular attention to the sandy upper basin behind the swimming pool.

He saw cabbage white, long dash, Peck's skipper, Ringlet, red admiral, silver-spotted skipper, and banded hairstreak butterflies. The banded hairstreaks were visiting the butterfly weed.

2014 Wet Meadow Burn - April 9

The 15th annual Wet Meadow Burn took place in Buhr Park on April 9. At about 5:00 PM the NAP crew lead by Tina, lit up Wet Meadow 3. 
 
City of Ann Arbor natural area program staff conduct the annual prescribed burn of the wet meadows.

This year we burned Wet Meadow 2, Wet Meadow 3, the parking lot swale, and several other native plantings. We are hoping to burn Wet Meadow 1 and Wet Meadow 1 extension later in the spring to help control crown vetch.

Burns help manage native landscapes by clearing out old growth, fighting back non-native plants that are not fire-adapted, and preparing the ground for spring growth.
 

 

Come celebrate on Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Join us to welcome Spring with the annual prescribed burn at Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow! Starting at mid-afternoon, trained experts from the City of Ann Arbor's Natural Area Program will explain safety measures, then ignite last year’s dry stems and leaves.

One parent says, "It's quite a sight - my daughter has gone to prescribed burns from age 2 and loves them. I think it's quite safe for kids of any age if they're with a parent."

Although burning may seem destructive, fire actually serves to stimulate vigorous new growth of native plants, controls the invasion of undesirable plants, warms the soil and releases nutrients. Fire allows diverse native plant and animal communities to thrive in natural areas.

After the fire is safely out, children will scatter seeds that were collected last Fall, and dance or sing to encourage new growth. In a few weeks the meadows will be springing back to life, better than ever.

If the weather permits, consider bringing a picnic supper. Come and go when you like. The event is free and open to the public. Buhr Park is in east Ann Arbor, at 2751 Packard (on the north side of the street) between Eisenhower and Platt. Children must be accompanied by a parent.

Super Swampers Spring Planning

Super Swampers met today to plan activities for the year. We spent time thinking about what we liked about the wet meadows and the project and then brainstormed things we'd like to do.

Here's what we like:

• It helps the environment
• The flowers and the birds
• Community
• Bringing beauty to our park
• Flowers
• Helps animals live
• Habitats for animals
• Playing, plants, water, smiles, laughing

Here are some of the things we'd like to do (in the order of number of dot votes each one got):

• Making or planting things (6)
• Food (4)
• The Burn (4)
• Signs and awareness (4)
• Animals (3)
• Play/Fun (2) - but we always have fun
• Taking care of it (1)

We'll get together soon to start planning the burn and things to make or plant.

Wet Meadows in a Drouth Year

As awareness grows on the impact of this summer's widespread drouth across the central US, it's interesting to look at the wet meadows in Ann Arbor's Buhr Park. Wet meadows, like many artificial "rain gardens," feature native plants that can thrive when occasionally inundated, and that grow and bloom even if they have "wet feet" for days or weeks at a time.

So how have they handled this year's drouth?

Exhibit A, in very sandy soil (upper basin on west side, almost behind the locker rooms, says "Drouth, what drouth?". It's growing bigger, to catch more sun.

Well, you say, cacti are a special case. So let's hear from someone else.

Exhibit B says,"I'm happy and healthy, thanks." This shrub (Ptelea trifoliata or wafer-ash)is also in that sandy upper basin. For plants that thrive on sand dunes, every year is a dry year.

Take a look for yourself. I think you'll agree that many, perhaps most of the plants are doing just fine, with no supplemental watering. A community of diverse species, well-established and appropriate to the site and soils, is remarkably resilient.

Native wildflowers in bloom - June 4, 2012

A quick visit to WM-III (the basin near the end of Essex Street, north of the ice rink) revealed several wildflowers blossoming: dwarf iris (a few late ones), beardstongue (Penestemon) a favorite with native bees, coreopsis, and yarrow If you stop by, take a look at the new paved sidewalk from the ice rink area.

Nighborhood Celebration and Prescribed Burn - Monday April 2

Looking for some outdoor fun for the whole family, right here in our hometown? You're invited to the annual spring Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow Burn Monday, April 2^nd. We had invited you to come seed collecting, but we find that there is very little seed to be collected. You are welcome to come early and help remove trash from the meadows and/or spread woodchips on a new site. Bring a wheelbarrow and shovel if you have them.

The main burn event will begin at about 4:00 with a brief introduction to the project and the role of burns. Trained experts from the City of Ann Arbor's Natural Area Program will then do a "prescribed burn" in one of the wet meadows. Other natural areas in the park may be burned earlier. (See below for further details.) One parent says, "It's quite a sight - my daughter has gone to prescribed burns from age 2 and loves them. I think it's quite safe for kids of any age if they're with a parent."

In a few weeks the meadows will be springing back to life, better than ever.

If the weather permits, consider bringing a picnic supper. Come and go when you like. The event is free and open to the public.

Buhr Park is in east Ann Arbor, at 2751 Packard (on the north side of the road) between Eisenhower and Platt. The original Children's Wet Meadow is just east of the parking lots, in the park behind Cobblestone Farm. The second, three-basin meadow, is on the west side, uphill from the play ground and behind the swimming pool, and the third is just north of the back parking lot. The swale garden along the east edge of the park will also be burned.

P.S. No, you don't have to have kids to have fun at the annual Children's Wet Meadow burn.

Prescribed burns background information: Although burning may seem destructive, fire actually serves to stimulate vigorous new growth of native plants, control the invasion of undesirable plants, warm the soil and release nutrients. Fire allows diverse, native plant and animal communities to thrive in natural areas.