Photos and info needed

The blog is showing some of our history, but there are some gaps.

It would be helpful to have photos or write up about

• Super Swampers talking to classes, teachers, college students, etc.
• Mich. Assn. of Environmental Professionals, Nov. 2005
• Michigan Wildflower Conference (March 2003 and at least 1 earlier year)
• Josh's kiosk and bench
• All Species Parade (any year)
  
• any other events
  

If you're sorting photos some Winter evening, keep a look out for these or any other topics.


Can anyone recall the date of this event? We think it was the Ann Arbor Area Foundation meeting at the Ann Arbor Women's City Club (on Washtenaw Av.) sometime in the earliest days of the Wet Meadow project - around 1997 or 1998. Photo by Marsha P.

Jeannine Palms honored by Ecology Center

On November 11, 2009, Jeannine Palms was honored by the Ecology Center for her work teaching and encouraging sustainability.

She received the Herbert Munzel Award for Environmental Activism at a ceremony that accompanied a speech by Bill McKibbon on global warming.

More deatils (and hopefully, photos) coming soon.

Gathering seeds to plant and to share

Super Swampers gathered seeds on Sunday, October 17, 2009. It was a sunny afternoon, so the seed heads were dry. This year we used large paper bags. Usually we grabbed a handful of stalks and bent it gently into the bag. Then we shook it or scrubbed it with our fingers, so the seeds fell into the bag.

Seeds of butterfly milkweed were ready to blow away on the breeze. It took some doing to mush them into a bag.





We also collected stiff goldenrod, ironweed, and other seeds. We have plenty to share. If you know anyone working with children or teens to create butterfly gardens or prairie projects, have them contact us.

Wildflowers giving way to seed heads

While there are many wildflowers still blooming, September will see a great shift to seed production.

At this point, the species in conspicuous bloom are:

• Aster
• Helenium
• Solidago

These species have seeds that are ripening:

• Asclepias
• Eupatorium
  
• Ratibita
• Rudbeckia
• Vernonia

and native grasses.

Joseph Cornell to speak in Ann Arbor on Oct. 16

Many parents and teachers treasure a book called "Sharing Nature with Children" by Joseph Cornell.

It's exciting to hear he's coming to Ann Arbor soon, and a public presentation is scheduled for Friday, October 16. 2009 at 4 PM.

More details soon.

Ironweed and coneflower in abundance

If you visit the wet meadows this week, you will see a profusion of dark-purple flowers on tall stems - ironweed is making its annual show. It contrasts beautifully with the light yellow blossoms of coneflower, prairie dock and stiff goldenrod.

Some joe-pye is blooming in the sunniest spots. Bee balm and milkweed blooms are nearly finished. (The wet meadows are a week or two ahead of my backyard, where there's more shade.)






The bumblebees are placidly gathering pollen, and some goldfinches were gathering insects this morning to feed their young. It's first-hand evidence of Prof. Tallamy's principle: native plants are the basis for abundant birds and other wildlife.

What's In Bloom?

Today at wet meadow II, I saw the following in bloom:

• Bee Balm
• Black Eyed Susan
• Yellow Coneflower
• Prairie Dock (just getting going)
• Butterfly Milkweed
• Hoary Vervain
• Daisy Flebane
• Common Milkweed

and the tall skinny white one.