WOK’s Lynne Robertson, Girl Scouts Plant an Oak at Kestner
WOK member Lynne Robertson joined local Girl Scouts and their leader, Angel Miller, to plant a red oak June 22 at Houghton’s Kestner Park. Lynne has been working with the troup on the project, advising them to choose the red oak for its environmental value as a keystone species. The event was covered by the Daily Mining Gazette in the June 28 article Girl Scout Promise: Local Troup Plants Tree in Kestner Park.
Of note: The scouts have named the oak. It answers to “Burt.”
Native Plant Sale Update
The revenues from our online plant sale and the farmers’ markets have grossed an estimated $2,000 so far. We’ve moved many hundreds of native plants into local gardens and introduced dozens of gardeners to the joys of growing native. The income allows us to support a number of outreach programs, including talks by nationally known guest speakers.
New this year is a special deal on Heliopsis helianthoides, aka false sunflower, aka early sunflower. Pictured above, it’s a standout in the summer garden. Normally we don’t have enough of this great plant, but this year we ended up with a surplus. The upshot: if you have a back forty that could use a floral infusion, you can purchase a flat (32 plants) of early sunflower for just $25, $50 for non- WOK members. Contact Marcia if you are interested.
We’ll be having another sale later in the summer with new plants, including a favorite: butterflyweed.
Volunteers Transforming Local Gardens
Volunteer members have been hard at work transforming WOK’s public gardens. On June 28, a team laid a path of Jacobsville sandstone stepping stones, donated by Wild One Craig Waddell, at Kestner Park. Pictured, right to left, are Allyson Jabusch, Josh Roys, Craig, Liz Gerson, Kristine Bradof, Marcia Goodrich and Sean Havins. Not pictured is Evan Lanese.
At the Nara Nature Center, Kristine has been leading the effort to clear out invasives and replace them with natives.
With Polly Havins serving as coach, the Northern Lights Clubhouse continues to refine their new garden space and plan for its expansion.
WOK to donate signs to public gardens
The Wild Ones Keweenaw Chapter Board of Directors voted June 18 to provide one free garden sign to each of the public gardens WOK helps to manage.
The signs are valued at $34 and were designed by local artist and graphic designer Christ Schmidt of Studio 13.
Where’s WOK? Farmers’ Markets, Summer Festivals, Go Beyond Beauty
In addition to area farmers’ markets, WOK will be at Strawberry Fest (July 12-13) and the Copper Shores Foundation Picnic in Ahmeek (July 28). We’ll also be lending a hand at KISMA’s Barberry Trade-up Days: Aug. 3, Houghton High School parking lot; Aug. 8, L’Anse DPW; and Aug. 10, Eagle Harbor Solid Waste Facility.
This year, we tabled at Bridgefest for the first time. While Friday was slow, we were very busy on Saturday and had a great time introducing the public to the value of native plants.