Holiday Party Dec. 16
Break out your Santa hats and reindeer horns! WOK will hold its annual holiday party on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at Gino’s Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge, 800 Quincy St., Hancock.
Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cash bar. Free pizza will be served at about 6 p.m. All members and their families are welcome.
You can RSVP via an online form you’ll be receiving soon.
WOK developing grant, scholarship program
The WOK Board of Directors is looking into establishing grant and/or scholarship programs.
A committee is developing proposals to take to the board for approval. Possibilities include grants to nonprofits, schools, and/or individuals to establish native gardens; and a scholarship program to support ecological landscapers practicing in the Keweenaw.
These programs would expand on WOK’s current practice of giving native plants left over from our sales to schools and the public gardens we support.
If you have any thoughts on the new grant/scholarship program, please email them to Marcia.
Board member profiles are up
Profiles of WOK’s Board of Directors are now posted on our website. A few members haven’t provided their information yet, but I have faith that they will in due time.
Sign Sales Update
Vice President Karen Cayce reports that everyone who ordered one of our new yard signs has picked them up. Many thanks to all you conscientious customers!
Because of their ongoing popularity, we ordered plenty of signs. If you would like one for holiday gift-giving, they are available at our shop. Members may use the coupon code SAVE5 through December 31 to get $5 off the regular price.
Public Garden News
The planting and weeding season is over, but Wild Ones still found lots to do as winter closed in.
Kristine Bradof led crews of volunteers throughout the summer nurturing natives, pulling invasives, and laying straw in the area surrounding the Nara Chalet in Houghton. The original garden is already coming into its own.
Polly Havins continues to work with the staff and clients at Northern Lights Clubhouse in Hancock. Their streetside planting was a big hit this year, and they are looking to expand its footprint,
Roz Heidtke is developing a garden spot in the new bike park located in the Maasto Hiito trail system, off of M-203 in Hancock. She will be working with Hancock science teacher Leanne Laakonen and her students.
The Kestner Park garden (left) in Houghton is almost fully planted, and lead gardeners Craig Waddell and Vicky Bergvall have been leading the effort to add more riparian plants alongside Huron Creek to combat erosion.
Progress continues at Glad Tidings Assembly of God. Karen Cayce reports that the church may experiment with winter sowing this year to grow some of the hundreds of plants needed to landscape their large property.
Ruth Gleckler’s efforts to add deer-resistant plants at the Hecla Cemetery in Laurium are paying off. Many flowers set seed this fall, and she’s pleased to report that some young bur oaks are taking hold.
Allyson Jabusch reports she was energized by the Big Yank held this summer and has been weeding and planting the Krist Meadow throughout the season. Lance-leaf coreopsis in particular put on a show this summer.
Upcoming events
Kristine Bradof will lead a free, all-supplies-included workshop on winter sowing Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Nara Chalet.
WOK and KISMA will cohost a showing of the Doug Tallamy film “Next Steps for Nature” in February, followed by a panel discussion with area experts.
Stay tuned.