Michigan State University ornithologist Jen Owen will give a Zoom talk at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, “Health of Migrating Landbirds in the Face of a Changing Landscape: Importance of Native Plants.” In the last 50 years, migratory bird populations have declined by almost 30 percent. Much of that loss can be attributed to habitat […] Continue reading "Jan. 18 talk on migratory birds and native plants"
Anne Collins addresses about 30 community members on how NRCS programs can help solve their land management problems. Want to create a meadow, or set up a greenhouse, or grow habitat for the golden-winged warbler? Or maybe you’d like help developing a management plan for a woodlot or getting rid of spotted knapweed? Improve pasture […] Continue reading "Get free advice (and maybe $) to make your land management dreams come true"
It’s taking forever for our seedlings to get big this year. Normally, we transplant from trays into pots in late May or early June, but with the cold spells and drought, that was not to be. Finally, on July 2, we got tired of waiting, and over a dozen Wild Ones (and a few good […] Continue reading "A transplanting bee for the ages"
The late Kathe Salmi, a member of Keweenaw Wild Ones, was remembered at a ceremony dedicating a garden bench in her honor June 20 at the Labyrinth Garden in Hancock. Wild Ones donated about $600 toward the purchase of the bench. The remaining funds were contributed by other donors and the city of Hancock, where […] Continue reading "In memory of a proud Wild One"
Keweenaw Wild Ones and friends go for a ramble at the Robert Brown Plant Preserve during the summer solstice, June 21, 2023, the longest day of the year. What we came for! One of many little stands of pink lady’s slippers. We were grateful they were still blooming, since it’s been a very dry June. […] Continue reading "A walk in the woods"
A total of 24 local gardeners—all of them interested in adding native plants to their landscape—attended WOK’s first discussion session of Owen Wormser’s “Lawns into Meadows” March 8, based at the Portage Lake District Library. We began with a Zoom meeting at 5:30 p.m., which drew about 16 attendees, plus moderators Marcia Goodrich and Karen […] Continue reading "WOK launches “Lawns Into Meadows” community read"
When WOK member Rebecca Glotfelty invited us to participate in the Keweenaw Storytelling Center’s Festival of Trees, there was no shortage of willing volunteers. But how to you decorate a tree without relying on all that fancy holiday bling? After all, Wild Ones is all about native plants, birds, and bugs. Shiny stuff? Not so […] Continue reading "O Tannenbaum: WOK Decorates for Festival of Trees"
The Hancock Beach bioswale, maintained in part by the Keweenaw Wild Ones, appears to be doing a great job keeping pollution out of Portage Lake, according to a recent test conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey. Completed in 2011, this island of vegetation was built by the City of Hancock to capture runoff from the […] Continue reading "Test indicates Hancock Beach bioswale protecting Portage Lake from runoff"
Moments from our Lake Glazon adventure The Lake Glazon Nature Area, eight miles north of Eagle Harbor, has about 1,100 feet of Lake Superior shoreline. On its 26 acres, you can hike, explore, and scramble around on rocks. It features interesting geology, such as cobble beaches far inland, evidence that the big lake shoreline moves […] Continue reading "Pictures from an Expedition"
It was dirty, buggy work, but someone had to do it: fulfill the final chapter of Project Wingspan and plant dozens of common milkweed seedlings at the Keweenaw Land Trust Boston Pond Nature Area. Armed with shovels, trowels, and other implements from the gardener’s toolkit, Keweenaw Wild Ones volunteers joined KLT intern Kyle Naparala and […] Continue reading "Project Wingspan, Part 2: Planting Milkweed at Boston Pond"