Kids Saw Pollinators Up Close on Aug 28

Our third annual “Kids See Pollinators Up Close” event at Buhr Park took place on Saturday, August 28, 2010, from 3 to 5 PM. More than 20 parents, gandparents and children learned about beneficial insects.

Children captured live insects for safe, up-close observation. (All were released at the end of the program.) We will also talked about how to be safe around insects.

Our presenter this year was Annie Kirk, from the Berry Crops Entomology Lab at MSU. Kick grew up in the fruit-growing areas of West Michigan, and has recently co-authored an article on blueberry pollination in the Journal of Applied Ecology.

The meadows were ablaze with wildflowers – prairie dock, stiff goldenrod and other natives are at the height of their annual display. Many beneficial insects were drinking nectar and were easy to observe.

The event was co-sponsored by City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation and Wild Ones – Native Plants, Native Landscapes.

Wildflowers are blooming in WM 3

Many of the wildflowers that neighbors planted last May in the newest war meadow are already blooming! These are very healthy plants, planted with care, and they're happy in their new home.

)



There are many white bonesets and blue vervain. Also one very showy ironweed.

Also, the trees planted throughout the park by Rotary in June are doing well. (Most years we'd be watching to see if new trees need supplemental watering about this time, but this year's frequent rains have taken care of it for us.)

I especially like the two hop-hornbeams (Ostrya) near the Eagle Scout bench.

Persimmon and wild plum in the Graduate Grove

Each year we plant native trees or shrubs to honor our new high school graduates. This year, we planted wild plums and persimmons.

Here's a persimmon seedling.

With financial support from the Wildflower Assn. of Michigan, we hope to plant more native shrubs in September, including blueberries.

Berries are Ripe

Wild raspberries are ripening! There are many growing in and around the Palace of Nature, on the west side of WM II.

Also, the serviceberries (aka juneberries, Amelancier spp.) planted last year are ripe. The ripe berries are purple, not red. Most have a single large seed. I hear that you can make a great-tasting jelly with these.

Thanks to Mike Levine at Nature and Nurture for healthy stock and reliable advice.

Here's a photo.

WM III rides out the big storm

The recently-planted wet meadow basin at the northwest part of Buhr Park appears to have functioned as designed during last night's big storm. You can see that a considerable volume of water flowed from Essex Street into the northwest part of the basin.













You can see water standing in the basin at about noon today (Sunday). This view is looking North, towards Allan School.

















On the downhill (southeast) side, towards the gravel parking lot, it's clear that water flowed through the spillway, as it is designed to do in heavy downpours.

Wet Meadow Planting Photo Stream

Planting Wildflowers in the Sunshine

The planting celebration on Sunday, May 23, was a family affair! Kids, parents, and grandparents from near and far planted wildflowers at Buhr Park.


Kids of all ages had fun while learning to work together on a project that will catch rainwater and add beauty to the park.