Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow Project

Wet Meadow Seed Collecting Fall 2011

2011-10-13T19:58:00.003-04:00

Wet Meadow Seed Collecting Fall 2011, a set on Flickr.

We spent some time on a beautiful fall Saturday collecting and spreading seeds in Wet Meadow 3. We also collected Buhr Park apples and made apple sauce.a

coming Sept 10 - Insect Adventure

2011-08-20T08:42:00.000-04:00

Washtenaw County Parks will present an Insect Adventure program on Saturday, Sept 10 at County Farm park. (Meet at the Platt Rd. entrance at 10 AM). Children and adults are welcome. Many interesting insects can be seen in the park, including butterflies, dragonflies, pollinators and others. Come explore with an expert guide.

Also at County Farm park, a project will focus on the tributary to Mallets Creek that flows along the north side of the park. You can read more about this in their Fall 2011 newsletter.

Wet Meadows and Fathers Celebration

2011-06-16T22:01:00.002-04:00

Come Celebrate Wet Meadows and Fathers in Buhr Park

Sunday, June 19th, 3:30 pm

Join in a celebration of another planting in this community project that helps keep our water clean, creates beauty and habitat, and provides an educational site for all. Come tour the project features and learn how you can participate, plant a flower in honor of a father, sing, parade and picnic!

All ages welcome!

3:30 Tour of project features
4:30 Greetings from project supporters and participants
5:00 Tunes with Dale Petty and Milkweed Seed Parade
Plantings in honor of fathers
Picnic Supper – bring your supper and a blanket

Bring: a water bottle, sunscreen, sunhat, friends & family
We will supply: plants, drinking water, and a few extra tools.

If you can only come for a little while, please arrive at 4:30 for the main festivities.

Looking Green!

2011-06-12T21:35:00.012-04:00

The wet meadows are growing! Here are some pictures from a sunny walk around the park on June 11th.

Cup Plant

Beebalm

Prairie Dock

There were even wild strawberries

And soon there will be raspberries!

In Wet Meadow 3, there were plenty of pollinators, including this honeybee buzzing around in this bright Sand Coreopsis!

All of the wet meadows were looking great. Soon there will be even more blooms as the Black Eyed Susans and Cone Flowers turn the wet meadows yellow!

New Poster Shows How Wet Meadows Clean Water

2011-06-06T22:20:00.009-04:00

I made these posters to show how our Buhr Park Wet Meadows filter water, keep streams and rivers clean and help produce clean drinking water.

Rain Fills Up the Wet Meadows

2011-05-25T22:09:00.002-04:00

The Weather Underground reports 1.57 inches of rain in the Ann Arbor area. The wet meadows collected their fair share and then began to overflow.

Wet Meadow 2, the largest of the wet meadows, did not show signs of overflowing. It is large and mature (and part of it is built on a pile of sand).

Here are some photos from a walk around the park on the evening after the rain.

raindrops, so many raindrops

2011-05-24T07:43:00.002-04:00

The newly-plated wet meadow extension is the wettest area of all those we've worked on.

Here's a photo after yesterday afternoon's squall line wet through.

Mother nature helps water the new plants

2011-05-22T21:04:00.001-04:00

As everyone knows by now, May 2011 was one of the wettest months on record. And it poured buckets both Saturday and Sunday, so the festival was called off. We did get the plants in, thanks to heroic efforts by some Super Swampers, alumni and others. We started planting under cloudy skies on Saturday afternoon. As the rain started, we began to see just how much run-off comes from the parking areas by the pool and ice rink. By early evening there was an ankle-deep torrent flowing into the west end of the newest basin. The basin is certainly in the right spot!

Native plants are tough and most have thrived in their new homes. A few days later we finished planting along the sidewalk.
Stop by and see the newest wet meadow!

Planting is finished - thanks to all

2011-05-20T19:01:00.001-04:00

Thanks to a crew of 36 focused planters Friday May 20 the planting is finished! Next will be a celebration! We’ll send the date soon.

Thanks to all who braved the wet and cold on Sunday(May 15)! About half the plants and all the shrubs are in their new homes and looking good. A new woodchip edge adds an attractive feature.

planting day update

2011-05-15T13:23:00.004-04:00

Thanks to all who braved the wet and cold on Sunday! About half the plants and all the shrubs are in their new homes and looking good. A new woodchip edge adds an attractive feature. We have scheduled several more times to finish up the planting:

Thursday, May 19, 7-8:30pm
Friday, May 20, 4-8pm
If needed: Sunday, May 22nd , 1-4pm (call [see below]or check the website [www.wetmeadow.org] before coming- It may be all done!)

COME and HELP get the rest of the plants into their homes! We’ll have a celebration in a few weeks.
THANK YOU!
The Wet Meadow Team

Get Ready for May 15 Planting Day

2011-05-07T15:41:00.015-04:00

Come and plant wildflowers in Buhr Park
Free family-friendly fun for all ages

Schedule for Planting Day (Sunday, May 15, 2011)

(Planting will be continuous through all the following additional
activities)

Come early for yoga

10:00 - Sign in and welcome; planting begins

11:00 - Singing with Joe Reilly

11:30 - 1:00 Pilar's tamales available

1:15 - Welcoming ceremony

1:30 - 3:30 Planting continues; music and children's games with Dale Petty

4:00 - celebration, parade and seed dance

What to Bring
Bring a small shovel or trowel, a water bottle, sunscreen, sunhat, friends & family, and lunch (or buy Pilar’s Tamales.)

Buhr Park is located on Packard Road in Ann Arbor, east of Eisenhower.
The Wet Meadow planting will be on the east side of the park, south of the first wet meadow and just past the first parking lot.

Click to download a) a full-page flyer, or b) a page of 6 small flyers.

Change comes from vision and understanding

2011-05-05T05:54:00.003-04:00

"What has turned out to be a very important aspect of this whole effort though is what I learn from the children and youth. They have a tremendous capacity to be active participants and leaders in the real issues of our lives.

Water, healthy water, is critical to the existence of life. They get it! Given opportunities, tools and resources, they empower themselves and all of us to find our voices – to tell others what is going on and how they can help; they empower themselves to act and to involve others in those actions.

Yesterday, at our table at the Earth Day Festival, as I watched and listened to them talk with the public about protecting our water and inviting them to help plant the newest wet meadow area, I was awed and humbled by their understanding and commitment.

I have renewed faith that we can return health to our waterways, that we can rebuild our lives to a sustainable level. "

(from Jeannine's remarks to Ann Arbor City Council, May 2, 2011.)

May 15 is Planting Day for a New Wet Meadow in Buhr Park

2011-04-14T20:34:00.003-04:00

Join neighbors and supporters in helping to plant the newest wet meadow in Buhr Park.

May 15, 2011 - 10AM to 4PM
come anytime for as long as you want. Park in the main lot by the pool and ice rink.

Help plant over 1,000 plants that will help filter rainwater, create critter habitat and make the park more interesting.

The newest wet meadow is codenamed "Wet Meadow 1 Extension" because it is located just to the south of the first wet meadow in Buhr Park. It is separated from the first wet meadow by a grass path.

Wet Meadow Prescribed Burn - April 5, 2011

2011-03-13T15:12:00.008-04:00

One of our annual rituals is a prescribed ecological burn. This year it was held on Tuesday April 5, 2011.

We started as usual about 4 PM in the original wet meadow (near the sledding hill.) Kids and parents will removed leaves from the meadows, collected native plant seeds, and gently bent down the old plant stalks. Around 4:30 PM, the trained experts from the City of Ann Arbor's Natural Area Preservation explained safety procedures, then initiated the "prescribed burn". There were lots of safe places to watch the action.

A bonus this year was a visit from a red tailed hawk!

Watch for 2011 photos coming soon.

We've been doing this for several years - here's a photo.

Although burning may seem destructive, fire actually serves to stimulate vigorous new growth of native plants, control the invasion of undesirable plants, warm the soil and release nutrients. Fire allows diverse, native plant and animal communities to thrive in natural areas.

Wet Meadow 3 - Early March Snowmelt

2011-03-05T21:58:00.001-05:00

Ann Arbor has had a lot more snow than we've had in a few years and as it melts off in Buhr Park, it gathers in our wet meadows.

We went for a walk in the rain on Saturday and observed the water flowing in and then flowing out of Wet Meadow 3. As designed, the area collects runoff from the north of the park, private yards to the northwest, Allen School and Essex Street.

We saw seeds floating in the water and Helen went in to investigate.

Wet Meadow 1 Planting Planning Meeting

2011-01-30T11:53:00.006-05:00

18 kids and adults got together today to begin planning for planting day. Kids (of many ages) are taking leadership roles for all aspects of the project. Planting day is tentatively scheduled for May 15, 2011.

Leaders, called specialists, are working on these areas:
Plants/Seeds
Planting Day
Site Plan
Media//Story/Documentation/Signs
Volunteer Recruitment
Community Education
Ongoing Stewardship

Wet Meadow 1 Extension and Path

2010-11-15T21:03:00.003-05:00

This fall, the City of Ann Arbor reconstructed the path from Easy Street into Buhr Park. The new sidewalk replaces one that had been sitting in the lowest part of the park. The reconstructed path goes has been re-routed so that it is a little higher and it also allows for expansion of Wet Meadow 1.

Originally, the first wet meadow was going to be in this location, but because of the existing sidewalk (now removed) and a shallow underground drain tile, Wet Meadow 1 was built just to the north.

During construction, the Super Swampers investigated where the drain tile was located by finding the west and east catch basins.

The new design also includes a grass path between wet meadow 1 and the expansion, sometimes called 1b.

Blooming in Wet Meadow 3

2010-09-25T10:08:00.000-04:00

As we move into Autumn, a few late blooming wildflowers are easy to see. In the newest wet meadow, Helenium has clusters of bright yellow blossoms.

The purple flowers of New England aster are also prominent.

Look closely and you may spot an insect getting a late meal of pollen or nectar.

Here's a video (from someone in Pennsylvania) of bees on Helenium:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQlGel0l_aE

People, Parks and Water Quality

2010-09-19T13:05:00.005-04:00

It's useful to remember that the Buhr Park Childrens' Wet Meadow Project had its origins in concern for water quality in Malletts Creek and the Huron River. While the park is perhaps a half mile away from the creek, they are linked by underground storm drains.

About 2004, some teenagers and a stormwater expert prepared a plan to capture 100% of the rain water that falls on the park. It felt like it might take 10 or 20 years to achieve that goal.
In fact, with the May 2010 planting of the northern wet meadow, and continuing efforts at Allen School, we are very close.

You can always visit the creek, using the entrance to Mary Beth Doyle Park on Packard, just southeast of Buhr. For a special event, join us there on Saturday, October 23. We will be planting seeds.

Kids Saw Pollinators Up Close on Aug 28

2010-09-07T20:40:00.005-04:00

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 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. Thanks to Jeannine Palms for great photos.

Wildflowers are blooming in WM 3

2010-08-05T16:03:00.010-04:00

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

2010-07-11T12:40:00.003-04:00

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

2010-06-19T10:15:00.001-04:00

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

2010-06-06T15:12:00.009-04:00

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

2010-05-24T21:30:00.000-04:00

Planting Wildflowers in the Sunshine

2010-05-24T20:48:00.008-04:00

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.

Wet Meadow III - Planting Day Details

2010-05-03T21:09:00.003-04:00

Come help plant Buhr Park's latest environmentally-friendly, stormwater-drinking, critter habitat-building, wet meadow.

Sunday May 23, 2010
10AM to 4PM

Feel free to come for the whole day or just a few minutes or hours. We've got 3,000 plants coming, but many hands makes light work.

Please Bring

Required:

Yourselves

Optional:

Your children, parents, friends and neighbors
Small trowel or shovel for digging
Water bottle (free refills!)
Sun protection

And please leave pets at home.

Schedule for Planting Day activities

10am - 4pm
PLANTING!!
10am
Sun Salutation with Victoria Cendrowski, neighbor and yoga instructor
Seed dance
11:30
Milkweed Puppet Show with Leah and Rachel White
11:30 - 1pm
Pilar’s Tamale Cart open for food purchases (bring your own dishes so we don’t make waste)
1pm
Welcome ceremony
2pm
Tunes with Dale Petty
3pm
Games
4pm
Celebration parade

For more information, check out the Wet Meadow III - Overview.

Earth Day All Species Parade - Come Join the Milkweed Ecosystem

2010-04-20T21:43:00.006-04:00

Super Swampers and other members of the wet meadow community will once again be participating in the All Species Parade at Ann Arbor's Earth Day Festival.

The earth day festival will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2010 Noon to 4 p.m. at Washtenaw Community College's Morris Lawrence building.

The wet meadow team will be there with our display focusing on recruiting people to come to the Wet Meadow III planting.

As usual, we'll be participating in the all species parade. We encourage people to come dressed as a milkweed or a member of the milkweed ecosystem. See the list of possibilities below, or check out the Milkweed Web of Life document.

Plant:

Common Milkweed
Butterfly weed
Swamp Milkweed

Insects:

bees (pollinators)
bumblebees
honey bees
green metallic bee
carpenter bees
gray striped "leaf-cutter" bees
wasps
Pompillid
spiders
Crab
butterflies/moths
Monarch
Milkweed Tussock Moth
Clear-wing hawkmoth
caterpillars
Monarch
Tussock
beetles
Long horned milkweed
Lady bug
bugs
Small milkweed bug- nymph
Small milkweed bug- adult
Large milkweed bug- nymph
Large milkweed bug- adult
Milkweed assassin bug
flies
Tachinid flies
ants
aphids

Birds:

Orioles
Goldfinches

Prescribed Burn A Great Success on Thursday, April 1, 2010

2010-04-07T16:31:00.000-04:00

“Wet Meadow Burn”: Buhr Park Children’s Wet Meadow. City natural area program staff conducted the annual prescribed burn of the wet meadow on Thursday, April 1, 2010. “It’s quite a sight--my daughter has gone to prescribed burns since age 2 and loves them,” says one parent. “I think it’s quite safe for kids of any age if they’re with a parent.”

Dozens of kids and parents showed up to help collect seeds and learn about how this helps wildflowers, birds, butterflies and other creatures. Stop by in a week or so to see new growth sprouting from the deep roots of our native plants. Buhr Park, 2751 Packard 48104. Free. 971-5870

(These photos are from past years; we'll have new ones soon.)

Wet Meadow Team and Allen School Receive Grants

2010-03-13T12:08:00.007-05:00

The Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow Project and Allen Elementary School received grants from the Wildflower Association of Michigan last weekend to purchase native plants for the Buhr Park/Allen School area.

Allen School received funds to purchase plants for a butterfly garden as part of the nature area on the south side of the school.

The Wet Meadow Project will use the grant money to buy woody plants for the area called the Palace of Nature, next to Wet Meadow II.

On hand in Lansing to receive the grants were Clare, Sophia (for the Wet Meadow team) and Dave Corsa (for Allen School).

Wet Meadow III - Overview

2010-02-28T07:20:00.000-05:00

Wet Meadow III will be just to the south of the paved path from Essex Road to Allen School. As its name implies, it will be the third wet meadow in Buhr Park.

Construction of Wet Meadow III is taking part in two phases: hardscape & grading and planting. Hardscape and grading was completed in the fall of 2009 by the City of Ann Arbor. It will be planted by volunteers on May 23, 2010. More about Wet Meadow III Planting Day.

The overall project is being funding by the City of Ann Arbor as part of the parks improvement millage. The design was done by ECT in Ann Arbor. The site plan is available online. To orient yourself when looking at the site plan - Essex Road is at the left end of the path and Allen School is at the top center.

Photos and info needed

2009-11-27T10:12:00.000-05:00

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

2009-11-14T12:35:00.003-05:00

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

2009-10-22T07:31:00.003-04:00

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

2009-09-05T14:25:00.003-04:00

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

2009-08-19T15:46:00.002-04:00

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

2009-08-08T17:11:00.006-04:00

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?

2009-07-12T09:16:00.003-04:00

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.

Pollinator event was bee-utiful

2009-06-22T22:10:00.001-04:00

Our June 20 pollinator event was a lot of fun.

We had a good turnout of adults and kids, a mix of long-time Wet Meadow folks and some new friends.

Dr. Tuell brought a display case with specimens of about 100 bees native to Michigan.

She also brought a bee-vac, a re-built DustBuster that safely captures bees and puts them in small vials (about 1' x 3") so they can be safely viewed up close.

She caught some bees that were visiting wildflowers in the wet meadow, including a couple of teeny-tiny ones. (She released them at the end of the day.)

She talked about native bees and answered questions from kids and adults.

(We'll have photos soon, I hope.)

After a potluck supper, we had a brief ceremony, then Abby, Nino and Shane planted serviceberry trees in the palace of nature.

"Kids See Pollinators Up Close" Saturday, June 20

2009-06-15T22:35:00.000-04:00

"Kids See Pollinators Up Close" Saturday, June 20

at the Buhr Park Childrens' Wet Meadow

Come watch butterflies and other pollinators visiting the wildflowers.

MSU entomologist Julianna Tuell will capture insects for kids to safely see up close.
Learn how kids can be safe around bees.
Hear about how beneficial insects help us grow blueberries, tomatoes and other foods.
Kids can make a bee house (from natural materials) to take home.

Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 4:00 PM. Children must be accompanied by a parent. All are welcome at a picnic potluck at 5:15. Please leave pets at home.

Dr. Tuell speaks frequently about pollinators and native plants. She coauthored Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native Flowering Plants (MSU Extension Bulletin E-2973) and recently published a study that identified more than 100 native bee species on Michigan blueberry farms.

We'll also have a display of nest blocks from Matt Demmon.

This event is co-sponsored by Wild Ones and Natural Area Preservation.

Buhr Park is located at 2781 Packard Rd. 48104. For more information call Mark at 478-1333.

Morning at the Meadow

2009-06-15T22:28:00.002-04:00

I passed by the wet meadow this morning and saw a few things in bloom and a nice misty feeling.

Public Meeting on Park Improvements

2009-05-20T22:15:00.010-04:00

Several of us attended a public meeting this evening at Cobblestone Farm. The meeting was held by city parks planners to discuss 3 projects:

Essex Street path and wet meadow (wet meadow III!)
Easy Street path and expanded wet meadow I)
Reconfiguring the entrance to the pool/ice rink to allow better ADA access, including bikes and strollers

About 6 members of the public and 2 parks representatives were there.

The two path improvements and wet meadows are part of the Buhr Park Stormwater Master Plan. Nice to see it put to good use!

It sounds like the Essex Street path will be done this summer. It will make the path a little straighter and more level than the existing path, which should be good for the kids, parents and others who use it daily for school.
There are a few remaining questions about tieing the path in at both ends. It will be an 8 foot path and it wasn't clear that there was room to tie the path in to Essex at that width or at the other end where the school-maintained path is 4 feet wide.

The wet meadow at Essex should be very nice. Since the path will be levelled off, the grade from the path to the wet meadow will be a little steeper than it is now. There was also a little chatter about technical details - would there be a drain tile installed below the wet meadow? We also requested that seeds and/or plants for this wet meadow come from local sources.

The Easy Street path is proposed to arc southward of the existing path to enable an expanded Wet Meadow I. We talked about keeping it straight and raising it, but it seemed best to move it south in order to have a continuous wet meadow and to better tie in to the cobblestone farm. That path would be 8 feet wide and bike, ADA, stroller friendly. The design will include a foot path or trail that would go through the wet meadow, for those who want a slightly more direct and scenic route to the pool.

The Easy Street path is not on a construction schedule, but having a clear design will make it more likely when funds become available.

Improvements to the Pool/Ice Rink entrance will be to enable better access. The plan is to take off a portion of the east side of the plaza at the entrance. Remove the top set of steps and create a ramp leading down to the parking lot. At the top of the lower set of steps, a ramp will turn left (north) and go down to the sidewalk.

The Pool/Ice Rink entrance improvements are not scheduled.

Earth Day 2009 - Milkweeds!

2009-04-29T21:32:00.004-04:00

Super Swampers staffed the table and displays at the City of Ann Arbor Earth Day celebration at Leslie Science Center.

The theme of the day and for the all species parade was 'milkweeds'. We explained the importance of milkweeds for stormwater and for all the critters that depend upon them for their mutual well-being.

People who visited the Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow table were treated to free milkweed seeds. Many of them also purchased seed packets of wildflowers from the wet meadows (see previous post).

The also learned about the importance of wetlands in capturing stormwater in the ever popular paint tray stormwater model. See several of the smallest super swampers running the show below:

Seed Planting and Sorting

2009-04-19T20:03:00.006-04:00

Today the Super Swampers spread seed that they had collected in Wet Meadows I & II.

We spent the most time planting in the sandy part of the upper basin of Wet Meadow II. We planted little bluestem seeds individually under moss that is growing there.

While we were planting, we found some visitors there, or at least some signs of visitors. Do you recognize these homes? It looks like there were two different creatures. The one on the left is some kind of red ant. The right one? We don't know.

We also sorted seeds into seed packets that we'll sell at Earth Day and other events.

Finally, we prepared for the all species parade at the Ann Arbor Earth Day festival. We plan to go dressed as various milkweeds and the critters that depend on them and help them. Would that be a group of symbiotic friends?

Fox Hollow Prairie Planting

2009-04-05T18:48:00.016-04:00

A new partnership with the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission began today when a team of Super Swampers planted the new Fox Hollow Prairie in County Farm Park.

The seeds were collected by the Super Swampers over the past several years from Buhr Park. Our stock of seed is now large enough that we can share. County Parks was interested, so we agreed on a place in County Farm Park called Fox Hollow.

We decided to go with a low tech approach for this project. Previously we would do extensive planning. This time we're experimenting. What if we sow seeds on the ground with minimal preparation? The idea is based in part on a conversation with Greg Vaclavek at the Native Plant Nursery a few years ago as he showed off a section of land that they stopped mowing, burned and did minimal seeding. It might be a longer process, but we've got time.

Soil preparation was simple: raking the ground and pulling loose materials off. Then seeds were sowed by the kids.

Complete List of Seeds

Yellow Coneflower
Iron Weed
Prairie Dock
Indian Grass
Blue Stem Goldenrod
Sneezeweed
Switch Grass
Fox Glove Beard Tongue
Hairy Beard Tongue
Bottle Brush Grass
Split Leaf Black Eyed Susan
Black Eyed Susan
Bee Balm
Penstemon
Evening Primrose
Stiff Goldenrod
Cow Parsnip
Thimbleweed
Butterfly Milkweed
Common Milkweed

All seeds were collected from the Buhr Park "wet meadows" but our wet meadows have turned more to prairie over time. But we have no plans to change our name.

We have an idea that this small prairie will grow over the years and spread south and west as our little plot develops a good seed bank and nature takes its course.

Special thanks to Shawn Severance of the parks department who came and helped out.

Larger Images:
One
Two
Three

2009 prescribed burn - a big hit with kids

2009-04-02T19:06:00.003-04:00

The prescribed ecological burn on April 2, 2009 was a great success! Lots of kids and parents had fun and leaned about fire, plants and wildlife.

This year we focused on the three basins in the souty west corner of the park (sometimes called Wet Meadow 2) that we planted in 2004.

More details soon.

P.s., if you took photos, please get in touch.

Like Monica the Garden Faerie who posted photos to her blog.

2009 burn scheduled for April 2

2009-03-12T13:20:00.002-04:00

“Wet Meadow Burn”: Buhr Park Children’s Wet Meadow. City natural area program staff conduct the annual prescribed burn of the wet meadow, and participants then scatter native plant seeds on the meadow. “It’s quite a sight--my daughter has gone to prescribed burns since age 2 and loves them,” says one parent. “I think it’s quite safe for kids of any age if they’re with a parent.” If you’d like to help prepare for the burn, show up at 4 p.m. with a garden rake (for leaf spreading) and a paper shopping bag (for seed collecting). 5 p.m., Buhr Park, 2751 Packard 48104. Free. 971-5870

(These photos are from March 2005.)

Wet Meadow captures Big Thaw

2009-02-08T08:15:00.005-05:00

With the big thaw that started on Saturday, February 7, Wet Meadow I is capturing a lot of water from melting snow. By Sunday afternoon, only about 2" on the seat rock was above water.

Even on Saturday, Wet Meadow I was capturing a lot of water from melting snow.

Since the ground is frozen, water will not soak in very quickly.

If the weather stays warm, more water will collect on the Wet Meadow.

Super Swampers in the Snow

2009-01-19T14:39:00.001-05:00

The Super Swampers gathered on a sunny day. We collected stems and seedheads of native wildflowers.

While it was chilly, it was fun to flounder in the deep snow.

Later we went inside and made plant identification guides to post in the kiosk.

Fall Seed Party

2008-11-16T21:05:00.000-05:00

Super Swampers gathered today for a fall seed party.

Cornbread: We took corn off the cob, ground it into cornmeal and made delicious corn bread.

Applesauce: We picked apples (the last of the season) from the Buhr Park orchard and made yummy applesauce - it was red!

Ironweed: we carefully plucked seeds from ironweed stalks to plant next year.

Milkweed storm: we took a bunch of milkweed seeds out of their pods and blew them around the room. It looked like snow.

Super Swampers Gather Seeds

2008-10-11T22:26:00.001-04:00

A group of Super Swampers met today to gather seeds. It was an incredible day to be out and even better for collecting seeds. Many dry days, low humidity and bright sunshine meant that seeds were flying off the plants into our buckets.

The best luck was with bee balm, milkweed (butterfly and common) indian grass and yellow coneflowers.

Walkin Jim - a success!

2008-09-28T22:19:00.000-04:00

Walkin Jim Stoltz delighted the crowd today at Allen School in Ann Arbor. The audience was balanced towards Allen School students and their families, but also included many who have been following Jim's career for years and years.

A highlight was a story like version of "Wild Things Need Wild Places" in which the audience (young and old) was seen dancing, scratching themselves and yes - howling.

Funds raised will benefit Allen School's Green School program.

Walkin Jim Concert - Sept 28, 2008 - 4:00 PM

2008-09-15T21:13:00.003-04:00

Walkin’ Jim Stoltz Family Concert
Sunday, September 28, 4:00 p.m.,
Allen Elementary School
2560 Towner Blvd., Ann Arbor , MI
(North of Buhr Park , off Packard, at Easy Street)

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Allen School Pride Team's Green School effort. The Green Schools Program teaches students ecological responsibility by encouraging schools to institute recycling and energy savings programs, learn about alternative energy, become better stewards of natural areas, and support other environmental concerns.

WALKIN' JIM STOLTZ, one of America 's most unique folksingers and backcountry travelers will bring his fun multi-media show for children, Come Walk With Me, to town again this fall. Walkin’ Jim’s incredible photography, fun stories and catchy songs make this one-of-a-kind concert an inspiring journey into our natural world. He’s been a hit with elementary-school age children from coast to coast; older and younger kids enjoy him too.

Want to know more about Walkin’ Jim? Check out http://www.walkinjim.com.

Tickets for the concert will be available in advance and at the door. For advance tickets or more information, please contact Joan Brush at jkbrush@yahoo.com (preferred) or 734-973-9161, or Dale Petty at petty@wccnet.edu (preferred) or 734-971-5870.

Ticket prices are: Children (12 and under) $7, Adults $10, Families $25.

Rain, rain and more rain

2008-09-14T11:13:00.000-04:00

At about 9 PM last night there was a surface stream pouring into the upper basin of the west wet meadow. Most of this appeared to be coming from the roof of the skating rink and the downspout at the sw corner.

At 9 AM today (Sunday) there was no visible water anywhere. More rain is forecast for this afternoon, so maybe we'll get some photos.

new signs look spiffy

2008-09-12T22:09:00.000-04:00

If you've walked by lately, I'm sure you have noticed the new signs.

Thanks to all who helped - Jeff Dehring, Harry Sheehan, Janice Das, and Jonathan Kittel.

(photo coming soon.)

Big critters buzzing in the upper basin

2008-08-02T15:58:00.001-04:00

If you've walked near the upper (north) basin of the west wet meadow, you've probably noticed some large flying critters. At first they seem like bees, but if you get a better look, you'll see it's a large black wasp with three stripes on the abdomen. It's the eastern cicada killer wasp.

While big, these wasps are not dangerous to people. The males have no stingers, and the females are not aggressive.

(photo from Prof. Chuck Holliday's Cicada Killer Page.)

These wasps breed near sandy areas. The females dig holes and bury cicada bugs for the young wasps to feed on underground. This leaves small mounds of sand you can see when walking by.

There are other web pages about these critters:

More photos and info at "What's That Bug"

and at Dr. Zachary Huang's Cyberbee site.

July Morning at Wet Meadow I

2008-07-20T16:22:00.001-04:00

Wet Meadow I at Buhr Park.

What's In Bloom?

2008-07-13T16:17:00.001-04:00

During a walk this morning we noticed these things in bloom:

Yellow Coneflower
Bee Balm
Tickfoil ?? looked a little like loostrife to me
Prairie Dock
Butterfly Milkweed

learning about native bees from the Internet

2008-06-22T14:38:00.003-04:00

Here are some kid-friendly free materials on native bees and other pollinators.

5 Things Kids Can Do to Help Pollinators (a one-page b&w handout)
http://www.pollinator.org/Resources/5%20things%20kids%20can%20do.pdf

You might ant to consider building nests for native bees from plant stems or blocks of wood (2 pp. color)
http://www.xerces.org/Pollinator_Insect_Conservation/nativebeenests.pdf

Extension Bulletin E2985 Conserving Native Bees on Farmland (4 pp. color, with great photos of Michigan's native bees)
http://nativeplants.msu.edu/publications.htm

"Nature's Partners: Pollinators, Plants, and You" a curriculum for grades 3-6
http://www.nappc.org/curriculum/

June 21 potluck picnic and pollinator program

2008-06-15T15:58:00.002-04:00

On June 21, from 4 to 6 PM, we will have a picnic at the Wet Meadow area in Buhr Park. Please bring a dish to pass, your own tableware, and a blanket or lawn chairs. Hats and sunscreen are always a good idea.

We'll chat about butterflies, native bees, and other pollinators that are essential to the ecosystem. We'll look at photos and talk about how we can make our yards and gardens more friendly to pollinators. We'll also talk about how kids can be safe around bees and wasps.

We’ll build nest boxes from the hollow stems of native plants, and install nest boxes. We’ll talk about the importance of pollinators for the serviceberries, raspberries and elderberries growing nearby.

We'll see whats blooming in the wet meadows and look for butterflies and other visitors.

(This is a green bee visiting a spiderwort blossom.)

photo-voltaic and wind-powered turbine

2008-06-11T19:20:00.000-04:00

The Buhr Park entrance on Packard Rd. is now illuminated by a photo-voltaic and wind-powered turbine. The device was designed by Mojtaba Navvab at the University of Michigan, and manufactured by Full Spectrum Solutions in Jackson, Mich.
http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/Everlast-PVW-2008.pdf

You can read a newspaper article here:
http://www.mlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/05/new_buhr_park_light_powered_by.html

Summer 2008 To Do List

2008-05-19T21:28:00.000-04:00

As part of an annual meeting, we got together and did a quick tour of Wet Meadow II to admire the beauty and to see what might need to be done this summer.

Invasive Plant Removal

Remove Canadian thistle from SE corner of wm2 lower tier
Thistle has a thick and prickly body and leaves. Best to pull it after a rain. Wear gloves.
Remove sweet clover - not widely distributed, but we need to stay on it.
Also good to remove after a rain by pulling
Bindweed or wild morning glory - SE of WMII under walnut tree
Keep plastic in place to smother it.
Pull buckthorn from Palace of Nature
Anytime, but especially after a rain. The little seedlings will keep coming up, but they are easy to pull.

General Stuff

Path maintenance
The new east to west path needs to be weeded and stomped from time to time.
Protect wafer ash w tree cage and sign at north end
Two tree cages and signs
Sandbox sign
Welcome sign and also remind people to play within the sandbox (and don't throw the rocks)
Weed and woodchip and plant north end of palace of nature
Careful of the new redbuds coming up. Plant more wild strawberries and cinqfoil.
Build 7 Tree cages
easy: 3 ft tall fence with 2x4 slots, 36 inch circumference (17-19 2" sections), 3 foot metal stake
Build a New path from kiosk to bench

Kiosk and Signs

Update signs in kiosk
Caulk kiosk
UV protection for kiosk

Summer gatherings at the wet meadow

2008-05-13T22:09:00.000-04:00

We've scheduled three dates this summer to enjoy a potluck picnic near the wet meadows, see what's blooming and buzzing, and perhaps pull a few weeds.

Saturday June 21, 4-6 PM

Saturday July 19, 4-6 PM

Saturday August 16, 4-6 PM

All are welcome - please join us or stop by and say 'Hi'.

Sharing at the Earth Day celebration

2008-04-30T16:35:00.004-04:00

Kids and other friends of the Wet Meadows turned out in large numbers at last Sunday's Earth Day Celebration.

They dressed up for the All-Species parade.

Also, Super Swampers demonstrated the storm water model (made from three paint trays) and talked to many kids and parents.

Sharing our info and enthusiasm has a long tradition.

Super Swampers Build a Path

2008-04-14T19:48:00.005-04:00

The Super Swampers met today and worked on a new path going across Wet Meadow II. It was a little bit snowy at the beginning, but it got better and we all warmed up with the hard work.

Feel free to walk on the new path as much as you want.

12 people, 1.5 hours= 18 volunteer hours of work

Weather to burn - finally

2008-04-02T19:45:00.003-04:00

The prescribed ecological burn at the Buhr Park Childrens' Wet Meadow on Wednesday, April 2 was a success.

Many families and adult spectators gathered to celebrate Spring and watch the burn.

Trained staff from the City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation unit explained the purpose of the burn and safety considerations. They conducted the burn while the spectators oohed and aahed.

Super Swampers, Global Warming and Observations

2008-03-16T16:16:00.000-04:00

The Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow Super Swampers met today to talk about the city of Ann Arbor mayors visit to the Blossom Eco Circle. They also took a stroll around the park to post signs and see what was happening at the wet meadows.

We compared our carbon footprint pie charts - they showed where the carbon we produce carbon comes from. And we talked about different things that we can do around our homes to reduce our carbon output.

We checked out Wet Meadow I. It still had water and slush in it. The winter melt that fills the wet meadow doesn't soak in to the frozen ground.

We also noticed that some small shrub seedlings at the north end of Wet Meadow II had been pummeled by sledders. They might not have noticed that the stakes and plastic guards were protecting small plants. Maybe we'll need to mark them more carefully and sturdily next time.

We also put up signs for the upcoming Wet Meadow Burn on March 26.

Wet Meadow I

2008-03-16T15:35:00.000-04:00

The Wet Meadow still has some snowmelt.

Design Vindicated!

2008-03-03T18:18:00.009-05:00

This afternoon's rainfall and snowmelt combined with frozen ground to yield large quantities of surface run off.

The three basins of WM II functioned exactly as designed - the swale behind the ice rink fed the upper (northernmost) basin.

When that filled, it overflowed through its spillway to the middle basin.

That one, in turn, filled and overflowed to the lower basin.

It's the most water I've seen since WM II was built in 2004.

Hats off to Jane Kleiner, the designer, Chris Mueller who excavated the basins and built the spillways stone by stone, the teens who helped plan, and everyone who helped.

Wet Meadow Full of Water

2008-02-18T18:56:00.000-05:00

A day later, the rain and warm temperatures change the snow in Buhr Park to fine deluge. Note the ducks in this photo.

Winter thaws cause the largest buildup of water in the wet meadows, since the ground is frozen. It takes much longer for the water to disappear.

Wet Meadow Full of Snow

2008-02-17T18:50:00.002-05:00

A day of sledding near Wet Meadow I. A beautiful sunny day, but the forecast was for a thaw.

February 2, 2008 - Superswampers Seed Collecting

2008-02-02T16:19:00.000-05:00

Today we collected seeds for Yousef's project on the south slope of Wet Meadow. If you didn't know, Yousef is working to make the front of WM II thicker with native plants. He is also trying to get the turf grass out. He is also a busy guy in many other ways.

We collected these seeds:

Bee Balm
Indian Grass
Yellow Coneflower
Black Eyed Susan

It was very cold and you could get tired really easy because there were so many seeds. It wasn't so cold, and we weren't too tired because Luke and Clare did a little sledding.

After collecting seeds we had hot chocolate, corn puffs and cider.

We also talke about the upcoming burn and global warming. When thinking about global warming, Fiona (who was very late indeed) rememberd seeing a video online about a man who powers his washing machine with a pedal power.

We also noticed that utility trucks were driving in the swale on the east side of Buhr Park. Jeannine chased them out this morning. Go Jeannine! We hope you get well soon.

Palace of Nature Woodchip Workday

2007-11-06T11:50:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, November 3 about 20 kids and grownups came and spread woodchips to expand the footprint of the Palace of Nature.

The extension is behind the bench towards the west.

The extension means that there is less grass for parks to mow and more area of the palace of nature to expand into.

Clare and Sophia created signs for the kiosk near the playground.

Several people ventured into Wet Meadow II to collect seeds.

Total Volunteers: 15
Hours: 2
Volunteer Hours: 30

Bioneers 2007 Presentation

2007-10-21T23:57:00.000-04:00

On October 21, a contingent from the Wet Meadow Team presented the Wet Meadow Story at the Great Lakes Bioneers Conference at Marygrove College in Detroit.

Celia, Yousef, Sophia, Sabrina, Jeannine and Andy were the presenters.

Jeannine mentioned that this conference is a "haven't seen you in a long time" conference as she spent many years in the Detroit area working on environmental and just issues. True to form... the audience included Jeannine's first grade teacher and a childhood friend.

Volunteers: 6
Hours: 3
Volunteer Hours: 18

Tenth Anniversary

2007-10-14T16:00:00.000-04:00

10th Anniversary Celebration of Wet Meadow I 
Sunday October 14 
Buhr Park Picnic Area Near Wet Meadow II 
4:00-6:00 PM 
Bring a dish to pass and your favorite wet meadow story to tell    
We will take a walk to appreciate the beauty of the wet meadows in the fall and collect some seeds.
We will also have a few trees to plant.      

Hope to see you all there,   
Jeannine and the wet meadow team

planting at Palace of Nature - Fall 2007

2007-09-24T02:00:00.000-04:00

The Palace of Nature is a grove of native trees and shrubs. These help water to soak into the soil. These photos show volunteers planting on Sept. 23 2007.

If you're visiting the playground, take a look to see how our new trees are doing.

Sunday Morning Stroll

2007-06-11T21:35:00.000-04:00

Wet Meadow 1 is looking lush. This photo was taken yesterday morning.

Coreopsis are in bloom, as well

End of Year Picnic/Potluck/Planting

2007-06-08T19:23:00.001-04:00

Last night over a dozen families converged on the playground at Buhr Park to celebrate the last day of Blossom, the beginning of summer and being together.

After playing, eating, and ice cream, the remaining crew converged on the north end of Wet Meadow II to plant wild strawberries and raspberries.

The wet meadows and the palace of nature appear to be in great condition. Coreopsis were the most prevalent blossom in the meadows. The oak, paw paw and tulip tree seedlings that were planted last year at the palace of nature appear to be in great condition.

woodies greening up

2007-05-19T19:10:00.000-04:00

The little oak tree planted to honor Jane and her baby is doing well.

Also, the pteleas at north end and one of the bladdernuts in the middle tier are greening up.

So is the little tulip tree in tha Palace of Nature.

Fall is a good time to work outdoors

2006-10-29T18:48:00.000-05:00

We collected seeds and did some other work today.

We spread woodchips around the bench.

Wet Meadow II Fills Up

2005-02-19T15:53:00.001-05:00

With a melt-off and rain the very large Wet Meadow II fills to the brim with water.

Clare and I visited the wet meadow the evening of February 15. The the photos are dark, but we saw the three basins of the Wet Meadow II filled with standing water. A nice stream of water was flowing in from behind the ice rink. The road below the wet meadow has no huge puddles. In short, everything is working according to plan.

Also... we managed to sneak up on ducks in both the new and old wet meadows. And tried some nighttime photography.

Wet Meadow II Fall 2004 Update

2004-11-18T18:16:00.000-05:00

It was a great summer for growing!

Since planting day, we've been hard at work making sure that things go smoothly at the wet meadow. It turns out that we didn't need to work as hard as we might have. It was a mild and wet summer. It got a little dry in the fall, so whe had to pull hoses and rely on the generosity of the neighbors who let us use their water spigots.

When all the plants were in, we worried that the ground was too hard, that the plants would dry out, that they'd be trampled... We were also told that if 40-50% of the plants survived, we should be happy. So we were ready for the worst.

We're here to report this fall that probably over 90% of the plants survived the first growing season! Things couldn't be better!

About the Wet Meadow

2004-06-18T21:00:00.000-04:00

The Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow is a group of wet meadow ecosystems in Ann Arbor's Buhr Park. The wet meadows provide a habitat for native plants and animals, an attractive educational site for children, neighbors and other visitors, and an environmental filter for stormwater runoff from the park grounds.

Wet meadows are essentially large rain gardens. They capture water from rain and melting snow. They are full of native plants that use the water to grow. The plants have flowers that are used by butterflies and seeds that are eaten by birds. Usually the ground in the wet meadows is damp and squishy, like a damp sponge.

The concept of Wet Meadow has been germinating since 1992. The original meadow was planted in September, 1997, and the plants have thrived and bloomed ever since. The project has expanded with a second set of three basins, called Wet Meadow II on the west side of the park. More than 150 volunteers helped plant this in June of 2004. The wet meadows are thriving beyond our wildest dreams. Many thanks to the children, parents and others who helped make this possible.

To learn more, please contact Jeannine Palms 734-971-5870

planting the west wet meadow - June 5 2004

2004-06-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

More than 180 volunteers gathered on a sunny Saturday to plant the three basins of "Wet Meadow 2" on the west side of Buhr Park.

We used the plants we grew from seed.

Jane told everyone about the process.

Soon everyone was planting.

Children and adults pictched in, using plants grown from seed.

People of all ages helped water the plants.

The three basins have carefully-engineered spillways lines with large stones. Thanks to Chris Mueller for his careful excavation and construction of the spillways.

Cooperation releases abundance.

Wet Meadow II Planting Day

2004-06-05T17:15:00.001-04:00

Over 100 volunteers participated in planting on June 5, 2004.

Wet Meadow II Groundbreaking

2004-05-16T17:00:00.003-04:00

With fanfare fitting the occasion, ground was broken on the new wet meadow on May 16. Jeannine Palms, among many others, took the ceremonial first scoops and the tiny hole was anointed with real rainwater.

Growing tiny plants - March 2004

2004-03-27T15:55:00.000-05:00

We planted our seeds and kept them in a greenhouse. In late March, we transplanted them to larger containers.

Jane showed us how to do it.

Lots of people helped.

This is another project that attracts volunteers of all ages.

Thanks to Chad and the Matthei Botanical Gardens for the use of their greenhouse, and for watering our tiny plants.

2004-03-18T01:56:00.000-05:00

We had a meeting to tell people about the second wet meadow.

We explained what we were planning.

Jeff has helped us a lot

Collecting seeds Nov 2003

2003-11-09T21:45:00.000-05:00

As part of the teen project to create a second wet meadow, we collected seeds (with permission) on November 9, 2003.

Seed collecting is enjoyable - even newcomers can quickly get the hang of it.

We had permission from the land owner to colect seeds on their property.

high water - March 16 2003

2003-03-16T19:45:00.000-05:00

Early Spring can be a time for high water - especially when rain falls while the ground is frozen.

This is the first wet meadow, north of the farmhouse and barn.

Next time it rains, stop by and see the wet meadows catching water.