May 17, 2008 (Sat)    

Field Trip - 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Floodplain Forest near Galesburg, with Paul Olexia. Paul, a retired Kalamazoo College Biology Professor, is former co-president of Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones and former president of Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. He’s led many tours for Wild Ones, Michigan Botanical Club, and other organizations

Floodplain (also called "riparian") forests, typically found along larger streams and rivers that are bordered by relatively flat, low-lying areas, have become relatively uncommon. They’ve been converted to agriculture because the soils are so rich, or they’ve been developed for industrial purposes because water is so readily available. Composition of the floodplain forest is largely dictated by the periodic flooding (typically in the spring) that causes a major disturbance to the system. Along with the disturbance there typically is a rich deposit of fresh soil and nutrients. On the other hand, lack of oxygen in saturated soils reduces the decay of organic matter, which tends to accumulate over time. The floodplain itself tends to have an undulating topography: slightly higher areas are drier, and the low areas may remain inundated almost year round. The latter, being low in oxygen levels, often support little in the way of herbaceous vegetation. The wettest areas tend to be dominated by silver maples. Slightly higher (and drier) sites are more likely to support sycamore, green ash, American elm, swamp white oak and honey locust (a tree rarely, if ever, found outside of the floodplain). Also present are likely to be "musclewood" (Carpinus caroliniana), and spice bush. In more or less permanently wet areas buttonbush can be found. Ground cover includes both true and false stinging nettle, meadow rue, a few grasses and possibly some spring wildflowers. One rather unusual plant often found in these communities is "green dragon," a sister species to Jack-in-the-pulpit.

Please dress for the occasion. There well may be some mosquitoes and this is "tick season". This is a floodplain, there may be some mud. But it should not require rubber boots unless we get a lot of rain or you want to explore on your own. There is a chance we may encounter some stinging nettles. If you want a new and exciting experience, you can wear shorts, but they are NOT RECOMMENDED.

Directions to the Galesburg Floodplain Forest:
Take E. Main through downtown Kalamazoo and turn right onto King Highway (following Business Loop for I-94). After passing Kalamazoo Metal Recycling on your left, proceed east, crossing the river, and follow signs for M-96 to Comstock, Galesburg, or Augusta.
For car pooling, gather in the South Wenke Park on the west edge of the community of Comstock, next to the Kalamazoo River. We should leave there by 9:45am.
If you want to drive to the field trip site, continue on past South Wenke Park, east on M-96 through Comstock. At the western edge of the community of Galesburg is a traffic light at 35th St. Turn right on 35th St. (ignoring the "road closed" sign). On 35th St., at the next traffic light (and where the construction begins), turn left on Battle Creek St. You will see a school, "GA Primary School," at that intersection. Turn right immediately into the school parking lot. We will walk from there to the floodplain forest. It is not far. We will head for the river at 10:00 am.

NOTE: Do not attempt to take I-94 to Galesburg since the 35th St. exit is closed and you will be unable to exit there. Moreover, construction on eastbound I-94 can be a problem

    Jun 01, 2008 (Sun)    

Wild Ones Annual Spring Native-Plant Exchange, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Tom and Nancy Small’s house and yard, 2502 Waite Ave., Kalamazoo. RAIN OR SHINE. NO PLANTS FOR SALE—ONLY EXCHANGES. NO INVASIVE EXOTIC PLANTS. Refreshments, socializing, celebration. Share kindnesses and news.

Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones Plant Exchange Rules of Etiquette:
The purpose of the Plant Exchange is to foster natural landscaping with native plants.

1. Respect Others
• Don’t be greedy. If you see a special plant, but there are only 5, don’t take 2. Ask the person who brought it, or one of the expert-looking folks hanging about, about the chances of getting more.

2. Respect Plants – give them a change of survival
• Plants might not get planted immediately. Pot them up so they can survive.
• Don’t bring junk, which at a minimum includes non-native invasives.

3. Respect Yourself
• Just starting out? Don’t have plants to bring? Of course you may take plants. In fact, that is one of the main purposes of the Plant Exchange. We all had to get started somehow, and when native plants start doing really well in your yard, bring some back. [Don’t have plants but want to bring something? Refreshments would be welcome.]

Please provide species labels for your plants.
Questions: e-mail us, or call 381-4946

    Jun 22, 2008 (Sun)    

Field Trip - 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - West Lake and Bishop’s Bog, with Binney Girdler and Richard Brewer. Instead of the previously announced date of June 21, the Wild Ones field trip to West Lake and Bishop’s Bog, in Portage, will be Sunday, June 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. Our leaders will be Richard Brewer, retired Professor of Biology from WMU, and Binney Girdler, Professor of Biology from Kalamazoo College.
Please make this change in your calendars. Don’t miss this field trip to some lovely urban wetlands, with two outstanding guides.

Directions and further details to follow...

    Jul 13, 2008 (Sun)    

Field Trip - 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. - Ponds and Rain Gardens. Site visits to members’ properties & projects: Ruth Caputo – 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.; Mary Powers – 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Directions and further details to follow...

    Jul 20, 2008 (Sun)    

Field Trip - 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. - Rain Gardens. Site visits to members’ properties & projects: Carolyn Pesheck – 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.; Nate and Erin Fuller – 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Directions and further details to follow...

    Aug 04, 2008 (Mon)    

21st biennial North American Prairie Conference, August 4 - 8, “Where the Prairie Meets the River,” Winona State University, Minnesota. For further details please visit the web site: bio.winona.edu/napc.

    Aug 23, 2008 (Sat)    

Field Trip - 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Jephtha Lake Fen Preserve, with Becky Csia.

Directions and further details to follow...

    Sep 06, 2008 (Sat)    

Field Trip - 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Wetland Restoration at Axtell and Arcadia Creeks, with Tom Small, Paul Olexia, Steve Keto.

Direction and further details to follow...

    Sep 14, 2008 (Sun)    

Wild Ones Annual Fall Native-Plant Exchange, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Tom and Nancy Small’s house and yard.

    Oct 11, 2008 (Sat)    

Save the Date! Our chapter will be holding a one day conference featuring Dr. Doug Tallamy as our keynote speaker. Dr. Tallamy is Professor and Chair of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware and the author of Bringing Nature Home: How Native plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens. Stay tuned for further details...