Zaiga Freivalds worked as a WILD Center Site Coordinator in a part-time position during 2010 and 2011 and created the PLANT LIST FOR THE WILD CENTER. Lisa Picconi also worked, in a part-time position, in 2008 and 2010. She was invaluable with her work on trails, habitat, transplanting, and invasives due to her background in working for the National and State Park Service.
Notes from the WILD Center
By Zaiga Freivalds
In the summer of 2011 at the WILD Center we had a bounty of beautiful native flowers and grasses to host a variety of pollinators. It was awesome to watch, and so rewarding to know that we are accomplishing one of our goals. Some things we’ve learned:
Recovery from the hail storm. The plants damaged by the hail storm have recovered, are blooming profusely, and are attracting multitudes of pollinators. In addition to the lovely butterflies, we are seeing many other insect species that love our native forbs. On sunny days, the plants are humming with activity.
Deer and apples. The deer visited our gardens, including a doe and her two spotted fawns, but so far the damage from the deer has been minimal. The deer love the apples from the three apple trees near the parking lot, and those trees will remain in our overall landscape plan for as long as they are healthy.
Volunteers are invaluable. The volunteers were wonderful as they continue to clean up the holding beds and move more plants into the gardens. They worked hard to spruce up the area for the recent Annual Membership Meeting and the first-ever Chapter Development Weekend. If you are a Wild Ones member, read the happenings of the meeting pages 2, 9, 16-19, and 31.
The landscape plan. The development of the overall landscape plan has required much discussion and research to establish the guidelines. The plan, along with the guidelines and possible plant list and resources for future plantings, can be found at The Beginning of the EcoCenter (WILD Center).
Majestic eagles. The nesting bald eagles have been hiding recently, but they did choose the perfect moment to fly over just as the Annual Membership Meeting participants were beginning the tour of the gardens. Though the eagles are becoming more common in the Wisconsin area, to us as well as to visitors, it is still a majestic bird to behold.
The oak savanna, turtles, and shortgrass prairie. The planting of the oak savanna may be delayed, so we can establish the turtle-nesting habitat near Little Lake Butte des Morts first. However, the shortgrass prairie is still on schedule for planting this fall, thanks in part to a huge donation of plants from Prairie Nursery.
First Thursdays. One of our volunteers suggested that we set aside the first Thursday of each month as a firm work day at the Center. So in July we implemented First Thursdays for members as well as community volunteers, and at 7 p.m. we all share potluck. It’s been a wonderful way to network and share what we are all learning while maintaining the WILD Center site.
Chapter work days. In addition to the many work hours the Fox Valley Area Chapter members put in at the WILD Center, we are thankful for the efforts of other chapters as well. Wolf River, Green Bay, and Root River Chapters have all scheduled fall work days at the Center.
If you are ever in the area, plan to stop by for a visit. We would love to show you around. ◊
WILD Center Wish List
In the Wild Ones Journal, I used to include the wish list for materials and equipment required by the headquarters. People were generous to a fault. Many people asked about things we might need at the WILD Center – besides money for the remodeling – so we asked for things we needed, and they came. Electrical, plumbing, construction, etc. were all handled by the volunteers. The things that the volunteers brought:
First aid kit • Wooden rocking chair suitable for porch sitting • Vacuum cleaner • Rain gauge • Gardening tools (pitchfork, bow rake, McLeod rake, trowels, shovels, pruners, pruning saws, etc.) • Garden tractor and small trailer • Gator or Mule type 4-wheel vehicle • Brush Cutter/Brush Hog • Trailer for hauling debris with car • Benches for outdoor seating • Ladder (16-foot extension and five-rung step) • Heavy-duty shredder or chipper • Rain barrels • Conference-type tables • Conference-type stackable chairs • Bulletin board • Double bed • Set of bunk beds • Dressers (two each) • Materials for storage shelves in storage area • Computer less than four years old • Desk suitable for office • Guest chairs • Seed sorter with 1/4-HP motor • Tree fencing • Tree tubes • Library materials • Bat houses • Seed sorter • Canoe • 30-cup coffee maker • Various adult and children books • No-Mow grass • Turtle-crossing signs • Native shade and prairie plants • Small native maple and oak trees.
Volunteers to help with all sorts of things: Complete and submit construction documents to building inspector • Design and manufacture WILD Center site sign and storage • Cataloging and arranging library materials • Weeding demonstration gardens • Recording bird and critter sightings • Removing buckthorn • Restoring woodland understory and overstory • Installing birdhouses and bat houses.
The Home page image for this blog post shows a summer view of the WILD Center’s backyard.
Leave a Reply