WHAT’S COMING UP?
Tuesday, August 13, 2019 Field Trip
Valley View Park, 5575 Ozark Ave N, Oak Park Heights
6:30 – 8:00 pm
Summer Prairie Walk in Valley View Park, Oak Park Heights
Explore this late summer blooming prairie and see how the abundance and diversity of native plants impacts the local web of bird-life.
Leaders:
- Chase Davies, Saint Paul Audubon Society & Wild Ones St. Croix Oak Savanna, email.
- Kathy Widin, Wild Ones St. Croix Oak Savanna, email.
During this evening prairie walk we’ll observe, discuss, and enjoy a diversity of native prairie plants and the birds that visit them. Come enjoy a delightful blooming prairie and its visiting winged creatures. No registration required.
SUGGESTED GEAR: Bring your 10-power magnifier if you have one, or borrow one from a tour leader; consider a hat, camera, water, and bug repellent. Wear closed-toe shoes with socks above the ankle.
WHY A PRAIRIE? Birds need insects. Insects need food. Prairies provide food for insects and birds. People, as well as needing food, thrive on the calm and beauty of natural places.
WHY THIS PRAIRIE? When seeking places for birding or botanizing, Washington County has many great choices. The restored prairie at Valley View Park is an excellent example of a quality, high-diversity, hillside prairie. The highest quality, probably remnant, portion of the prairie overlooks the valley. Chase Davies who has a keen interest in both native plants and bird ecology, had the idea for this walk and we did it last summer for some members of St. Paul Audubon. The co-leader is Kathy Widin, in a former Oak Park Heights Arborist and Past-President for the St. Croix Oak Savanna (Stillwater) chapter of Wild Ones (native plants, natural landscapes).
DIFFICULTY: Moderate. The walk starts downhill on blacktop surface through woodlands, then on turf, and finally up and down through woods on a compressed dirt trail to the prairie. Distance is about 1 mile round-trip. Consider bringing a walking stick.
DIRECTION: Go south from Hwy 36 on Osgood Avenue, continue beyond Upper 55th St. to the large sign on the left for Valley View Park. Meet in the parking lot at 6:20pm
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 Chapter Meeting
FamilyMeans building, 1875 Northwestern Ave, Stillwater,
7:00 — 8:45 pm
Urban Oasis: Landscape Gardening with Native Plants
Jeremy Mayberg, retired architect and accomplished photographer, will present his approach to creating an urban oasis through gardening with native plants.
In 2003, Marty Rice, one of the founders of Wild Ones Twin Cities Chapter hired Erik Olson of Out Back Nursery to design and assist her in the conversion of her backyard into a native garden. In December 2007, Marty and her husband Jeff sold their home to Jeremy and Amy-Ann Mayberg. Concerned the new owners might plow the garden under and replant a lawn, Marty and Jeff called upon the new owners the day they moved in. Over coffee and muffins they told of Wild Ones and the native plant gardens they had created out back. Marty urged them to experience one growing season before doing anything in the garden.
Marty’s passion for native plants was infectious. Jeremy caught the bug and has been the steward of this magnificent urban oasis for the last eleven years. He now sits on the Board of Wild Ones Twin Cities and is the Program Chair of this year’s Design with Nature Conference. The garden has been featured in Lynn Steiner’s Prairie Style Gardens, Evelyn Hadden’s Beautiful No Mow Lawns and was featured as one of the 2017 Twin Cities Best Gardens by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Free and everyone is welcome.
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
When you join or renew your Wild Ones membership you enable us to continue offering programs like these. A portion of every membership fee goes to fund our chapter programs.
WHAT WE DO
We sponsor monthly programs on native plants and natural landscapes. Meetings are free and the public is welcome. Come join us if you’re interested in gardening with native plants and enjoying natural landscapes.
Our 2019 meetings will be held the third Tuesday of the month at the FamilyMeans building, 1875 Northwestern Ave. in Stillwater. Socializing begins at 6:30 pm with brief announcements and then our speaker at 7 pm.
Garden tours/field trips are typically held on weekends. and occur year-round.
Read about these benefits of membership.
We join with other Minnesota Wild Ones chapters to present an annual Design with Nature Conference.
