Another Weeding Bee!

We had SUCH a great time and accomplished so much during our July weeding bees that we want to relive the experience on August 14th (Sunday).

 

Please come and help!

Not sure?  You can find out more about one of the July Weeding Bees we had and see how much fun everyone had.  Well, I think everyone had fun, but if not fun, then at least a great sense of accomplishment. 

 

No need to work ALL morning - an hour or so would be much appreciated. There might even be an opportunity to try out a scythe if you look serious and responsible and stay away from everyone else.

Bring: Gloves, long sleeves (some people get a mild rash from Dog-strangling Vine), water, sun protection

Where: Meet at the Interpretation Centre, just past the roundabout going south on Prince of Wales Drive.

Come on out and see how big a DSV pile you can make.

Info: fletcher@ofnc.ca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEEK 13, July 26

Volunteers: Barry, Geoff, Glenda, Hedrik, Christine plus 7 members of the Heffner family.

The Heffners joined us this week, volunteering as a means of off-setting the environmental costs of their trip from Michigan. This is an admirable idea and they were with us for about 2 hours, until our morning got called by an incredible thunderstorm. The Heffners worked along the part of the Bill Holland trail closest to the IC and on the ravine side, then moved briefly to the field east of the Butterfly Meadow. Their main activity was clearing DSV from around and in the trees, sumacs along the trail and cedars in the field.

While Barry was with the Heffners, Glenda, Geoff and Hedrik returned to the Green Heron road to continue last week's work, along the road toward the Butterfly Meadow. AAFC had picked up the stacks of DSV cut last week and now have more to pick up.

Christine continued her work in the Old Field and also along the fence on the north slope of the Amphibian Pond.   Geoff then switched to the field east of the Meadow.  Glenda and Barry and the Heffners joined him there for the last half hour. We made good progress on this field and we should be able to finish it next week. After that, it's on the fields north of the Ash Woods.

The Heffner Family Gives Back to the Environment

This week we had the pleasure of having the Heffner family from Grand Rapids, Michigan work with us in our efforts to control Dog-strangling Vine (DSV).  Pictured above are Ken and Gail Heffner with Daniel Heffner, Andrew Heffner, Morgan Stewart, and Elisabeth Heffner. 

The Heffners were in town on vacation, visiting son Daniel who is a grad student here in Ottawa.  Aware of the environmental impacts of their travel, they try to offset these when travelling by giving back in some way to the community they are visiting. 

They found out about the Fletcher Wildlife Garden (FWG) and the struggle to control Dog-strangling Vine.  DSV is a highly invasive species that thrives in sun or shade and in any type of soil.  It spreads rapidly, choking out other plants and even trees in the area.  It is pervasive throughout FWG, and volunteers have been busy trying to control the spread of seeds and stem the spread of DSV into areas that are not yet heavily invested.

Upon arrival, the Heffner family enthusiastically got suited up with work gloves and dug right in, so to speak!  


In the couple of hours they gave to FWG, they were able to make a real difference.  First, working along a busy pathway and then moving on to an open area where they were able to free up several trees and shrubs that had been covered with DSV.   We all watched the dark clouds coming in and they gamely kept right on working up until the clouds broke.  Torrents of rain soon came down while we took shelter in the Interpretation Centre.

At FWG, no matter how much hard work is to be done, there is always time to see some wildlife and learn from the many knowledgeable nature lovers around.   Among other things, the Heffners were able to observe a young Green Heron at the Amphibian Pond (photo below) and a crab spider that has been hanging out on a common milkweed plant.   

The Heffners set a wonderful example of environmental stewardship and community involvement.  What a great way to give back when visiting friends and family out of town.  Many thanks to the Heffners and safe travels to you all!