Rain Barrel Truckload Sale August 6 in Ashland & Hurley

33-gallon blue plastic recycled rain barrels
Fully assembled $40/each Order Form

Quantities limited! Prepay by August 1 to reserve your rain barrel.

Make checks payable to: Iron County Conservation Dept

Mail to:
UW Extension
29270 Cty G
Ashland, WI 54806

Walk-in purchase may be available as quantities permit on August 6 at the pick-up sites:

Hurley
Iron County Forestry & Highway Building
Friday, August 6 from 2:30-4:30pm

Ashland
Ashland Land Conservation Dept
(near Cenex Station on Sanborn Ave)
Friday, August 6 from 3:30-5:30pm

For more information contact Ruth Oppedahl at 715-685-2676
Hearing Impaired Relay:711

Wetland Invasive Plants Key and Field Guide

An excellent book is now out on invasive plants of aquatic and wetland habitats of Michigan. The 58-page book can be viewed here. The book includes a pictorial key for identification and species accounts with several photos for each species including the plant in the landscape, flower and other defining characteristics. The field guidebook includes a chart of invasive species by communities and a timeline of the best survey period.

Many of these plants are found in Wisconsin, or may be headed this way, and this book can help guide us in identifying invasive plants for early detection. This guide is a great resource for land managers and educators. Thanks to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Michigan Natural Features Inventory and Michigan State University Extension for producing this field guide. To order the book see their website.

South Shore's Lake Superior Days July 17-18, 2010

Bruce Lindgren told me about the new South Shore Association formed on Wisconsin's Lake Superior shore between Port Wing, Herbster and Cornucopia. As part of the Lake Superior Binational Forum's Lake Superior Day, they are sponsoring a weekend of events celebrating our sweet water sea. Activities include geo-caching, kayak tours of Bark Bay State Natural Area, lectures (yours truly for 10 minutes!), quilt show, photo show, fish tacos and kids activities like exploring Lost Creek.

June 5 Native Plant Sale

The 8th annual native plant sale will be on Saturday June 5, 2010 from 9:00am-1:00pm at the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College (map). The sale is hosted by the Northern Native Plants Project in memory of Karen Danielsen and Pam Troxell.

Purchase native plants from our local nurseries: Boreal Natives, Leaning Pine Nursery, M&M Greenhouse and Wildflower Woods.

Sarah Boles of Northern Native Plantscapes
will be there to provide native landscaping information and answer all your native plant questions.

Many plants that were seen at the rain garden workshop tour this past weekend will be available for purchase: Joe Pye Weed, Purple Vervain, Turtle Head, Blue-joint grass and more!

Thank you Bud (1926 - 2010)

Bud Jordahl and Emily Early Photo by 1000 Friends of Wisconsin

Bud is shown here with a good friend Emily Early, a conservation pioneer in her own right. I was lucky to know and work with Bud (and Emily too) who was a board member of the Dane County Natural Heritage Foundation when I was their Executive Director (1991-1998). Bud inspired me and hundreds of young conservationists by his work as as professor, board member, political advisor and friend.

Bud taught me to be deliberate and steady. His long, scope of history in conservation in this state fully informed his advice and thereby many organizations. He taught me about the history of land protection in Wisconsin and how ORAP (Outdoor Recreation Act Program) set the stage for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund in 1990 leading to the acquisition and protection of hundreds of significant natural areas in Wisconsin. This legacy made the preservation of Mt Ashwabay, Corny Beach and Houghton Falls possible.

Bud was vital in the initiative to create the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in our neck of the woods. He was part of that immensely influential group of conservationists including Senator Gaylord Nelson and Martin Hanson who came to power during the 1970's and whose work led to the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the formation of the EPA. Bud's generation was a group that set the foundation for the modern environmental movement.

Yet, Bud also stayed "downhome" and served on the board of our local land trust. He liked to wear red wool plaid shirts and loved to talk about his farm in Richland County, which he protected forever with a conservation easement. He would bring his brown bag lunch to our committee meetings.

It always felt to me that every conversation was important; he was a man of immeasureable integrity.

In Norwegian, Jor (good earth) dahl (valley)

Star Lab and Star Gazing May 7-9, 2010

School groups have been at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center today and one of their activities is going in the SkyLab--a portable (inflatable) planetarium. Mary Gruhl--key volunteer, is here to teach youth about the constellations and their Native American names.

She is also hosting a star gazing session Saturday night, May 8, 2010 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. called "Astronomy The Study of Stars and Planets". Enjoy an evening of star gazing from the Center's viewing deck at the top of the tower. Look through powerful telescopes at the Northern Wisconsin skies. Fee: $1.00 suggested donation for materials. Grades 6 & up.

Then, on Sunday afternoon from 2:00-4:00pm she will host one of her regular "Science Sunday" programs on Astronomy: the study of Stars and Planets. $1.00 to cover materials. Call 715-685-9983 for more information

Making It Home Film Festival Sponsors--Thank You!