Riveredge Nature Center

Riveredge Nature Center seeking saps for maple syrup - JSOnline

2012-03-05T08:26:00.000-06:00

Riveredge Nature Center seeking saps for maple syrup - JSOnline

Check out this JSOnline Blog that mentions Riveredge's Maple Sugarin' events...and visit us online at www.riveredge.us for up and coming programs!

Become a Master Naturalist! Sign up for classes NOW!

2012-02-06T15:54:00.000-06:00

What's New at Riveredge?

MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM IS BACK IN SESSION!: On February 16 we will be meeting at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Field Station (Cedarburg Bog). Director, Jim Reinartz, will talk about how woody plants adapt for winter survival. The Field Station is about 2 miles southeast of Riveredge. Here are the driving directions from their website: http://www4.uwm.edu/fieldstation/directions.cfm. We'll be back at Riveredge in the afternoon to work on mammals. Interested in joining us but haven't registered yet? Click here...

Megan Staats,
Wisconsin's Maple Queen

MEET WISCONSIN'S MAPLE QUEEN AT RIVEREDGE ON MARCH 24TH!:

Meet Wisconsin's Maple Queen at the Riveredge Maple Sugarin' Open House on Saturday, March 24th. Want to learn more about this event? Click Here!

CALLING ALL RIVEREDGE RIVER VALLEY BIKERS! This is our 20^th year and we are looking for individuals that have ridden all 20 years. We would like to hear some personal stories and how our ride has changed over the years. Photos from some of the early rides would also be welcome. Please contact Jennifer Hamm at 262-375-2715 or jennifer@riveredge.us.

View the rest of this blog...click the link below...

Become a Master Naturalist! Sign up for classes NOW!

Happy Holidays from Riveredge

2011-12-22T15:18:00.000-06:00

To You and yours:

2011-12-06T14:28:00.000-06:00

Don't let their innocent pecking at roadside carnage fool you, Ravens and other Corvidae members are great communicators.
Several months ago I watched in amazement as two crows strategically coerced a squirrel to forfeit a precious chunk of stale bread by surrounding the poor creature who was stranded on a low branch. Once the crust was given up from the squirrel's defeat, both birds lost interest in it but flew off, dropping it in Cedar Creek out of spite.

Recently their intelligence has become the object of interest to scientists in learning more about all of the animal kingdom, including ourselves. Study: Ravens communicate better than most of animal kingdom by Doug O'Harra of the Alaska Dispatch wrote how they have been observed gesturing to each other in communication about an object; a complex communication previously unknown outside of humans and primates.

This has spurred research on communications. On his website, Raven Politics, Thomas Bugnyar, co-author of the study wrote, "Ravens show striking abilities in judging and manipulating competitors but also engage in referential communication, social learning, and various forms of cooperation on the basis of social relationships." He states that "[u]nderstanding the social life of corvids may thus be critical in our attempt to understand primate cognition."

This just goes to show we can learn alot from watching nature-even from a bird brain.

The Insider

What's New at Riveredge Nature Center This Week??

2011-11-23T08:01:00.003-06:00

What's New at Riveredge Nature Center This Week??

WE APPRECIATE YOU: Happy Thanksgiving from the Board and Staff of Riveredge Nature Center! We thank you for your support and commitment to this wonderful place where kids (and adults) get hands-on experience with nature, and people of all ages can come to explore and enjoy “a little bit of the wild.”
SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING: From September through November, we served over 3,260 students through our quality environmental education school programs. We also served 65 homeschooled students through our Homeschool Ed-ventures program. We received many excellent reviews from teachers and students. Some are posted online—when you have time, check them out !
This and more in Riveredge's Weekly Email... Click here to read on...http://www.bmetrack.com/c/b/44C842

I'm dreaming of a GREEN Christmas

2011-11-14T16:17:00.000-06:00

I hadn't even picked out my Halloween pumpkin yet and stores were glitzed up with lights and plastic evergreen. What will the color scheme be this year? It's a hard decision; blue and silver, burgundy and gold, teal and fuchsia, violet? Aisles of rainbows encircle department stores and those same colors (a few years out) adorn resale stores.

Thankfully, according to local designers interviewed in this month's Milwaukee magazine, local cuisine and au natural decor are all the rave this season. Here's a recap of the hottest trends and how to do it for less.

James Connelly of Connelly Interiors, Whitefish Bay recommends using lush evergreens to create a visual and scent-ual welcome. Usher in guests with a door wreath and big, green-filled urns. Inside, double up on the evergreen garland for the staircase.

How to do it for less: It is pruning season after all! Lamm's Nursery is also holding classes for swag, wreath and planter decorating at around $25 per class.

What's hot in holiday decor?
No matter what your aesthetic style, candles and natural elements can fit the bill.

According to CJ Mueller of Haven Interiors, Milwaukee, a number of simple items can go along way.

Encircle votives on a white table cloth under a vase of white branches send a clean modern look
Use topiaries, tapered candles and pinecones to provide an ageless traditional look.
Going for the earthy aesthetic used the same materials-just more of them! Fill baskets of acorns and pinecones, add votives to hollowed out gourds, and fill vases with pine boughs and red berry stems.

What compost-able holiday decor has your family made into tradition? Reply to this post with your ideas for a chance to win a suet "stocking" or mini-green kitchen kit in time for the holidays.

Nov 01 2011 SWOT Survey

2011-11-01T14:40:00.000-05:00

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO SHAPE OUR FUTURE!

Greetings Riveredge Friends and Members,

Riveredge is updating our strategic plan and reviewing our vision, mission and core values as an organization. We are always looking for ways to improve. We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to fill out this survey. It is based on the "SWOT" method of planning and visioning that uses Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats or an organization to help facilitate the planning process.

We will use this information to help determine where we should be going as an organization. It also provides an excellent opportunity for you to provide some feedback to us in a meaningful way. The questions are open-ended and we would greatly benefit by hearing your input. Please fill out this form by November 11. We will post the results on our website. Thank you for your continued interest in Riveredge!

Nov 01 2011 SWOT Survey

Dinner presented by Roots

2011-10-30T22:01:00.000-05:00

Located at 1818 North Hubbard, Milwaukee,
Roots is the only farmer-chef owned
restaurant in Wisconsin.

A BIG thank you to the several dozens of people that made Mystery at the edge the best Halloween event I have ever enjoyed.

There is no bigger WOW factor than to see Riveredge octagon and barn transformed into the wild west (complete with Wanted signs and mini cacti adorning the bandana-patterned table cloth).

The only thing better that meeting other nature-minded individuals was doing so over a dinner made by Roots owner and chef- John Raymond.

The gourmet spread was created based on local foods currently available as he explored the diets of settlers that migrated west in the 1800's.

I recommend visiting Roots to take in the ambiance and spirit of green restaurant-ing, but in honor of the message they live, the Monday's Meatless recipe comes from them. Other amazing recipes are available on their website. Be sure to check them out when you schedule a reservation.

Yellow Summer Squash Soup, Goat Cheese, Pecans, Nasturtium Confetti

(Serves Six, with Leftovers)

3# Yellow Summer Squash, seeds removed, chopped
1 small white onion diced
2 “ ginger root peeled, diced
1 lemon zested
6 cloves garlic chopped
1 t celery seed
1 t cumin seed
3 T olive oil
Vegetable stock to cover
1 T fresh chopped thyme
1 T fresh chopped tarragon
Salt and pepper to taste
½ t vanilla extract
½ cup heavy cream or almond milk
Champagne vinegar to taste

Sweat squash, onion, garlic, ginger, lemon zest and whole seed in olive oil for 2 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Cover with vegetable stock, bring to boil, cook until just tender, do not overcook. Add fresh herbs. Remove from heat, let rest to warm. In small batches puree in high speed blender. Whisk in heavy cream, vanilla extract, champagne vinegar. Adjust seasoning accordingly.

Serve warm, garnish with goat cheese, toasted chopped pecans, chiffonade of nasturtium.

Bon Appetit!

Sneak Peak...Mystery at the 'Edge

2011-10-28T21:56:00.000-05:00

Tales from a Northwoods Wildlife Rehab Center

2011-10-23T13:31:00.001-05:00

Down a quiet road in beautiful Minocqua stands the welcome sign for the Northwoods Wildlife Center. The best part...they offer tours!

Like many nature lovers, the northwoods of Wisconsin is my "Walden" and the log-sided NWC emerges from, but remains part of, the densely pined landscape.

My education started by reminders of why they are there; warning plaques pleading for angler responsibility.

Inside were taxidermy animals, victims that live their second life for educational purposes.

Across the room a back-lit x-ray shows the lead-peppered wing of a loon.

Then I met the center's oldest resident-a 30 year old turkey vulture. Parts of her lunch are strewn around her enclosure but she is more interested in hopping around, aided by her remaining wing.

"She's ornery," drawls my tour guide who came from Georgia several weeks ago to intern with the center before going back to school for environmental management and education.

"What happened to her missing wing?"
"We think she was hit by a car."

All the permanent residents are on display in outdoor enclosures. The birds were all dry but we got soaked rushing from cover to cover. I wasn't going to let a little bit of rain take away the fun of measuring my "wing" span next to examples of eagle, osprey, or falcon. (Turns out I'm more of the osprey variety).

A trend among the birds of prey were nest injuries. Apparently the deadly talons are also hazardous to nest-mates as well. A plastic eagle foot hangs to model the size and sharpness of the real thing, but for the safety of visitors the talons had been filed or capped.

"Eagles grasp prey at around 1000 pounds of pressure, compared to 200 pounds in the human jaw," my guide explained.
Since these birds grow up in a nest full of lethal weapons, I was shocked that such injuries aren't more common.

Next to the juvenile bald eagle sporting his brown plumage was the red-hawk enclosure. Her enclosure wall was murraled as a country road running through a hay field, the telephone poles disappearing into the painted horizon. On top of a shortened telephone poll in the enclosure perched the hawk. Her shoulder injury caused her to hop from perch to perch like a fledgling bird.

"So you know when movies show eagles in desert scenes and they give that cry? Eagles, like the juvenile we saw, chirp."
"Chirp?" I'm thinking goldfinch when I heard that and the mental image wasn't congruous. She pushed a button on bird call card. Two chirps resounded from the recorder. This was surely commend knowledge to the average birder, but I was shocked.

"Someone must have thought it wasn't impressive enough so they used her call instead."

So after learning new facts and debunking previously learned ones, I left the center that had struck a cord with me and that would continue to educate and rehabilitate more.

Ode to the Maple Tree

2011-10-18T19:23:00.000-05:00

Fall just isn't complete without a toasty mug of cider and a walk through the crunchy saffron and terracotta maple leaves. Before the last leaf falls, I wanted to send out my Ode to Maple trees. Ironically enough, this inspiration came dually from a stroll outdoors and a visit to the library-another favorite haunt. In my quest for a book to accompany my "snuggy-wearing-soup-eating" mood, I unearthed one specifically dedicated to meanings and mythologies of trees!
Aptly named "The Meaning of Trees" by Fred Hagender, I've paraphrased some interesting points for you mythological botanistical enjoyment.

In Europe, spring Maple leaves were delicacies added to salads

The Salteaux Tribe tells a tale of how the blaze-colored autumn Maple leaves saved Nanahboozhoo's (the Creator) grandmother from evil spirits of the darkness. He was so grateful that he showed the tribe how to collect maple sap without harming the tree.

According to Roman grammarian Servius, the Trojan horse had been made of maple so it was thought that the Maple tree was bad luck.

The Iroquois have a legend that explains how Ursa Major "the Great Bear" came into the sky and why Maple leaves are red. It is said that three hunters went hunting for a giant bear called Nyahgwaheh. The three chased him to the top of a mountain where Alioth killed him with his bow and arrow. Mizar had carried the pot to cook it and Alcor (also a star) made the fire. The hunters eat and as they were resting see sparkling lights swirl around them and before they know it they are not on the mountain but up in the sky. The bones sprang back to life and the hunters chased after him where they all remain today in the constellation Ursa major. Every fall they kill the bear and his blood falls from the heavens and covers the leaves, turning them scarlet.

Dinner is served...

2011-10-03T18:48:00.000-05:00

The chill in the air has brought about another round of fruiting for mushroom logs. Adapted from The Candle Cafe Cookbook, this recipe takes full advantage of the flavor and protein packed in these capped little morsels.

1 pound mushrooms (portobella recommended for meaty flavor)
1 cup milk/ unsweetened soymilk
1 tbs mustard
1/2 cup chopped fresh chives (less for dried)
Pinch dried parsley
pinch dried dill
1 spring thyme
1 bay leaf
1 tbs unbleached flour
2 tbs margarine or butter
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 onion, chopped
salt, pepper to taste
1 pound noodles

In a large saucepan, heat 2 tbs oil.
Stir in the flour, then add margarine and spices.
Heat this for 2-3 minutes before adding mushrooms, mustard and soymilk.
Simmer for 20 minutes.

Boil 1 pound noodles, drain.

Remove bay leaf before spooning Stroganoff over noodles.

Enjoy!

Meatless Monday: Vegetable Stew with Walnut Dumplings

2011-09-27T07:11:00.000-05:00

"Serves 4" but I recommend doubling for more than 2

So...I truly believe in my heart of hearts that the northwoods conifers revolted, leaving my unable to post this delicious recipe. But, 24 hours later, here is a delicious recipe especially deserving of a cold rainy day like today. Adapted from The Vegetarian Times Cookbook, it is the quintessential comfort food-meets-locavore infusion. Enjoy!

2 cups peeled and washed of any/all of the following: Potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onion, and turnips.

1 pint water

1 tsp sage

1 tsp parsley (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tbs vegetable oil

1/2 tbs unbleached flour

After peeling, washing, and cubing is done, saute the veggies in a pan with oil. Mix in the flour, then add water. Simmer for 90 minutes.

In the meantime make the dumplings:

2 tbs olive or vegetable oil

4 tbs whole wheat flour

1/4 cup bread crumbs

1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add oil, working the mixture into a stiff dough. Roll it out and cut it into walnut sized stripes or pieces. Cook for 25 minutes in rapidly boiling water. Add to the stew before serving.

Nature & Art from the Northwoods

2011-09-25T14:44:00.000-05:00

This week I've toodled through the conifers of the North Woods and wanted others to experience the joy of my nature finds (less the gas).

First Stop: The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wi
The current exhibit showcases paintings and sculptures from brilliant artists- ALL of the works featuring birds!
Sculptures nestled in the curves of the garden are nearly all animals and were created from metal, wood or paper. It is fascinating to relate the art to the birds in everyday life and wonder what was going through the artist's mind when depicting them.

Enjoy the inspiration,
The Insider

Museum Entrance

Blue Heron Sculpture

Oil painting of cranes

Horse sculpture made from drift wood

Watercolor painting

Crane sculpture

Very large paper sculpture

Sculpture of life-size Puma

Oil painting of Swan

Metal sculpture of ducks

Wild Turkey sculpture

Oil Painting

Large eagle sculpture

Oil painting

Cherub holding two birds

Meatless Mondays: Black Bean Burgers

2011-09-17T11:14:00.000-05:00

Several times over the last few months I have been questioned about lower carbon footprint diets, recipes for garden goodies, and supporting local. The delicious result is a new weekly Meatless Monday post.

Why meatless?
No matter how you dice it, meat is naturally a high carbon item. Even the pasture-fed beef bought from Farmer Joe down the road has a higher carbon footprint than plant produce. Simply put, they are higher on the food chain and it takes many more gallons of water, pounds of feed, etc to "grow" the animal and then takes more energy and resources to "harvest" them.

The other great thing about meatless (besides the hip new recipes) is the high protein and fiber content but typically much lower price tag.

Case in point, our first honorary recipe: Black Bean Burgers; a frugal feast for the family that can hold their own in the taste category compared to the little cakes in small plate dining.

Serving 6, this is a template for the produce already in your pantry.

*Don't forget to dig out the crock pot for Monday's bean cooking.

2 slices worth of crusty bread

2 large eggs

3 tbs oil

3 cups cooked black beans

1 cup finely chopped bell pepper (or 1/2 cup pepper, 1/2 cup corn)

1/4 cup minced cilantro

1/4 cup minced onion (green onion, leek, shallot)

1 tsp ground cumin

pinch cayenne pepper or chipotle pepper (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Mash 2 1/2 cups cooked beans in bowl til smooth.

Mix in eggs, 1 tbs oil and spices.

Crumb bread by hand or Cuisinart. Add to mix.

Fold in remaining beans and veggies (don't over mix)

Divide mixture into equal portions-a heaping 1/2 cup and shape into 1" thick burger.

Heat 1 tbs oil in skillet and cook burgers until brown, typically 4-5 minutes per side.

Serve on a bun, garnishing with sliced onion, tomatoe, avodado, lettuce, condiments. Use your imagination!

Enjoy!

The Insider

Good Living

2011-09-16T10:51:00.001-05:00

The art of recycling

News
Written by CAROL POMEDAY
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 21:12
Artist Sally Duback’s free-flowing creation will hang in Neenah paper mill Dimensional artist Sally Duback of Grafton and Mequon is the ultimate recycler. For her latest commissioned piece, Duback created free-form sculptures of paper pulp made from cast-off clothing that will be arranged on a 15-by-40-foot wall at SCA Wisconsin Tissue Mill in Neenah. She was scheduled to install the work, which depicts the flow of life, this week in the paper mill’s new eco-friendly addition. “The initial proposal was for 14 to 15 pieces, but I just kept grinding them out. I’m up to 21,” Duback said last week. Duback will also conduct a papermaking workshop with employees’ children. The sculpture was made from employees’ old clothing. Read more here...Good Living

What does the Riveredge Photographers Anonymous do?

2011-09-09T21:56:00.000-05:00

When they aren't taking photographs or hiking around Riveredge, they make books.

For Joe Higdon, the concept of a photo book started to organize and show off great photos in a professional way. When he shared the idea with the group, it gained so much enthusiasm that it grew into a "labor of love" brain child. The supportive environment the group uses to push their collective creativity and skill ignited a group wide piece of art. Joe coordinated layout and found inspiring nature quotes that compliment each piece.

The complete book "A Photo Retrospective" showcases the work of 21 Photographer Anonymous photographers (I'm not at liberty to tell you who those 21 individuals are so you'll just have to reference the roster in the book).

Although the photographers call Wisconsin home, their variety of photos could rival the spread of National Geographic.

If the goal of this book was to inspire and impress, Photographers Anonymous has surpassed their goal.

How many warblers can you name?

2011-09-01T12:37:00.000-05:00

I love warblers!
They are adorable creatures with fat little bodies that sing sweet songs. I spend hours watching playful chickadees, so in my ornithological-aspiring mind warblers are simply a more colorful version.

Unlike my whimsical interpretations of "looks like a chickadee", the Bird Club is hard-science based, wrapped in fun. Even expert bird-watchers enjoy the programs and meeting bird-loving friends.

The Bird Club is offering the first workshop of a series dedicated to visual identification of Warblers. This is one of multiple because there are A LOT of warblers who call Wisconsin home.
The meeting is held at Riveredge on Tuesday, September 6. Come at 6pm for a bird-watching hike (or patio surveillance) but don’t miss the 7pm program.
I challenge anyone to list all warbler species (no cheating, please).
I hope to meet you there.

The Insider

Say the magic word…and veggies will appear

2011-08-31T13:45:00.000-05:00

Attention all growers whose summer salads were wilty, bug eaten leaves resembling lace; don’t give up on fresh veggies yet!

While I was fighting common sense with ingenuity, Mother Nature was trying (unsuccessfully) to teach me patience. Instead of a summer-long battle to save my lettuce greens from the searing heat and gluttonous creatures, I should have simply planted earlier…or waited.

Now is the perfect time to catch that second wind and do some fall planting. Organic Gardening says that even through Zone 4, cold loving plants grow well in the cooler temperatures (and fewer bugs) of fall. Plant them in a lower area of the garden or area sheltered from wind by geography or fence. Then simply add the magic word…Mulch, before several deep waterings.
-Kale

-Collards

-Sprouting Broccoli

-Endive

-Escarole

-Chard

-Radicchio

-Spinach

-Asian Greens

-Lettuce

-Parsley

Root, Root, Roots…

Remember the good ol’ days when these delicious spuds were stored in a cellar? Add enough of the magic word and your garden can do the same job. Organic Gardening recommends mulching roots with 8” of straw to keep things from freezing solid. Harvest throughout winter as needed.

-Leeks

-Carrots

-Parsnip

-Beets

The best part of fall growing: Culinary delights

Just like the effect of freezing on grapes to make ice wine, some vegetables taste great after cold temps. Carrots taste sweeter and kale is absolutely delicious in lasagna. Spinach is picked young and is exceptionally tender when it hasn’t fried in the sun.

Happy planting! (…don’t forget the magic word)

The Insider

Chives, Apples and Manure Paint

2011-08-28T11:08:00.000-05:00

Espalier trellis is one technique shown on deepgreenpermaculture.com

I sniffed my first whiff of fall today and, I have to admit, it sent me into a bit of hibernation mode.

Instead of weeding my garden, I'm fighting back the urge to stock my pantry to the hilt with gourds and apples.

The great thing about this time of year is its perfect timing for tree planting and prairie seed sowing.

Odd combination you say?

Not in the world of permaculture and biodynamic growing. Even land the size of a suburban lot has micro-systems. Little hills, valleys, wind, sun and moisture interacts on a small scale similar to how they interact on a mountain-size scale.

Permaculture is a way to use these differences to your advantage. There are production benefits to letting areas mid-crop be wild areas for birds, bees and windbreaks.

Even if you don't permaculture your entire property, be sure to check out companion planting. Throughout history growers discovered certain plants play nicer with some than others.

Apple trees hate grass. I can't tell you why chemically, but every book on the subject says they do. So cover the grass with newspaper for a chemical free clearing and plant chives, onion, or nodding onion to keep pests away or sow red clover to fix nitrogen and add an aesthetic quality to the planting. An additional bonus is ease of lawn moving and eliminating hazards of trimming near a delicate trunk.

I attended a biodynamic workshop at Michael Fields Institute in Spring. Biodynamic principles vary from permaculture, but both are founded on strong ecologically responsible basis. Many permaculture gardens have aspects of biodynamic design and vice versa.

Unique to biodynamic is "preparations" or concentrations of composed plants used to give minerals, vitamins, etc to a crop. Tree trunks are considered an extension of the root with the leaves and fruit being the plant itself. This means that the trunk needs to be fertilized just as the roots are. And so came the invention of manure paint.

Manure spread on fields by farmers provides nutrients to the soil. Manure painted on a tree gives nutrients the same way.

The ladies of BackyardBiodynamics show how to make Biodynamic Tree Paste (a nicer way of saying Manure paint). The recipe is given in the video as well, but is

-2 parts silica sand

-3 parts potting clay

-4 parts cow manure (fresh and organic being best but bagged organic will work in a pinch).

Add enough water to make it the consistency of mortar or cake-batter, which ever analogy best fits your lifestyle.

Enjoy and happy stirring!
The Insider

Playing to the sound of music...and science

2011-08-23T23:01:00.000-05:00

So the little pot of Lamb's Ear did take another topple in my friends car but was a HUGE hit with her daughter. While looking for "cool gardens for kids", "child-friendly plants", etc. google led me to Sound Garden parks (not to be confused with the rock band).

These parks have chimes, xylophones and drums made from strategically sized logs to professionally made and tuned metal outdoor instruments. HOW FUN IS THAT?!

Kids don't come to Riveredge for music because they are too busy looking at fairy shrimp under a microscope, catching monarch butterflies to track migration and learning to tap for maple syrup. Very cool!

The closest park known to me is in Cadillac, MI (but please correct me if I've overlooked one closer). In case a ferry ride isn't in your pre-labor day plans, below are photos of some of the artisticly musicaly designs featured...and then come have fun with art and science in your own backyard.

Sound garden in Cadillac, MI

Xylophone log and brake drum chimes in Park City, UT

Steel drum flower in Ithaca, NY

Got Mud? or Plays in Dirt?

2011-08-19T12:39:00.000-05:00

TGIF everyone!

These bumper stickers sum up my morning (I simply couldn't choose one) and I hope it brings a few smiles to your last week day of nature deprevation. Not that I don't normally play in dirt, it just isn't common for me to do so (in heels) before a work day.

A good friend of mine read "My Garden" by Wisconsinite Kevin Henkes. Her daughter became so inspired after reading about the jellybean bush that she wanted to grow a garden of her own (minus the jellybeans).

So I get all inspired thinking of fun, kid-friendly, durable plans that I can dedicate to her little garden.

As I was running late this morning I detoured to my garden with shovel in hand balancing a terra cotta pot on my hip. Armed like surgeon, this was going to be a clean, painless amputation to give part of the divided Lamb's Ear.

Everything was successful, until I hit every red light known to man on the way to her house. The little pot toppled over at the first light. While sitting at the next three lights, I righted the pot and plunked the fuzzy leaves in top side up and scooped back the dirt from my car floor.

All was right in the world until it happened again! By the time my green gift was given it was more than less on the wilty side. Any plant that can sustain my "shock test" earns the title"kid-proof"!

Are there any other "kid tested and approved" plants anyone recommends? There is nothing more disheartening for a little girl than to have her flowers die.

Happy Friday!

The Insider

Newburg goes to the birds

2011-08-09T12:55:00.001-05:00

birdcitywisconsin.org

Congratulations to Newburg for being the most recent recipient of the "Bird City" award!

Out of 22 possible criteria set by Bird City, Newburg filled at least seven, demonstrating their committment to bird-friendly habitat and policy. Newburg was given two Bird City signs and logo flag. The logo for Bird City was designed and donated by Ozaukee's own (and Bird Club members) Tom and Mary Uttech, and has become a much loved and respected symbol in the ornithology community. (FYI, the Bird Club meets at Riveredge on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 6pm in case you love birds and/or want Uttech's autographs).

Other Ozaukee Bird Cities include Ozaukee County and Mequon.

Other than hours of entertainment for the little acrobats, birds are important warning systems for our environment, the "canary of the mine" (no pun intended) for our ecosystem.
Even if your municipality isn't a "bird city" doesn't mean your yard can't be. Protecting our feathered friends is easy (and cheap). See Bird City for a complete list of inspirations.

1. Decorate your windows. Nothing is worse that that tell-tale "thud" that leaves remnant feathers on your window. Some window clings reflect UV and many come in seasonal shapes. Get a leaf for the summer months and a snowflake will cover the remainder of the year.

2. Plant, plant, plant! Fall is planting season. Trees and bushes are great habitat areas for birds and many provide food! Plant landscape worthy perrenials then leave them for the birds. Among the favorites: hazelnut bush, berry bushes and coneflower.

3. Multi-tasking invasives. You're going to pull the garlic mustard or dig out the buckthorn anyway (for the sake of your sanity if not aesthetics). Every bag pulled is one for the birds!

The sky is the limit for creative things to do. I would plant a coneflower prairie if I could, but I've contained myself to a large mass planting in a bed.

What is the most unique bird friendly project you've done?

And the winner is....

2011-08-02T13:59:00.002-05:00

LucasoTheMighty wins the honorary Riveredge Award as "Blog Fossil Braniac"!!

The trilobite (Calymene celebra) became our state fossil in 1985. This fossil is a marine creature from the early/mid Paleozoioc age (per UW-Madison Geology dept.) It is related to the crabs, lobsters and spiders we know today.

Along with trilobites, other cool fossils are common finds in our Wisconsin soils.
Favosites

Yes, I know that it looks like a chunk of asphalt from current road construction, but it is actually a clump of prehistoric coral. Like modern coral, it was made from hundreds of polyps that cemented their calcite "homes" into colonies.

Horn Coral
These teeth-looking cones are also coral polyps. Instead of cementing into a colony, the polyp would bury its shell point into the sea floor.

Brachiopod: Pentamerus
The brachiopod earns itself the title of "most common seashell fossil" in Wisconsin. They were similar to a clam; two shells, closed itself in for protection. Current brachiopods living in the ocean are less common and not as diverse than the ones we had when Wisconsin was underwater.

Crinoid (aka sea lilies)
This beautiful creature is not actually a flower (although I wouldn't mind a bouquet of them) but are actually related to starfish and sea urchins. They "hunted" by waiving their arms in the water and catching food as it swam by. After the crinoid died, calcite plates from off. These "cheerio" looking plates are a common fossil find.

Mammoth and Mastadons

We have both! The mammoth (left) has smooth teeth that grind grasses whereas mastodons (right) have large ridges that grind woody twigs. Over 100 years ago some kids from a farm in Boaz, WI found the mastodon that is on display at the Geology Museum.

Giant Beaver

These bear-sized beavers also lived during the Ice Age (10,000 – 12,000 BP). The part most commonly found (no surprise) are their teeth. It kinda makes you think about the size of trees they were chomping down!

Fire flies are boys!

2011-07-28T11:11:00.000-05:00

Whether you call this beautiful little creature a lightning bug, glow fly, or luciérnaga, fireflies are glittering up the prairies at Riveredge and fields throughout the county!

Ok, they aren’t ALL boys, but females only light up close to the ground.

But these males have their beady little heads focused only on finding a lady. Males flash a species-specific “morse code” in the air and females respond from the ground. Unfortunately, success for our firefly friend means an untimely death. After mating, his lady love will eat him.

Both are luminescent because of light-generating bacteria in their abdomens. Luciferase (an enzyme) reacts with luciferin (a chemical) and creates a “cold” light. Unlike the inefficient light bulb that wastes energy as heat, lightning beetles waste only 3-8%.

Stop by Friday night for stargazing and see acres of blinking beetles in action.

Larva, also called a glowworm