While it was chilly, it was not as bad as the previous week that we cancelled due to the ice.  From what the planting crew said, it warmed up pretty well by later in the morning-although you can’t really tell from John’s picture here.  The Seedy crew stayed in the annex working on more bushy bluestem to clean.  Meanwhile, unbeknowst to us,  Glenn single-handedly sprigged and counted all the Juncus in the potting shed for the crew next week–as he put it, ‘it was a mission’.  🙂 … Read More →

We attacked multiple fronts today…planting, seed cleaning AND seed collecting.  Diggers (Chatt, John H, and John E.) grabbed their dibbles and made the trek to Pond Dowitcher.  Thankfully, a path had been cut and made clear for the crew to get to the pond.  Seed collecting continued with Ray–walking solo through the prairie looking for and plucking all the bushy bluestem (and some other sorted grasses).  The seed crew (Lana, Glenn, Diane, Gail and Dick) began the day with sprigging the pickerel weed and getting final counts (383… Read More →

Today, we helped the park staff clear out extra wetland vegetation from the plaza ponds.  Of course, there is incentive to help as we get to keep the salvaged (and good) material including pickerel weed, horned beakrush and iris.  Diggers (John H., John E., Chatt, Glenn, Lana) jumped right in and made short order of the work.  Meanwhile the Seed Crew (Dick, Diane, Ray and Gail) worked diligently on more seed cleaning.  Thanks to both crews for your work!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful break and enjoyed the down time with friends and family.  Our first workday for 2014 was a nice effort with planting and seed work to occupy everyone.  Lisa, Chatt and John E. ventured out with Cullen to the ponds to plant some Juncus effusus and Erianthus gigantea in pond Anhinga.  Mary joined our seed crew (Diane, Dick, Gail, Ray and Lana) today to work on the seed Ray had collected for the Phase 3 fields.  Thanks to everyone for their work!!

As part of the last day of school, YES Prep Brays Oaks came out to Sheldon Lake SP and planted Spartina patens and Spartina spartinae (mostly spartinae) in Pond Anhinga.  We completely lucked out and the weather warmed up for the day and so unlike their last workday, it was pretty “balmy” making short order of the work.  Thanks to all of our mentors who came out:  Diane, Chatt, Gail, Texas Tom, Lana and Glenn.  We were so grateful to have the Team coverage!! December 25th and January… Read More →

Today we worked on preparation for our upcoming workday with YES Prep Brays Oak.  This meant a crew (Chatt, Glenn, John E.) was sent out to collect additional plant material and the rest of us stayed back to do all the sprigging and sorting.  When we are of “one” mind, we work well together–all the sprigging was complete by the end of the workday including the new material.  Y’all are awesome!

Today found us knee deep in the waters of Pond Anhinga with our brave planters (Chatt, Frances, John Egan and Glenn).  Seed cleaning continued with Ray and Lana, and then the Team (Gail, Dick, and Diane) also worked with our visiting YES Prep Trailblazers on making seedballs.   Thanks to all for keep the good work going!

Our Holiday Luncheon was a success for all!  Great turnout and lovely food made for a nice casual get-together at the Park.  Thanks to all the Team members for their participation all year long.  We have a couple more weeks to go but then we start fresh in the New Year!  (13 years and counting!!!)

Today was a fairly “quiet” workday at the park….Seeding Crew tallied up our Switchgrass sprigs and then proceeded directly back into seed preparation.  In contrast, the planting crew ventured forth to the wetlands, pots in tow, to  plant whatever they could in Pond Anhinga–190 plants of 8 species.  Nice job, y’all! Remember that November 27th is our Thanksgiving Holiday and no workday that week.  🙂

What a great day!  And that is saying a lot because it was very blustery out in the wetlands, and I was convinced that all my YES Prep students would opt for inside work….but noooooooo, they chose the “high road” and went a-plantin’.   A slow start (no surprise since it was 40 degrees with a breeze, and the water was super chilled) ended with 1200 plants in the ground! Go Cavaliers!!! Planting Mentors (Chatt, Glenn, John and Marilyn) were on-hand for guidance and assistance when needed.  🙂  … Read More →