Ozaukee Washington Land Trust News
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Off To a Great Start! We’re off to a great start in 2014. Thanks to the generosity of Virginia “Ginny” Pierson, we’ve protected another 14 acres of hardwood forest goodness that includes 750 feet of undeveloped river frontage along the main branch of the Milwaukee River in the Town of Saukville. The property contains a variety of natural communities including hardwood forest, shrub-carr, and wetland. The portion adjacent to the river is part of the Milwaukee River Mesic Woods Natural Area, a two-mile stretch of rather impressive forested glacial-moraine deposits along the Milwaukee River. During a walk around the property, you would likely come across marsh marigold, swamp lousewort, fringed gentian, purple-stemmed angelica, hepatica, spring beauty, may apple, beech, sugar maple, ironwood, muscle wood, chokecherry and bitternut hickory….just to name a few! This stretch of river also provides important habitat for fish and other aquatic species, as well as for birds like the Belted Kingfisher and other wildlife. All in all, it’s a pretty nice spot. Ginny’s late husband Hobey was a valued Advisor to the land trust since 1992, when we were established as the Ozaukee Land Trust (not having yet added the Washington part). Ginny and Hobey had been working with the land trust for a number of years to conserve their property. Unfortunately, Hobey passed away in 2009, but Ginny and their children carried forth the shared desire to protect the property. Thank you Ginny (and Hobey) and the rest of the Pierson Family! Shawn Graff, Executive Director Ozaukee Washington Land Trust |
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| It’s “For the Birds” We’re still looking for a few good entrants in our inaugural bird house building contest. Show us what you’ve got!On April 5, we’ll host our For the Birds event at the Forest Beach Migratory Preserve where our team of experts will judge the entrants. $100 cash prizes will be awarded to the winners of both categories. Functional Design: Whimsical Designs: Along the way we’ll enjoy a buffet by Shully’s of Thiensville (featuring locally grown food), music, door prizes and a silent auction. Call Marilyn for more information at (262) 338-1794 or just email her atmschlotfeldt@owlt.org |
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| Purple Loosestrife – How To Make It Go AwayYou know where we stand on invasive plants – we don’t like them!
We also try to be forward thinking and strategic with our methods of controlling them. In that spirit, we’re impressed by the most effective method of removing purple loosestrife – letting beetles do all the work. If you’re interested you can learn more at a workshop that we’re hosting on March 27 at 5:30pm. Paul Klein with the Washington County Land and Water Conservation Division will be coming to the OWLT Depot to teach you how to raise bio-control beetles and turn them loose on your loosestrife. Join us. Purple loosestrife is a perennial herb 3-7 feet tall with a dense bushy growth of 1-50 stems. The stems, which range from green to purple, die back each year. Showy flowers vary from purple to magenta; possess 5-6 petals aggregated into numerous long spikes, and bloom from July to September. |
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. . . . . . . . . Mark Your Calendar . . . . . . . . . |
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| MarchVOLUNTEER SEASON KICK-OFF MEETING Tuesday, March 25, 7pm-9pm Meet the staff, meet your fellow volunteers and learn all about our plans for 2014. Cedarburg Community Room map PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE BIO-CONTROL WORKSHOP VOLUNTEER SEASON KICK-OFF MEETING |
AprilFOR THE BIRDS Saturday, April 5, 3:30-6:30pm Join us for the First Annual For the Birds…a birdhouse building contest and dinner party. Forest Beach Migratory Preservemap VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION BBQ |
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