Ripples 2/1/24

Posted on by February 1, 2024

Submitted from the archives by Nancy Nabak, communication coordinator

We start this month with another look back at our beginnings. Today, we harken back to September, 1976, when the following was included in our 5th Dunesletter.

“Friends and Nature Lovers,

We gather here today, August 12, 1976, for a few moments to dedicate and forever name a beautiful place in Woodland Dunes.

We honor a wonderful and beautiful person and friend. Our great and nature-loving friend, Sister Teresita Kitel, whom we all love and whose great knowledge of natural things and unselfishly dedicated work over the many years for human beings and their environment has been most remarkable. 

Sister Teresita is one a kind who has shared her wisdom with thousands. A great teacher, a great environmentalist, a great leader and ‘our great friend.’

Sister Teresita, you have surely met God’s challenge and directive with your teaching and educating man to understand, appreciate, preserve and conserve his environment.

Therefore, in recognition and honor of your great work – from this day on here at Woodland Dunes this spot on which we now stand shall be known as “Teresita Knoll” and in the name of the membership and officials of Woodland Dunes I have officially named and dedicated it.” – Herbert Vander Bloemen, retired Conservation Warden.

Photo: Left: Herbert Vander Bloemen, Sister Teresita, naturalist Winnifred Smith, and Sister Julia Van Denack, Conservation Education, Inc. president. Teresita Knoll is adjacent and to the east of the “Bicentennial 40” on Black Cherry Trail. Copy and photo circa 1976.

 

Ripples 1/25/24

Posted on by January 25, 2024

by Max Kornetzke, Land Manager

Russet Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis) is a small to medium-sized shrub that can be found along the shores of each Great Lake, most Canadian provinces, and the montane regions of the American West.

Buffaloberry is an early flowering shrub in the Great Lakes region, usually producing its tiny, easy-to-miss yellow flowers along the leaf axils in late April or early May. Male and female flowers are on separate plants meaning multiple plants are needed to bear the small, speckled red fruit.  The fruit is edible and ripens in July. I found them to be pretty bitter; however, apparently in areas where fruit is around long enough for a frost, they become naturally sweetened. 

The fruit, bark, and roots were all used for various food and medicinal purposes by many indigenous groups across this plant’s native range. One notable food was a kind of “ice cream” produced by whipping the berries up into a froth (due to high saponin content) and depending on how bitter or sweet the berries were, adding a sweetener.

The leaves have a beautiful dark green on the upper side and a dotted russet color on the under, hence one of its common names, Russet Buffaloberry. It will form colonies and grow underneath other larger shrubs and trees with dappled shade.

Like many other members of the oleaster family (Elaeagnaceae), buffaloberry fixes nitrogen, making it ideal for soils with poor nutrient content, like the stabilized sand dunes along Lake Michigan.

Although locally common, it does not extend very far into the state’s interior. You may be more likely to encounter its non-native, invasive cousin with somewhat similar leaf and berry characteristics, the autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata).

If you wish to see buffaloberry in flower or observe its unique leaf color, you can find a few specimens growing along our Horsetail Loop. I’ve also observed this plant growing underneath pines just before the dunes habitat at Point Beach, as well as growing under various larger shrubs and trees at Schuette Park. 

photo by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

 

 

Ripples 1/18/24

Posted on by January 18, 2024

The winter cold blast has descended upon us and all of nature, at least for this week!  As I gratefully sit in my heated office, I always appreciate other species’ resourcefulness and design to survive the elements and the season changes. My mind almost always goes to trees and their magnificence. 

Looking at the naked deciduous trees, I love to see their branching and architecture in winter. These trees- such as maples, birches, older oaks & beeches, and aspens- have shed their leaves for the cold and dormant season. Deciduous trees would not hold the snow load as well as some of our evergreen conifers do. Their delicate leaves cannot withstand their cells freezing. The cells, comprised mainly of water, freeze, which causes the expansion of water and thus rupturing and killing the cells in the thin leaves. Also, deciduous tree branches do not bend as well as their evergreen cousins, so if they retain their leaves there is high chance of more branch breakage.

An important fact to keep in mind is that not every part of the tree contains living cells. Pretty much most of the “wood” is dead and only the cambium layer in the bark contains the bulk of the living cells. Also since trees cannot move themselves to more favorable conditions, they prepare themselves for the cold winter months.

There are three main ways that trees adjust and cope with the freezing temperatures of our Wisconsin winters. Trees start getting ready for winter in late summer or early fall. One way is that trees morph their cell membranes- these membranes become more supple and in doing so it allows the water to pass to more easily from the cells. The water has more places to go. 

Another strategy that the trees employ is to thicken liquids within some cells. This can occur in the fall as the daylight hours wane, more sugars accumulate and act as an antifreeze. The higher amount of sugar lowers the freezing point inside the cells themselves while the more water filled areas outside the cells may freeze. Since the cells have become more supple, they are not damaged by the freezing water surrounding them. Think of them as dehydrated but leaving behind the sugars.

Yet another way that trees survive the winter season is something known as the “glass phase”. This is described as the period where the liquid cell contents become so thick that they appear to be almost solid. This type of solid form resembles the way silica remains in liquid form when it is supercooled into glass. This third way of survival that winter trees undergo occurs by the cellular dehydration that results from the first two approaches mentioned above. This “glass phase” aids in preventing crystallization, which would kill the cells, of the contents in the tree’s living cells—i.e. especially the cambium layer-bark.

Who knew all that change and adaptation is occurring as we enjoy the fall colors, the trees are quite busy shoring themselves up for the cold season. 

Sue Crowley

photo by Sue Crowley

Ripples 1/11/24

Posted on by January 11, 2024

By Kennedy Zittel, Naturalist

Who doesn’t love to watch the sunrise? The oranges, pinks, and reds light up the sky and cast a soft warm glow over the ground below. During the winter, one of my favorite things to do is to watch the sunrise shine upon the frost-covered prairies here at Woodland Dunes. As I watch the shimmering plants sway in the wind, I scan the sky for a glimpse of one of my favorite winter-time visitors. If I am lucky, I spot a large hawk hovering in the air over the tall grasses. With a 4-5 foot wingspan and named for the feathers that extend down its legs to its toes… a rough-legged hawk!

Rough-legged hawks have a dark brown body with a lighter-colored underside. They have a black-tipped tail and a lighter-colored tail base. There is a lot of color variation in this species, as they can also come in both light and dark morphs! 

This is a special sight – as we can only see these beautiful hawks during the winter. They spend the breeding season in either tundra or taiga habitats, with their population split between the North American continent and the Eurasian continent. At their chilly breeding grounds, they hunt for small rodents like lemmings and voles. There are few trees to perch on in their summer breeding grounds. As such, these hawks have the ability to hover in the air to scan the ground below them for a bite to eat. 

Rough-legs travel south for winter, searching for open habitats like prairies, deserts, marshes, and fields. Some choose to spend the winter here in Wisconsin with us! During the winter they hunt for small rodents like mice, voles, and shrews. Though they are large birds, they have very small feet – an adaptation for catching their small prey.

If you can’t spot them hovering or soaring above the prairies, another good spot to look for these amazing birds is at the tops of trees nearby! Because of their small feet they can perch on the small branches at the tops of trees, a spot where other large hawks (like red-tails) cannot perch. 

Climbing up the observation platform at the Henry Wetland area of our preserve (off of Woodland Drive) can offer a good vantage point for viewing this beautiful hawk soar above the wetland. While you are out there, you could spot other hawk species as well, including red-tailed hawks and northern harriers! If you have the chance this winter, on a “warm” winter morning, try to get out there and watch the sunrise over the beautiful winter landscape, and keep your eye out for what wildlife is out there with you. 

Photo by Cornell, All About Birds

Ripples 1/4/24

Posted on by January 4, 2024

We’re golden! Woodland Dunes is excited to announce that we are celebrating our golden anniversary, 50 years! Throughout 2024, we’ll be sharing some stories and photos from our archives in honor of our great conservation and education successes.  Today, we are sharing a portion of the very first newsletter that was sent out to our charter supporters.

Here’s a little background – in the mid 70’s, a campaign called the “Bicentennial 40” was created in partnership by the Horizons Committee of the Manitowoc County Bicentennial organization and Woodland Dunes in order to acquire 40 acres of land for Woodland Dunes. This land-purchase campaign became successful through the committed works of school age children in Manitowoc County. The following is an excerpt from our first newsletter, dated October 1975.

“In August 1975, letters were sent to all school superintendents urging their support and participation so that their school will have its name on the permanent roster. To better explain the Bicentennial ‘40’ a month-long exhibit of maps, photos, and letters were set up at the Manitowoc Library.

Even before the teachers received word of this worthy project, several schools began raising money. By the end of May 1975, this Bicentennial program had received over $500 from five schools! These donated dollars came from personal contributions, collecting tin and aluminum, a bake sale, a car wash, a craft sale, etc… How wonderful it is to see young people working together to accomplish that which individuals working alone could not! Hats off to St. Mark’s, Roncalli, Meeme, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High, and Washington Jr. High!

The trail starts at Goodwin Road and proceeds approximately southwest into the center of the ’40.’ At this point, hikers must return via the same route since the boardwalk through the swampy area is not yet finished.

A large bulletin board sign welcomes visitors and shows the groups or individuals where they are within the much larger Woodland Dunes area. At this sign, a trail guide is available that will explain the wonders you’ll find along the trail. Numbered markers will help you along.

Barn beams have been donated for benches, and our helpful neighbor across from the entrance to the “Bicentennial 40” put them in position for anyone wishing to just sit and enjoy the sounds, sights, and smells of nature.

We welcome everyone to the Bicentennial 40!”

We are so grateful for the community rallying around us 50 years ago. What we’ve been able to accomplish since then is remarkable – 1,500 acres of land preserved and over 170,000 school children participating in our environmental education programs. Be watching for more historical stories and photos in the future to help us celebrate and honor our 50 successful years.

Photo: Dick Burger with sign made by Burger Boat employees at proposed Dunes site on Goodwin road.