Center for Natural Lands Management South Sound Program
Volunteer Event; Tues, Nov 8; 9am-3pm
Hello Volunteers! Last Tuesday we spent a foggy morning finishing planting vegetation around the last pond at Mima Creek Preserve. In the afternoon, the sun emerged as we collected tubes at Mima Creek. Thank you to everyone who persevered through the chilly morning. I’ll continue to keep everyone updated on the status of the Oregon Spotted Frog habitat at Mima Creek.
Next Tuesday, we will meet at Glacial Heritage to improve buttefly habitat. We will target swales, or low tracts of land, by either eliminating invasive species, or planting native forbs, depending on the weather. Native butterfly species such as the Puget Blue (Icaricia icarioides blackmorei) use swales as protection during extreme weather. Swales are also important because they add to the diversity of microhabitats available for native butterfly species on the prairies.
If it’s sunny, we will spot-spray butterfly swales at Glacial Heritage with targeted herbicide in order to prepare them for butterfly habitat in the spring.
If it’s raining, we won’t be able to spray herbicide. Instead, we will be planting forbes in the butterfly swales at Glacial Heritage.
In the morning, four volunteers will be going to JBLM to salvage Columbine (Aquilegia formosa) that JBLM graciously donated. They will be back at Shotwell’s by lunch, and could use a couple of people to plant Columbine at Shotwell’s and in pots as well. If you’re interested in helping with Columbine, please talk to me at lunch on Tuesday.
A couple of other things:
–Some of you were asking about burning slash piles. We got a Burning Permit this week, so we can burn a few slash piles on Tuesday!
–There have been a couple of instances of the lights and/or heater being left on in the Volunteer Room at Glacial Heritage. If you’re the last one to leave, please make sure that both the heater and the lights are off. Let’s make energy conservation a priority, and keep the landlord’s energy bills down. Thanks!
As always, please make sure to bring gloves, lunch, rain gear, and a smile.
We are trying to improve habitat for native butterfly species such as the Puget Blue.
Directions to Shotwell’s Landing Nursery:
14447 Little Rock Road SW
Rochester, WA 98579
Take I-5 to exit 95 (the Littlerock exit) about 10 miles south of Olympia. Go west to the Stop sign in Littlerock by the Elementary School. (It’s the only stop sign in Littlerock). Continue straight for about 100 feet and turn left onto Littlerock Road. Go 1.7 miles south on Littlerock Road. Shotwell’s Nursery will be on your right.
Directions to Glacial Heritage:
Take I-5 to exit 95 (the Littlerock exit) about 10 miles south of Olympia. Go west through Littlerock to the T-intersection at the Mima Road/Waddell Creek. Go south (left) on Mima Road 2.7 miles and take a left onto a gravel road with sign for GH, you will see a tractor sign and then the turn. Please be sure to adhere to the 15 mph speed limit on this road as there are often dogs and small children active nearby. Follow the road through the gate. Take the first right to get to the house.