A new year brings optimism although Baby Optimism seems to have had a difficult birth and an uncertain future in 2025. But outside, hope is always to be found. Reality too.
Photo by Linda Ib’s photopix FCC
The Last Hurrah
A few dedicated seed collectors gathered at Goose Pond for the final volunteer effort of the season. We were looking for New England asters (NEAs) and white baptisia. Both are important for pollinators with New England asters being one of my favorites. A late bloomer, it and showy goldenrod are the flowers that give our migrating monarchs the nutritional boost they need before flying south.
Photo by Tom Koerner/USFWS
Value
Seed collecting is one of the most important management activities on Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance’s lands, and volunteers always play an essential role, making sure that we have enough variety and amount of seeds to re-create and bolster our prairies, wetlands, and savannas. Many people are passionate about birds, bumblebees, badgers or other lovable creatures, and it's important to remember that they simply do not exist without the strong scaffold of diverse plant communities which support them.
Photo by Graham Steinhauer/SoWBA
Seed bonanza
The seed bonanza continues at Goose Pond. Seven volunteers answered the call. With Graham, Emma, Calla, and Sayre—the latter two being expert seed collectors hired to help this fall—eleven of us took to the field. With each seed collecting session, we're assembling the components of new or improved prairies at Goose Pond and some partners' lands. Analogous perhaps to kids in a Lego store.
Photo by Peter Gorman
