Wildflowers

I admit it.  I forgot about them.  The native wildflowers.  After constructing our Rain Garden, we had a beautiful bag of native wildflower seeds from Ernst Conservation Seed.  So we spread the seed around the area.

And forgot about them.

 This spring, folks in the office began asking "What are those red flowers over there?  We've not had those before, have we?"  Upon investigation (and intense work to recollect what happened) we realized that the native seeds we had casually strewn throughout the area had taken.  It's like a holiday here now - reds, pinks, blues, purples, whites, oranges.

No, the photos are not photoshopped.

Yes, the colors are as bright as you see, perhaps even brighter.  

It is a wonderful way to help conserve our water and soil, planting native seeds.  These wildflowers are perfectly suited to growing right here in Northwest PA.  Ernst Seed is very thorough in their selection of seeds, carefully harvesting them by hand from healthy flowers in the area.  Numerous collections of seeds are offered, such as lawn mix, wetland mix, meadow mix, riparian area mix, and so much more.  Check them out at http://www.ernstseed.com/.

These plants will absorb rain and runoff from storms, filter out pollutants from the water and the air, and also lessen the area to be mowed.  Imagine trading in all the work to mow a large area and instead, looking at this beautiful palette of colors!

At first we only saw a few brave red poppies.

Now others are joining the party and we can't wait to see what else arrives throughout the summer of 2013.  Even better, they are the gift that keep on giving.  The seeds from this year's flowers will spread themselves naturally and we plan on viewing a bigger show in 2014!

Butterfly Garden

One of my favorite parts of working in the Park and with the educational programs is the people I meet.  The people in the Erie area are just spectacular!  Park visitors have a true love of being outside and a genuine respect for what is happening around them on a daily basis.  This year I had the opportunity to work with Belle Valley Junior Girl Scout troop 30587.

We met in early winter and worked on various badge requirements such as gardening and soils.  I also had the opportunity to take them for a hike in mid-winter, immediately following a heavy snow.  The day was crystal clear and approximately 11 degrees (!), but we were all bundled and prepared.  The hike began slowly, just appreciating the season.  As we moved down the trail, we picked up speed and began to try and run through the knee-deep fluff.  At our destination, we all promptly flopped on our backs in drifts to catch our breath.  We were silent for a few moments, just watching the clouds and being there.

 

On the hike back, one girl said "I really liked laying in the snow.  It was so calm."

That's what we aim for - being in the moment in nature.

The girls began work on their Bronze Award as a troop this spring and chose to do a project at Headwaters Park.  We were delighted!  They chose to create a butterfly garden as an addition to our Community Learning Garden.  Through many weeks of planning, choosing flowers, and actually creating and filling the bed, the project is complete.

The girls, their parents, and their leader put numerous hours and effort into this commitment.  We now have a newborn butterfly garden, complete with annuals, perennials, and puddling rocks.

Blanket Flower

What is a puddling rock?  Butterflies need water too, and also need the minerals that the rock/sand/muddy puddles offer. So, a rock with a shallow depression to hold water works pretty well for them.

Puddling rock - in need of a little water:)

Along with the blanket flowers, the girls also planted monarda (bee balm), Joe Pye Weed, a Butterfly Bush (buddleia), marigolds, and milkweed, among other species.

Milkweed - traditional Monarch food and home for chrysallis'

We welcome visitors - enjoy what the troop has created for everyone!  I hope to post pictures of butterfly visitors soon!

Questing

We have added a new hike to Headwaters Park!

The Mill Creek Flood Quest is a great adventure for all ages.  The self-guided hike through the Park will take approximately 45 minutes, but it could be stretched out to include a lot of side-explorations. 

Questing began in New England by a gentleman named Steve Glazier.  He realized that there were so many places right in front of our noses that are overlooked because they are part of our daily lives.  He began to talk to groups and schools, working with them to develop Quests for their region, focusing on place-based education.  Place-based education is exactly what it sounds like, learning about something right in the place where it is, rather than relying solely on a book or the Web.  Hundreds of Quests were developed throughout the New England states, often by elementary and middle school children, but also by a wide variety of other interested parties.  

Each Quest supplies you with written clues, usually in a poem form, and a map.  We are currently updating our map, but this one works fine.

But what do you do on a Quest?

A Quest is a journey through an area using written clues.  It could be loosely compared to geocaching, but without the high-tech component.  All one needs to do a Quest are the written clues, which you can find here.  The clues will lead you through the walk/hike, inviting participants to notice details that may be overlooked, toss in fascinating facts about the natural world or local history, or encourage people to explore an area more closely.  

The end of the Quest is marked by finding a hidden box with a log book, stamp and perhaps other interesting items.  One is encouraged to stamp their Quest clues to prove they completed the journey and also sign the log book.

It's that easy and fun!

The Mill Creek Quest clues can be downloaded here, on our website, or simply picked up from the Quest Box at the trailhead at Headwaters Park.  To get you thinking about the history of our Park and what it's been through, here is a taste of mild spring flooding - 

Come try out the new activity and tell us what you think - we'd love to hear about your adventures!