Field Trips
Day In the Garden Conference
The public is invited to attend Fond du Lac County Master Gardener Association’s 10th Annual Day In the Garden Conference on Saturday, March 13, sponsored by Hansman’s Garden Center. Registration forms can be picked up at the UW-Extension office or call 929-3170.
Featured speakers will be Melinda Myer–Creating Your Own Wildlife Sanctuary, Mark Dwyer–Low Maintenance Perennials, and Dave Waninnger–Use of Shrubs in the Landscape: New and Unusual Varieties, and Anita Carpenter–Pictorial of Butterflies and Dragonflies.
To view or print the flyer, click here:
Day in the Garden

Wildflower, Bird, and Archeology Hikeat Izaak Walton Property
Saturday, May 8, 9 am–noon
Entrance on the east side of Highway K between County T and Highway 23. Watch for the bridge.
Explore the ravine cut by Taycheedah Creek on this private property. Enjoy beautiful views of the creek that winds through this unique ledge area that is not ordinarily open to the public. Dwight Wiser, author of Secrets of the Ledge, will be available to describe ledge archeology, history, and point out effigy mounds. Go on a guided hike or explore on your own any time between 9 am and noon. This is a stamping day for the Ledge Passport program, so you may see that program in action, too.

Dandelion Festival on Saturday, May 8
In pursuit of our perfect lawns, Americans have come to view the dandelion as a useless weed. For thousands of years, this plant had been mankind’s ally. Every part (leaf, blossom, and root) is edible and useful medicinally. In fact, the leaves and roots have more nutrition than anything in the grocery store. We spend millions on herbicides to try to eliminate dandelions and we spend millions on vitamins and minerals that dandelions could provide. The plant is not considered an invasive and does play a part in the ecology of 93 species of insects. The seeds are eaten by the birds and the flowers support the wild bees with a great amount of nectar and pollen.
Our Audubon chapter is teaming up with the Sunseed Eco-Education Center to celebrate dandelions with a festival to be held on Saturday, May 8 from 10 am to 3 pm at 110 Notre Dame Street, Mt. Calvary. There will be craft opportunities, a labyrinth walk through the dandelions, Lady Dandelion telling stories, lore and poetry, a dandelion cooking contest, dandelion products to purchase and a chance to learn all about the history, recipes, wine making, etc. Save the date and watch for more details in the next newsletter or check the Audubon website.

Interested in a Grand Canyon adventure and make money for the local Audubon club?

Click here: Grand Canyon trip
Grand Canyon Rafting Trip June 2010
Calling all adventurous souls who would like to be
part of a rafting trip to the Grand Canyon for the
dates of June 18 through 27! The Fond du Lac
Audubon Society will organize 25 participants to
share two rafts and lots of adventure. The trip will
begin in Las Vegas with an overnight, and on the
following morning a bus takes the group to Lee’s
Ferry where the rafting experience begins. Colorado
Rivers and Trails Expeditions is a wonderful, family
owned company with great equipment, guides, food
and leadership skills. The cost per person is about
$3100, which includes hotel, the rafting trip, tips for
the guides, bus trips and air fare. While this is not a
cheap trip, it is a very fair price in comparison with
other rafting companies.
CRATE will donate back to our local Audubon
Society, thus making this trip a fund raising opportunity
for our program activities. Further details can
be obtained on our website. If you are interested in
being part of the trip, please contact Diana Beck at
922-7931 or email dbeck7931@charter.net. A deposit
of $300 is required by February of 2010, but we need
to hear from you before the end of September 2009.
At this point it is important for us to know if there
are enough interested people. It is not necessary for a
participant to be an Audubon member.

More information? Click here


Salmon Run in Kewaunee County
On October 10, twelve of us made the journey to
the Keewaunee River and the Besadny Fish and
Wildlife Area.
The cold weather did not interfere with viewing
the fish coming up stream, jumping over small
rises, and spawning in pool areas. The viewing
was spectacular, especially
in the underground glass
viewing area! The salmon
were introduced in the
1960s as a predator for
the alewives. Mankind
had wiped out the natural
predators in the past and
now had to introduce a
new one. Unfortunately,
the Pacific salmon need
colder water for reproductive
success, so it is necessary
to collect eggs from
the females each spawning
season. It was an interesting
lesson in how complicated
restoring the balance
of nature can be. Without
this intervention, the salmon
would slowly die out.

For more information on field trips contact
Kathleen Stetter: 920-872-2250