Essential Oils and Plant Defenses People use essential oils in aroma therapy, for relaxation, muscle soreness, and possibly other things. ‘Essence’ is the key word and it is not essential in the sense that it has value like found in some chemicals for body functions like iron, iodine, and potassium. Website articles touch on essential […] Continue reading "Ranger Steve’s Nature Niche – Essential Oils and Plant Defenses"
More Bitter Than Sweet: The Invasive Vine That is Taking Over Kent County’s Healthy Forests and “Villages” by Rebecca Marquardt, WORC Program Co-Chair This past fall it was hard not to see the lemony-yellow leaved vine climbing up so many of the Oak and Hickory trees for which much of Kent County is known. Celastrus orbiculatus, otherwise known […] Continue reading "More Bitter Than Sweet: The Invasive Vine That is Taking Over Kent County’s Healthy Forests and “Villages”"
Predictable Harvester By Ranger Steve Mueller, 11/220 Animals have mysterious routines we know little about to keep their bodies and minds fit. From early to late afternoon the Harvester visits selected roosting locations In warm seasons. It is a small butterfly with brown and tan undersides of wings that are visible when it stands on […] Continue reading "Ranger Steve’s Nature Niche: Predictable Harvester"
September 2020 Program Recap A PLEASANT EVENING AT WITTENBACH WEGE CENTER Masked Wild Ones and friends gathered for our first in–person meeting since February. The weather was perfect to be outside on the back deck to listen to Courtney Cheers, the Wittenbach Wege Center (WWC) director. Courtney was introduced by Rebecca Marquardt, one of the […] Continue reading "A PLEASANT EVENING AT WITTENBACH WEGE CENTER"
Strong winds whipped trees to the breaking point throughout the Cedar Springs area causing great damage. Power outage hit much of Cedar Springs where homes were without electricity for 24 hours or longer. Tiny insects like the Harvester butterfly survived. I saw one standing in its usual haunt on a following sunny day. My article […] Continue reading "Ranger Steve’s Nature Niche: Trees Down"
