Joys of Yard Clean Up Submitted December 2021By Ranger Steve Mueller (8/13/1950 – 6/16/2022) In early childhood, we “helped dad” with fall leaf clean up. Perhaps he did not consider us help, but he probably enjoyed our joy. We jumped in leaf piles and buried ourselves in leaves. My girls did similar antics. It brought happiness for […] Continue reading "Ranger Steve’s Nature Niche: Joys of Yard Clean Up"
NATIVE PLANTS OF WESTERN MONTANABy Joyce, Tuharsky, WORC Member Learning about native plants, and gardening in general, are things you can do right outside in your own backyard. It’s a wonderful way to learn about your local ecology and community. But I have found that my Native Plants hobby is also a joy to take […] Continue reading "Native Plants of Western Montana"
NATIVES TO KNOW American Spikenard, Aralia racemosa By Linda Shuster, WORC Board Member-at-Large Common names for Aralia racemosa include spikenard, American spikenard, spignet, life-of-man, and Indian root. It belongs to the ginseng (Araliaceae) family. It is, according to the University of Michigan Herbarium, one of the largest herbaceous species in our Michigan flora. American spikenard is […] Continue reading "Natives to Know: American Spikenard"
RANGER STEVE’S NATURE NICHE Astersby Ranger Steve Mueller (8/13/1950 – 6/16/2022) Wonderous, extravagant, elegant, gorgeous, attractive, dazzling, splendid, magnificent, enjoyable, and pleasant are beauty expressions captivating our attention for the New England and Frost Asters. Many asters populate the countryside but these two dominate the season. The deep purple ray flowers of New England Asters with […] Continue reading "Ranger Steve’s Nature Niche: Asters"
RANGER STEVE’S NATURE NICHE 76 Natural Communitiesby Ranger Steve Mueller Seventy-six trombones led the big parade is a tune from the musical The Music Man. Hopefully, Michigan’s 76 natural communities within the Great Lakes ecosystem are even more popular. They are essential to the survival of specialized life forms adapted to unique habitats and for […] Continue reading "Ranger Steve’s Nature Niche: 76 Natural Communities"