Volunteer Workday: Garlic Mustard Pull

FNA will be hosting a garlic mustard pulling event at Fermilab on Wednesday May 11th from 4-6 pm.


Please meet at the Lederman Science Center parking lot at 4:00PM (Across from the guard shack at the Pine Street Entrance).  Wear mud boots or shoes and long sleeves. Bring gloves if you have any as poison ivy is starting to leaf out.

We will be focusing on Morgan's woods at the corner of Kirk and Pine St.

Photo of the Day: Shooting Star

Thanks to Gordon Koizumi for the photo of shooting star, from the Fermilab prairie:

Photo of the Day: Dutchman's Breeches

Thanks to Gordon Koizumi for the photo of Dutchman's Breeches:

May Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the May 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).

2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

FNA will make a new desktop calendar available each month. If you'd like to share photographs for future calendars or the FNA newsletter, send us a note at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

Online Viewing: FNA as a Restoring Force?

Ryan Campbell's Earth Day talk, "FNA as a Restoring Force?" is available for online viewing.  Fermilab Today also highlighted Ryan's talk in today's edition.

Photo:  Ryan Campbell, Julia Allen & 2009 FNA intern Courtney Gill

in Fermilab's main ring prairie.

Photo of the Day: Trout Lilly & Twin Leaf

Enjoy these photos from Gordon Koizumi:

Trout Lilly

Twin Leaf

Today's Woodland Walk Cancelled

The walk in the Big Woods, originally scheduled for today at noon, has been cancelled due to muddy conditions on the trails.

Earth Day Talk: Fermilab Natural Areas as a Restoring Force?

Fermilab Ecologist Ryan Campbell will present his talk, "Fermilab Natural Areas as a Restoring Force?" today at noon in Fermilab’s Wilson Hall One West conference room.  This presentation offers a comprehensive presentation on the goals and efforts of Fermilab and FNA’s ecological efforts.
 

Happy Earth Day!

some photos from Gordon Koizumi, taken at Fermilab:

Virginia Bluebell

Spring Beauty

Today's Planting Cancelled

Due to the unfortunate weather, we will be canceling the native shrub planting. Our official Arbor Day event is scheduled for May 3rd from 11:30 AM - 1 PM.

The seed planting scheduled for tomorrow, April 20th is still on. 11:30 AM at the Interpretive Prairie trail.

April Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the April 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).

2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

FNA will make a new desktop calendar available each month. If you'd like to share photographs for future calendars or the FNA newsletter, send us a note at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

Volunteer Workday

It's almost spring and Fermilab Natural Areas is preparing to sell rain barrels! We are planning to host a rain barrel building workday next Thursday afternoon, April 7, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m, at Fermilab's Site 37 Roads & Grounds shop.  If you are able to help out, please send us a note & let us know!


If you can't help out on Thursday, but are interested in purchasing a rain barrel, let us know that, too!

Contact us at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

March/April Newsletter



The FNA March/April newsletter is now available online and includes details on a full calendar for March, April and May.  We've also included a feature on the Arbor Day strategy, history on the Habitat Restoration efforts, an introduction to a prairie seed rate planting study as well as butterfly and bird updates.  As always, if you have any questions, topic ideas or other random notions, let us know at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

2010 Year in Review

At the annual general membership meeting in February, Rod Walton presented the following "Year in Review" for FNA activities in 2010:

Fermilab Natural Areas made admirable progress during 2010, even though it may not have been as much or as fast as we’d like! During the year we took a significant step in communicating with the members by publishing a bi-monthly newsletter. Most of the credit for that accomplishment goes to Paula Lambertz, the volunteer editor. Many thanks to

Paula! If you are not receiving the newsletter and would like to, please let us know, and we will make sure that your email address is added to the list. And if you have ideas about the content of the newsletter or would like to become a contributor, be sure to tell us that as well.

Jolie Macier put together a paper calendar for 2011, featuring photographs of various natural areas at Fermilab and also made month by month computer desktop calendars available.  Many thanks to our photographer friends who provided the photos for these calendars.

During 2010 we were joined by Heather Williams, who has enthusiastically taken on the daunting challenge of grant-writing for FNA. So far, Heather has put together an impressive list of proposals, all of which are pending as this is written. Grant proposals for website upgrades, improvements and expansion of the Margaret Pearson Interpretive Trail, and restoration of the oak savanna in the main ring are being considered. During the year, we also received a grant of $6,000 from the Boeing Community Fund to finance the invasive weed control program during 2011. The Boeing grant was written by Ryan Campbell earlier in 2010.

We also supported the Robert F. Betz internship during the summer for the second year. Jessica Meyers spent the summer in the field assisting in seed collection, wildlife studies and invasive control among other things.

A committee of the Board of Directors, composed of Dick Untch, Mitch Adamus and Shawna Coronado continue to make progress on a brochure and self-guided tour of the natural areas at the Lab. We are fortunate to have Fermilab partner with us on this project.

Finally, we formalized the legal relationship with Fermi Research Alliance, LLC, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that defines how these two entities will cooperate for the betterment of the Laboratory.

As for the vision for 2011, we intend to make significant progress again; supporting the Betz Intern for the third year, doing a better job of organizing and recognizing volunteers, while expanding volunteer opportunities, seeking corporate sponsors for some of our activities, and continual improvement in communication with our membership.

Any questions?  Send us email at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.  Thanks for your support!

March Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the March 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).

2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

FNA will make a new desktop calendar available each month. If you'd like to share photographs for future calendars or the FNA newsletter, send us a note at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.

Event Recap: 4th Annual General Membership Meeting

Fermilab Natural Areas' fourth annual general membership meeting was held on February 17, 2011.  In addition to the standard business of electing Directors and reviewing the financials, meeting attendees received an update on the latest FNA activities in President Rod Walton's "year in review" presentation.  In addition, Fermilab Ecologist Ryan Campbell posited that the primary goal of restoration ecology is biological diversity in his presentation entitled, "Fermilab Natural Areas as a Restoring Force?"  For those who missed this comprehensive presentation on the goals and efforts of Fermilab and FNA’s ecological efforts, Ryan will reprise his talk during Earth Week, on April 22, 2011, at noon in Fermilab’s Wilson Hall One West conference room.

Following the formal meeting, the assembled members and friends lingered over cookies coffee, catching up on off-season activities and sharing ideas for the future of Fermilab Natural Areas.

Thanks to all who came out for the annual meeting and a special thanks to Pam Becker for the yummy refreshments.

Fermilab Family Open House

Come out to the Fermilab Family Open House this Sunday!  Fermilab Natural Areas folks will also be at the Open House to answer questions and talk to people about the work we do.  Click here for more information about the Open House.

Ash Borers and Tree Safety

Rod Walton authored this article which was originally published in Fermilab Today:

The Fermilab Village is home to a diverse community of trees, including exotic ornamental varieties and species native to our area. These trees provide a habitat for insects, birds and mammals as well as provide an appealing appearance and welcome shade in the summer. Unfortunately, approximately 150 ash trees exist among this collection.


This is unfortunate because these trees likely will become infected with emerald ash borers, an invasive, imported beetle that has decimated ash tree populations in the Midwest. Trees infected with this pest invariably die within a few years and can cause hazards when located near buildings or roads.

The beetles were first discovered at Fermilab in 2007 along Kirk Road and since then, the infestation has spread to cover the entire site, including the Village. Many ash trees are now dead or dying as a result. Experts from the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Morton Arboretum predict that virtually all our mature ash trees will die during the next few years.

In order to manage this imminent problem, Fermilab will begin preemptively removing ash trees in the Village, perhaps as early as this winter. As resources allow, the Roads and Grounds Department will continue to replace trees in the Village where it is appropriate to do so. Replacing these trees is something that our volunteers can help do during events such as our annual Arbor Day celebration. In the natural areas of the site, away from human activity, dead trees will be left standing to provide habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife. These trees will be incorporated into the future management of all Fermilab’s remaining natural areas.

Without prohibitively expensive chemical treatment, there is no viable defense against the emerald ash borer. Local municipalities and forest preserve districts are bracing for this problem now, and many neighboring municipalities are removing ash trees before they die or show overt signs of infestation. Preemptive removal of trees spreads out the cost and manpower needed to remove the trees safely and avoids the risks that standing dead trees create in populated areas.

February 17: 4th Annual Membership Meeting

Please join Fermilab Natural Areas for our 4th annual general membership meeting on Thursday, February 17, 2011, at 7 p.m. in Fermilab's Wilson Hall, One West conference room.  We'll be electing five members to our Board of Directors, Board President Rod Walton will recap FNA's 2010 activities and plans for 2011 and Ryan Campbell will present an overview of projects currently underway at Fermilab, highlighting collaborations between FNA and Fermilab.

February Desktop Calendar

Enjoy scenes of Fermilab's natural areas on your computer desktop! Here are instructions for downloading & installing the February 2011 calendar pictured below onto your computer:

1. Click the image above to open in a new browser window (or tab).

2. Right-click (or ctrl-click for some Mac users) on the image, and chose the option that says, "Set Picture as", (or similar words; the exact wording will depend on your internet browser) and save to your desktop. On your desktop, right click “Properties” and select the “Desktop” tab. Click “Browse” and navigate to the saved image on your desktop. Select it & click “Open.” On the “Display Properties” dialogue box, click “OK.”

3. If the image does not fit your desktop background neatly, you may have to go to your preference screen (on a Mac: System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop; or on Windows: Control Panel > Display > Desktop) and choose "Fit to screen" as the display mode of your background image.

FNA will make a new desktop calendar available each month. If you'd like to share photographs for future calendars or the FNA newsletter, send us a note at fermilabnaturalareas@gmail.com.