Members of the Chert Glades Chapter are out in the area seeking signs of spring; hiking, exploring and sharing their finds. Walk with us as we show you what we’ve been up to and what to expect right now in the wild. Get out there yourself and enjoy this early spring!
Jeff Cantrell – “Greetings Naturalists. To us spring arriving early conveys an abundance. The wheels and cogs are certainly turning in the web of life machine. I walked the Eagle Roost Trail, Roaring River State Park, after work yesterday, so much is ahead of schedule, at this rate morel mushrooms could be following Easter. Sweet William, Hepatica & Bloodroot (at its peak), Trout lily, Dutchman’s Breeches, pussy toes, toothwort (passed its prime) are all along the slopes.”
Becky Wylie – Becky has been busy documenting spring blooms on the Facebook page for Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center.
New member, Caroline Perigo documented the Saturday field session hike at Prairie State Park. Members learned about prairie history, ecology and preservation, and enjoyed a great day at Prairie State Park!
Karen Garver and Ann Butts documented a Saturday field session at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery and Bicentennial Park in Neosho. The morning session covered mammals with Jeff Cantrell and lots of hands-on activities. Members learned how the hatchery contributes to pallid sturgeon species recovery, recovery efforts for threatened or endangered native mussels, and recovery of the Topeka Shiner. At Bicentennial Park, Keith Jones led the class on a hike and exercise in habitat maintenance and recovery.
New member, Karen Richardson, worked on her capstone project at the Outdoor Nature Lab at Monett High School. Close to 90 Missouri native plants were chosen for planting because of their soil conservation properties. “The nine-bark and choke berry are really leafing out nicely,” she says. “I am especially looking forward to seeing the cypress start greening up.”
Member and artist Joyce Haynes documented her visit to Wah kon ta Prairie to view endangered prairie chickens by writing and using her amazing talent to draw a prairie chicken in her journal.