Events

We will be taking care of the Demonstration site at the Capen Mulch Site on a monthly basis. This month we will begin a frog pond project.  We will begin to dig out the existing native plants in the site where we will dig the pond hole.   Bring a garden spade, a bag or bucket to carry home the plants you want to keep, the usual garden gloves and pruners, drinking water for yourself.  Hopefully we can also begin digging the pond hole depending on how many people show up.  The hole will be approximately 18" to 2 feet deep.  Goals for the first workday are to remove plants from the designated area and establish the perimeter of the pond and begin to dig.      If you are not someone who wants to shovel, there are other tasks that need to be done, such as weeding, cutting back the rose mallow to 14" stems, the usual garden clean up.

This will be a recurring activity on the first Tues of the month. We will be maintaining the rain gardens, native garden and frog pond areas, with native plants. Come join in the care and learn more about native plants and their care.

You're invited to visit the native plant garden of Gary and Linda Shillito on Saturday, June 11 at 10:00 a.m. There should be room for parking of 4 cars in their driveway with additional parking in the cul-de-sac. The address is 4702 Cedar Rock Court in Columbia. This is a very beautiful garden that will give you lots of ideas for your own native plants. We look forward to gathering with other native plant enthusiasts.

Tour the Finca Eco-Farm at Lincoln University in Jefferson City. The Finca EcoFarm is an urban farm located at Lincoln University established with more than 50 native plants, of which 30 or more are edible. Visitors can see here mature wild plums, persimmons, paw paws, elderberries, shrubs, vines and wildflowers. The purpose of the Finca (farm in Spanish) is to promote the use of native plants for feed and in conservation practices. It is a living example of what someone with a small parcel of land can do to produce food and increase plant diversity. The address is 1220 Chestnut Street which is the blue building along Chestnut, the Finca is behind it, signs will be posted.          

We will be collecting seed from one prairie planting at Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary and the walking back to the Bonnie View Prairie Loop (about 1/3 mile each way on a sidewalk). After cutting the flowerheads, we will distribute them into the prairie. The ground we'll be collecting from is a prairie planting, so it may be somewhat uneven. Pants and long sleeves recommended. Cindy is bringing bags, but you should bring your own clippers, if you have them.  Several Wild Ones members have worked in this  Bonnie View Prairie Oval (or Loop) for many years, removing invasive species and sometime planting with Fairview Elementary School students.   There is a paved walk all the way around it, but we will be going into it to spread seed.   This is an excellent opportunity to learn about both prairie flowers and grasses. We will meet in the pavilion at the parking lot at 3300 W. Rollins Rd. For a map and directions, google Bonnie View Prairie Loop Trail. For questions, contact Lea Langdon, 573-864-7647, [email protected]