Elk Rapids Alamanac - June
June 10
|
Late in May, I was scrambling through a thicket of grapevines next to an alley in the village to pull a patch of garlic mustard that was just on the verge of dispersing its seeds. Garlic mustard is a non-native, invasive plant that will quickly take over an area and keep native wild flowers from growing. It can be a scourge to natural areas if left uncontrolled. To my surprise, I happened upon this strange wildflower during my pulling. My Seek app (by iNaturalist) identified it as Yellow Wakerobin, a native to the Great Smokey Mountains, a plant I had never seen prior to this encounter. It is a member of the trillium genus. How it made its way to Elk Rapids and survived is a mystery to me. It may be just another indication of our changing climate and the ability of plant species from places like the Smokies to survive in more northerly regions. _Elise Roe
|
Photo by Elise Roe
|
June 17
A family visit to the GT Butterfly House & Bug Zoo was a great adventure for six-year old Marlowe. A mere 15 minutes from Elk Rapids, the atrium was alive with 800 butterflies of all sizes and colors. Staff were busily sharing details about all the plants and creatures, engaging visitors of all ages. Owner Cyndie popped in
and spoke with everyone, adding some education on nature, insects, and the power of a welcoming smile! _Royce Ragland. See GTButerflyZoo.com
and spoke with everyone, adding some education on nature, insects, and the power of a welcoming smile! _Royce Ragland. See GTButerflyZoo.com
Drawing by Marlowe
June 21
Summer Solstice is the first official day of summer, our longest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere, and the first day of winter for the Southern Hemisphere.
Jun 25-My walks in our parks and on our trails always reveal something I hadn't seen on previous walks. Yesterday, for example, I noticed small clumps of "blondish" fur on the Nature Trail (between Chippewa and Second Streets). My first thought was that these tufts of fur might be from deer or possibly a fox. The path didn't look as though there had been any "dustup" or fight between the creatures who reside there – but simply some fur left behind after a night's rest. Today, the fur was gone - perhaps whoever left it behind returned to clean up after themselves! _Liz DeLaRossa
Note: Walking is a popular activity in Elk Rapids. Hippocrates proclaimed that “walking is man’s best medicine.” Famous writers who fueled their creativity by walking include William Wordsworth, Virginia Woolf, and J.K. Rowling. Among many known advantages, walking in nature: -reduces the risk of life-threatening issues such as blood pressure, strokes, and heart disease -increases your creative output by as much as 60% -helps decrease the amount of time you think about negative experiences -boasts your immune system – (one study found a daily walk led to 43% less sick days among the 1000 participants) -acts as an anxiety tonic-(one study found a 10 minute walk is as good as a 45-minute workout)
Note: A memoir on the joys of walking and family: Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain. Andrew McCarthy, 2023.
Jun 25-My walks in our parks and on our trails always reveal something I hadn't seen on previous walks. Yesterday, for example, I noticed small clumps of "blondish" fur on the Nature Trail (between Chippewa and Second Streets). My first thought was that these tufts of fur might be from deer or possibly a fox. The path didn't look as though there had been any "dustup" or fight between the creatures who reside there – but simply some fur left behind after a night's rest. Today, the fur was gone - perhaps whoever left it behind returned to clean up after themselves! _Liz DeLaRossa
Note: Walking is a popular activity in Elk Rapids. Hippocrates proclaimed that “walking is man’s best medicine.” Famous writers who fueled their creativity by walking include William Wordsworth, Virginia Woolf, and J.K. Rowling. Among many known advantages, walking in nature: -reduces the risk of life-threatening issues such as blood pressure, strokes, and heart disease -increases your creative output by as much as 60% -helps decrease the amount of time you think about negative experiences -boasts your immune system – (one study found a daily walk led to 43% less sick days among the 1000 participants) -acts as an anxiety tonic-(one study found a 10 minute walk is as good as a 45-minute workout)
Note: A memoir on the joys of walking and family: Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain. Andrew McCarthy, 2023.
June 25
Photo by Kim Ranger
|
The ninebark is an example of a native plant that does double duty. While it was in full bloom it attracted crowds of friendly pollinators. Now it is serving its secondary duty as an effective privacy screen. _Kim Ranger
Note: New Jersey became the first state to require teaching climate change topics in schools, in 2023. New Zealand became the first country to grant a specific river legal right, in 2019. Ecuador became the first country to recognize Rights of Nature in its constitution, in 2008. |