Happy New Year everyone!

We ended 2019 with a wonderful Holiday Party at Fernald Nature Preserve where Penny Borgman took us on a short walk to a restricted area. We were able to walk up to one of the 5 or 6 beaver lodges that can be found on the Preserve and take an up-close look at the work of these interesting creatures.

A few of us stuck around after the party and sat down just above/ behind one of the lodges as the sun was setting. That’s the time when the beavers become active. We were able to watch them swim around the pond and even heard them ‘chattering’ with each other as we quietly sat within earshot the lodge. Who knew!!??

I was thrilled that it was a mild day outside on the day of the party as I am NOT a fan of winter. I am already counting the days until Spring arrives, even though the weather in the last month has been quite tolerable. I simply need to see some green leaves on the trees, but that won’t happen for a few months.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to learning more about trees from Tom Kimmerer. Tom will be speaking at the next Wild Ones meeting at the Civic Garden Center on Saturday morning, February 8. Tom is a forest scientist, tree physiologist, and plant biochemist and the author and photographer of Venerable Trees – History, Biology, and Conservation in the Bluegrass. He’s currently working on a second book about the long relationship of people and trees. “What Good are Big Old Trees?” is the title of the talk on February 8.

No doubt, we have much to learn about trees, their relationships with each other and with us. I hope you will all be able to come and learn with me. Bring a friend or two or three! There will be time for questions – Tom likes to encourage conversation about our experiences as well.

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10:00 – 11:30 am Saturday February 8

Civic Garden Center

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I’m looking forward to seeing you all in a few weeks – and throughout all of 2020!!

Nan