YARD TOURS FEATURE BIRD-FRIENDLY HABITAT
On Saturday, May 5, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, as part of Oshkosh Bird Fest, Wild Ones has a arranged for three yard tours. This is a great opportunity to see how to create bird-friendly habitat with native plants in your own yard. According to Fox Valley Area Chapter president Kristin Kauth, the properties on the Bird Fest yard tour are a perfect example of the range of habitats for which native plant landscaping is suitable. The yard tours are free and open to the public.
One of the Bird Fest cosponsors, Fox Valley Area Wild Ones, was organized as a chapter of the national Wild Ones organization in 1995. The Wild Ones mission is to promote environmentally sound landscaping practices and biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. In addition to a year-round schedule of programs, yard tours, and field trips, the Fox Valley Area Chapter sponsors an annual all-day conference, "Toward Harmony With Nature." The conference offers Wild Ones members and the public the opportunity to learn from expert speakers on a wide range of native landscaping topics. The Chapter also awards grants to public and nonprofit organizations for natural landscapes using native plants. More information is available about native plant landscaping, Wild Ones and the Fox Valley Area Chapter at www.wildones.org and www.towardharmonywithnature.info.
This year’s yards are all located in the Town of Algoma off Highway 21 west of Highway 41. Because the 41/21 interchange is closed, you can access the area via the Witzel Ave. overpass or via 9th Ave. , turn north on Oakwood Road and proceed to Highway 21.
HOME OF ZAIGA FREIVALDS AND MIKE BRANDEL, 913 Honey Creek Road
Over the last 20 years this 3-acre property has been restored with native plants. The non-native buckthorn has been mostly eliminated from the wooded area and replaced with native shrubs, ferns, and approximately 40 species of wildflowers. Spring is an exciting time to watch the wildflowers emerge and flower. Both the tallgrass and shortgrass prairie were planted over 15 years ago onto what once was a cornfield and now contain over 50 grasses and forbs that begin blossoming in the spring and continue into fall. Recently the ditch has been allowed to “go native” and has an additional 20 native plants. This yard attracts a great diversity of insects and birds, which is a constant delight.
Directions: Take Oakwood Road to Hwy 21 and turn left (west) on 21. Turn left at the next intersection, which is Honey Creek Road.
HOME OF ROSEMARY AND PETER EIDEN, 1391 Leonard Point Road North
The Eiden home features a variety of habitats including approximately 20 mature bur oak trees at the front. The area under the oaks is carpeted with native plantings of viburnum, serviceberry, hazelnut, thimbleberry, may apple, columbine, Canada ginger, and many other woodland plants.
The side yard features fruit trees, while the sunny back yard has raised-bed vegetable gardens and a prairie. The prairie is burned every spring to remove volunteer bushes brought in by the birds. Houses are put up for the wrens, while the other bird visitors have many trees and bushes in which to make their homes.
Directions: Take Hwy 21 west to Leonard Point Road North, turn north or right. The Eidens are 8 houses up on the left. Park on the street or in the driveway turnaround.
SHELDON NATURE AREA on Nature Drive west of Oakwood School
The 26-acre Sheldon Nature Area was developed over the past 12 years by a group of dedicated community volunteers into an environmental learning center to be used by the Oakwood Environmental Education Charter School and the community. A trail system accesses a full spectrum of habitats including a pond, prairie areas, woodland, and 4-5 acres of wetland.
Directions: From Hwy 21 go north on Oakwood. When you reach the school turn left onto Omro Road and then right onto Nature Drive, four houses west of the school. Start your tour at the Sheldon Nature Area sign along the trail at the west end of the parking lot. Volunteers will be on hand to discuss the habitat and for bird watching.
One of the Bird Fest cosponsors, Fox Valley Area Wild Ones, was organized as a chapter of the national Wild Ones organization in 1995. The Wild Ones mission is to promote environmentally sound landscaping practices and biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. In addition to a year-round schedule of programs, yard tours, and field trips, the Fox Valley Area Chapter sponsors an annual all-day conference, "Toward Harmony With Nature." The conference offers Wild Ones members and the public the opportunity to learn from expert speakers on a wide range of native landscaping topics. The Chapter also awards grants to public and nonprofit organizations for natural landscapes using native plants. More information is available about native plant landscaping, Wild Ones and the Fox Valley Area Chapter at www.wildones.org and www.towardharmonywithnature.info.
This year’s yards are all located in the Town of Algoma off Highway 21 west of Highway 41. Because the 41/21 interchange is closed, you can access the area via the Witzel Ave. overpass or via 9th Ave. , turn north on Oakwood Road and proceed to Highway 21.
HOME OF ZAIGA FREIVALDS AND MIKE BRANDEL, 913 Honey Creek Road
Over the last 20 years this 3-acre property has been restored with native plants. The non-native buckthorn has been mostly eliminated from the wooded area and replaced with native shrubs, ferns, and approximately 40 species of wildflowers. Spring is an exciting time to watch the wildflowers emerge and flower. Both the tallgrass and shortgrass prairie were planted over 15 years ago onto what once was a cornfield and now contain over 50 grasses and forbs that begin blossoming in the spring and continue into fall. Recently the ditch has been allowed to “go native” and has an additional 20 native plants. This yard attracts a great diversity of insects and birds, which is a constant delight.
Directions: Take Oakwood Road to Hwy 21 and turn left (west) on 21. Turn left at the next intersection, which is Honey Creek Road.
HOME OF ROSEMARY AND PETER EIDEN, 1391 Leonard Point Road North
The Eiden home features a variety of habitats including approximately 20 mature bur oak trees at the front. The area under the oaks is carpeted with native plantings of viburnum, serviceberry, hazelnut, thimbleberry, may apple, columbine, Canada ginger, and many other woodland plants.
The side yard features fruit trees, while the sunny back yard has raised-bed vegetable gardens and a prairie. The prairie is burned every spring to remove volunteer bushes brought in by the birds. Houses are put up for the wrens, while the other bird visitors have many trees and bushes in which to make their homes.
Directions: Take Hwy 21 west to Leonard Point Road North, turn north or right. The Eidens are 8 houses up on the left. Park on the street or in the driveway turnaround.
SHELDON NATURE AREA on Nature Drive west of Oakwood School
The 26-acre Sheldon Nature Area was developed over the past 12 years by a group of dedicated community volunteers into an environmental learning center to be used by the Oakwood Environmental Education Charter School and the community. A trail system accesses a full spectrum of habitats including a pond, prairie areas, woodland, and 4-5 acres of wetland.
Directions: From Hwy 21 go north on Oakwood. When you reach the school turn left onto Omro Road and then right onto Nature Drive, four houses west of the school. Start your tour at the Sheldon Nature Area sign along the trail at the west end of the parking lot. Volunteers will be on hand to discuss the habitat and for bird watching.