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Earth Day!
Tomorrow, April 22, 2020, is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! Here in Menard County we’ll be celebrating virtually this year. Please share pics or posts of how you celebrate the day!
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Stay in Place in Your Yard and Garden
Two weeks ago we suggested several Earth Day stay-in-place activities you can do while observing physical distancing. Last week we covered the first suggestion on the list, to plant something– flowers, veggies or a tree, with the post If something is not eating your plants, then your garden is not part of the ecosystem! In that post, Alana explained how important it is to plant native species that support the pollinators and other critters that form the balance of nature we all depend on. On that note, the Native Plant Conservation Campaign has made available Douglas Tallamy’s video presentation of his latest book, Nature’s Best Hope. Tallamy is a leader…
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More sights of spring
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If something is not eating your plants, then your garden is not part of the ecosystem!
While perusing Pinterest a while ago, I came across this great sign: For a long time, the ideal garden plants were ones that were “pest resistant.” That often meant plants that were not native to our region, plants that had not evolved with our native insects and were less palatable to them. In recent years, concerns about plummeting insect populations and overall loss of biodiversity has led to a new garden ethic, a movement to use our gardens to support wildlife rather than repel it. Planting native plants is a very important part of this strategy and something I hope you will consider!
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Bike Menard County
Wondering where to ride in Menard County? There are miles and miles of country roads in Menard County where automobile traffic is low, and if you’re cautious, can be safe to ride. If hills have discouraged you from riding, there are some relatively flat country roads and smaller hills that are perfect for training rides in Menard County. Below are couple routes that begin at the PORTA High School parking lot. This route goes past Oakland Cemetery and around Lake Petersburg to New Salem State Historic Site. This route goes through Atterberry and uses some lightly travelled, relatively flat country roads to loop back towards the Menard County Fairgrounds. Here’s…
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Exploring Menard County (and a little beyond….)
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Earth Day 2020–50 Years of Celebrating the Planet
Menard County Trails & Greenways plans to honor the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, albeit a little differently than we had planned. While we won’t be able to physically gather as friends and neighbors to help clean up Menard County, we can come together in the same spirit, do some good work around (or even inside!) our homes, and share our efforts virtually. Public health experts and government leaders are encouraging us to safely get outdoors, underscoring more than ever the importance of our natural world to our health and well-being. Let’s take a moment, however big or small, to return the favor. We’ve started a list…
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Sounds of Spring in Menard County
Upland chorus frogs (Pseudacris feriarum) are a familiar sound in spring in Illinois. Heard now near woodland ponds such as in the video here, they can even be heard in roadside ditches. The occasional leopard frog can be heard among the chorus frogs, and soon we should be hearing the sweet melodic trill of the American toad.
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Signs of Spring
During this time of social distancing and sheltering in place, those of us who love exploring the out of doors and nature are the lucky ones. Spring is happening and every day brings new changes. Migrating songbirds are starting to arrive from the south, many trees are starting to show signs of first blooms and buds, and native wildflower foliage is pushing through the leaf litter. What are you noticing?
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MCTG Website Takes Flight
Please visit the new Menard County Trails & Greenways website! (Click on link below). The site features a Calendar, where MCTG events and related activities are posted; Ways to Discovery, where we’ve started to describe “trails & greenways” to explore; and MCTG Blog, where we will post news, information, photos, and other items of interest to outdoor enthusiasts.
