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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Guckenberg-Sturm Preserve, also known as the Stroebe Island Marsh

Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust purchased the 48 acre Guckenberg-Sturm Preserve, also known as the Stroebe Island Marsh, in Menasha, Wisconsin. The Preserve is situated uniquely; it is located along the west shore of Little Lake Butte des Morts and bordered on the north by Mud Creek at the point of its convergence with the Fox River as it travels northeast into Lake Michigan’s largest bay, Green Bay. The preserve is also adjacent to, as well as on, Stroebe Island.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has classified Mud Creek, the Fox River, and Little Lake Butte des Morts as Areas of Special Natural Resource Interest (ASNRI) waters. Because of this, the Guckenberg-Sturm Preserve is recognized as important opportunity to maintain the health of the water flowing into Lake Michigan.

The marsh and surrounding floodplain forests represents one of the last remaining pristine, open cattail marshes found along the Lower Fox River drainage. This habitat type originally covered thousands of acres throughout the Fox River system, but the dramatic increases in water levels through dam construction and high speed motorized boat traffic, effectively destroyed over 99 percent of the original cattail marsh by 1965. This remaining high quality habitat is now very rare and continues to provide critical food and cover for a myriad of wetland species trying to continue their life cycles surrounded by the pressures of land development and severe habitat destruction.

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Wind Point Lighthouse - Racine, Wisconsin

Wind Point Lighthouse (or Windpoint Light Station) is a lighthouse located at the north end of the Harbor in Racine, Wisconsin. It is in the village of Wind Point, on Lighthouse Road, next to the Shoop Park golf course. The lighthouse stands 108 feet (33 m) tall. One of the oldest and tallest active lighthouses on the Great Lakes, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Wind Point Lighthouse was designed by Orlando Metcalfe Poe and constructed in 1880. The beacon was originally powered by a three-wicked kerosene lanp, magnified by a third-order Fresnel lens. The light was electrified in 1924, and replaced by a DCB-24R airport beacon in 1964. The light can be seen for 19 miles. A signal house (horns removed, resonators still in place) remains on the grounds as well as a garage, two storage buildings, and an oil house. The Village of Wind Point has maintained the lighthouse and grounds since 1964, and uses the old keepers' quarters as a village hall and police headquarters.

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"Waterfest" - Oshkosh, Wisconsin - REO Speedwagon

"Waterfest" is a celebration of the quality of life enjoyed in the Fox Valley Area and the name was chosen to draw attention to our most valuable, unique and recognizable resource, our waterways. The "Leach Ampitheater", where this event is held, is located at the mouth of the historic Fox River in downtown Oshkosh, and is home to the weekly "Waterfest Concerts" held each Thursday evening Memorial Day through Labor Day on the shores of the historic Fox River in Downtown Oshkosh. The City of Oshkosh is nestled between and on Lakes Butte des Morts and Winnebago. The recreational assets of these bodies of water provide great value and sense of pride to area residents, businesses and visitors. Opened in May 2005, the Leach Amphitheater can accommodate up to 7,500 visitors. And on August 30th, was host to 4 bands including REO Speedwagon. Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and over the course of its career, the band has sold more than 40 million records and has charted thirteen Top 40 Hits, including the number ones "Keep On Loving You" and "Can't Fight This Feeling". ( Go to www.waterfest.org for more information.)

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Olbrich Gardens - Madison - Wisconsin

OlbrichBotanical Gardens is located

in Madison, Wisconsin. Named for its founder, Michael Olbrich, the gardens are owned and operated jointly by the City of Madison Parks and the non-profit Olbrich Botanical Society. The gardens were officially established in 1952. Noteworthy additions to the gardens were the Bolz Conservatory in 1991 and a Thai pavilion or sala, a gift to the University of Wisconsin Madison from the Thai Chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the government of Thailand through its king. Opened in 2002, it is one of only four sala outside of Thailand and one of two in the United States (the other is located in Hawaii). Stroll 16 acres of outdoor gardens featuring stunning landscapes and Midwest-hardy plants. Visit the tropics in the Bolz Conservatory, filled with exotic plants, flowers, orchids, birds, and a waterfall. Outdoor Gardens are free and open daily. Voted one of the top ten most inspiring gardens in North America by Horticulture Magazine. The gardens are made up of several separate garden areas. The Sunken Garden is in the form of a traditional English Garden. Surrounded by limestone terraces and hedges, it contains an 80-foot long reflecting pool – designed to connect the garden thematically with nearby Lake Monona. The Thai Garden contains the sala and is joined to the gardens proper by a 155-foot arched footbridge crossing Starkweather Creek. This garden has a shallow reflecting pool near the pavilion and is littered with small examples of Thai sculpture. The plants in this garden were carefully selected to give a tropical appearance to the garden in the summer, while choosing plants capable of surviving Wisconsin winters. A Rock Garden is constructed of a rocky hill, designed to simulate a mountain slope. Plants here are mostly conifers or alpine and two streams flow through it, forming a waterfall and small pond. Here again, a wooden footbridge crosses the stream. A Meadow Garden combines perennial grasses, wildflowers, and plants grown from bulbs. The grass in the meadow garden is mowed only once or twice a year. The small Wildflower Garden contains wildflowers, ferns, berries and native trees and shrubs. An Herb Garden is a collection of smaller gardens of herbs separated by use; they include medical, dye, and kitchen (spice) herbs, as well as 'touch' and 'smell' gardens. A perennial garden displays perennials and three ponds, with a waterfall. Aquatic plants are displayed in the ponds. The Rose Garden is an ongoing project featuring more than 700 varieties and 125 rose cultivars, including hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, and hardy shrub roses. The Starkweather Creek and Atrium Shade Gardens features a semicircular atrium and plants such as astilbes, hostas, lungwort, bishops' caps and ferns. The Eunice Fisher Hosta Garden features hostas hybridized by Wisconsin-native, Eunice Fisher. The Bolz Conservatory is a greenhouse housing over 750 plants representing over 70 families and over 550 different species and cultivars. The plants are native to tropical and subtropical regions. The structure itself is a glass pyramid measuring 100 by 100 ft and rising to 50 ft at the apex. The temperature is maintained between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, although the sun may warm it to 95 °F in the summer. The relative humidity is maintained at 60% or above. In addition to the tropical plants, the conservatory is home to species of birds including canaries, waxbills and coturnix. There is also a koi pond, featuring koi and goldfish, frogs, toads, and geckos are also present.

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Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival - Crook and Whistle Dog Trials

I went to Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival in Jefferson Wisconsin to see the ‘Crook & Whistle’ Stock Dog Trials...because ever since I've seen the movie "Babe" I've wanted to see the "Wolves" in action and I really didn't want to pay for a trip to Ireland to get see them. I had no idea that this event existed or that it could be right here in Wisconsin. Early in the day we met one of the competitors Steve Kunkel and his dog Coon. Steve was kind enough to walk us through several of the trials and explained what they were doing out on the field. It was fun knowing more because you truly understood the frustrations of the man and dog team in herding the sheep in and around the gates. The event is huge, it takes place at the Jefferson County Fair Park over three days and in addition to the the trials there are, Wonders of Wool Fiber Arts Classes, Beginning Shepherd Classes, Newborn Lambs, Hall of Breeds, Used Equipment Sale, Sheep Shows, Shearing Demonstrations, Make It With Wool Competition, Shepherds and Silent Auctions (on wool and products alike) kids activities and two barns full of wool products for you to shop. I would definitely go again....it was well worth the two hour drive from Fremont. Want to know more:

http://www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com

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