Days to Note This Month

Did You Know?

January 19th is National Popcorn Day

January 23rd is National Pie Day

Did you need a reason?

Enjoy!

Summer Camp Fun

 

 

Drop into Hemlock Bluffs on a weekday during summer and all is seemingly quiet.  Few cars in the parking lot and the nature center is quiet, but for a few Moms with little ones playing at the track table in the lobby.  But looks are deceiving.  All summer long all sorts of nature, science and outdoor discovery camps are in full swing.  Stand outside the classroom when the kids are inside - can you hear excited voices engaged while making nature crafts or reviewing the rules of the trail before they head outside?

 

Under a giant log is a good place to search for land salamanders

Walk the trail - can you hear voices rising from the creek as children search for salamanders under rocks and leaves?  Look into the woods where camp kids wander watching the tree canopy bird watching and learning about the connection between insects that live here in summer and neotropical migrant birds who visit in summer to eat them, then return south in winter where it's warm and bugs persist.  Can you hear them saying, "I can see it!".

Remember cooking marshmallow on the campfire?
Oh, that's too close - it'll burn!

Step into the courtyard at the end of the day and you might be treated to the sight of a roaring campfire.  Staff know that kids deserve the entire camp experience, including s'mores on the campfire.  You may even hear a few campfire songs or stories.  It might take you back to the good old days.  Can you hear one kid saying, "look at mine, it's on fire!".

Staff encourages interaction, questions and investigation.
Children leave with a sense of awareness about the natural world they can only
receive in the out-of-doors.

Summer camps provide children with a one-on-one experience with staff, where learning about nature is provided in a safe and nurturing environment.  The goal is to offer nature information in a way that engages kids in a safe and fun way while providing a foundation for stewardship throughout their life.

Summer camp registration begins early in Cary, but some spaces for upcoming camps are still available.  Call the nature center to find out more (919)387-5980.

Compost Demonstration Area at Hemlock Bluffs

 

A very helpful and educational little compost area is located behind the classroom building and across from the entrance to the Children's Nature Trail as you walk toward the courtyard from the parking area when you first arrive at Hemlock Bluffs. 

 

 

Whether you compost at home or not, you'll probably see something new in this area which staff and volunteers have created to use in educating visitors and program participants about compost.  The original area has been in place and has been used by staff for educational and hands-on purposes in the gardens, however a recent upgrade was made by a Girl Scout Gold candidate and her troop, family and soccer team. Several different types of compost bins are available for visitors to see and to observe how compost is actually breaking down.

Recently added, this wire and wood bin is attractive and works very well

The staff's favorite, this slat bin is easy to tend because the slats pop out on one side allowing easy access for turning



This bin, available online, requires little attention

A new experiment this roller type bin spins the compost when you turn it on its glide base

An educational bulletin board and informational brochure are available right on the wall providing pertinent details about composting, its benefits and how it benefits the environment.

Stop by and take a look next time you are at the preserve!

Summer Heat is Basking time for Copperheads

 

 

Keep your eyes open when you visit the Preserve on these hot summer afternoons.  Hot days and cool nights are the time of year copperheads are active in the woods of North Carolina.  If you aren't a keen observer you might not even know you've walked right by one.

 

 

Copperheads are masters of camouflage, they blend into the leaves on the forest floor. You can be walking the trails at Hemlock Bluffs and a copperhead can be right beside the path.  This isn't usually a problem because during the day, copperheads are typically resting, warming in the sun and gathering their energy for a night of hunting small mammals.  If you don't bother them, they won't bother you.

 

However, if you or your dog come across a copperhead and annoy it (by poking it with a stick, or your dog barking at it), the snake will defend itself and may strike.  Copperheads are normally docile unless provoked, they do not like to waste their venom, but every year people and dogs are bitten in NC (it's rarely deadly).

There are copperheads at Hemlock Bluffs, they are a natural part of the ecosystem.  They are a beautiful snake when you think about how well camouflaged they are in their environment.  They help keep the rodent population in check.  If you see a snake of any sort while you are walking, look at it, admire it and leave it alone.  If you give it a wide berth and walk away, it will leave you alone.  Most importantly, keep pets and children away from any snake.  Help by teaching your children to respect animals in nature, even if you are a little afraid.

The Rain Garden at Hemlock Bluffs

Across the courtyard from the steps in front of the classroom building is a lush green vegetative spot where a rain garden has been installed.  A rain garden is designed to route rain water off the roof, through the gutters, into pipes then into a garden which slowly releases the water into the nearby landscape.  In this case, the woods.

 

An educational sign in the garden explains how the rain garden works.

 Designed, constructed and installed by a local Eagle Scout, the rain garden at Hemlock Bluffs collects all the rain water that falls onto the classroom building's roof.  The garden is constructed in such a way that rocks slow the water as it enters the garden and then native plants which typically grow in wet woodlands are planted in the garden to utilize the deposited water.  These native plants can survive in North Carolina's variable weather and rainfall over the years, so they are good choices for a rain garden.

Park Operations Manager, Mark Johns uses the Rain Garden as an example
when he teaches about native plants and wildlife gardening.

Park staff recommended the use of a variety of native plants be placed in the rain garden including; ferns, herbaceous plants, grasses and shrubs. Species diversity is important in the event of disease and pest invasion, and is more attractive to wildlife like birds and butterflies.

Several species of native plants are included in the rain garden to include blooms throughout the growing season.  A few suggested successful rain garden plants are shown below.

Netted Chain Fern

Cardinal Flower

Christmas Fern







Watch the rain garden throughout the year as you visit the nature preserve, it looks different in every season.

Backyard Wildlife Garden at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve

 

Tucked behind the Stevens Nature Center and just off the service road beside the building, you'll find a perfect example of what you can do in your own backyard to create an oasis for native wildlife like; songbirds, butterflies, hummingbirds, a variety of frogs, toads, lizards and beautiful dragonflies.

 

Compact, but creative, the backyard wildlife garden packs a whole lot of habitat into a small space

Experts agree that it's as simple as including the essential habitat components that all wildlife need into your garden; food, water; cover; shelter and a place to raise young.  An easy way to begin in your yard is to focus on attracting songbirds.  As seen in the nature center's "backyard", you can place a birdfeeder (keep it clean and filled with seed), a bird box, a birdbath and if your backyard has a little bit of woods  - Voila'!, you have habitat for birds!

Native plants expand the habitat options for small wildlife.  Native plants supply important nectar and seeds for local songbirds, hummingbirds and butterflies.  They also serve as host plants for butterfly caterpillars. 

Staff at the nature center know to use native NC plants in their gardens (and when and where to plant them).  Not only are they essential host plants for NC's butterfly caterpillars, the nectar is essential to native hummingbirds, and the seeds produced are a valuable seed source to songbirds like goldfinches, housefinches and purple finches. 

 

Bushy plants, like Christmas ferns (among others) serve as cover or shelter for small animals
(like lizards, toads and frogs) in the garden.

Beautifully designed, the nature center's backyard wildlife garden is a place of quiet contemplation.  Staff have developed the garden to attract wildlife, but have kept visitors in mind as well.  The small gate has a hasp on the top inside, and can be opened to allow access.  You are welcome to enter the garden and to sit on the bench to enjoy a moment of reflection and nature study.  Hopefully you'll see the animal residents as you enjoy your time in the garden

The plexi-glass viewing window is designed for children visiting the garden. 
They can look into the garden without disturbing the inhabitants within.
 

As with all the gardens at the nature center, the backyard wildlife garden is an extension of the environmental education programming of the Stevens Nature Center.  It is used extensively as part of the teaching and programming associated with the camps, programs and educational activities offered through the nature center.  Stop by and take a look.  You may get some ideas to take home to your backyard!

The Children's Garden at Hemlock Bluffs

A Handmade sign denotes the Children's Garden

 Located outside the classroom window, where the children can peek out at their creation, the Children's Garden brings color and imagination to the far side of the Stevens Nature Center.  Developed by staff, but planted, painted and potted by kids, the Children's Garden is a collection of garden projects designed to brighten any garden and to bring wildlife to the garden. 

A recycled birdbath becomes a magical life-sized toadstool

Projects include garden art and large-scale projects, such as the toadstool, arbor and the many decorative steppers laid around the edge of the garden and through the garden.  Smaller projects

An elegant arbor is one entrance into the garden

such as the painted flower pots and the toad abodes located around the water garden are favorite projects for the kids to make for the garden.  Most of the perennials planted in the ground in the garden are native NC plants, selected for their wildlife value.  The plants in the containers are chosen for their color, bloom and nectar, for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

A little frog bog and many toad abodes

During spring, summer and fall the children in camps, programs and classes help maintain and beautify this garden and learn while they work to help wildlife habitat at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve.