Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 15, 2019

6:30 pm-7:00 pm | Social
7:00 pm-8:45 pm | Program
Wood Lake Nature Center
6710 Lake Shore Dr S, Richfield, MN 55423
All meetings are free and open to the public.
Tools for Finding and Exploring 
the Rich Natural World of the Twin Cities

John Moriarty
Author & Senior Manager of Wildlife

Novices and long-time naturalists alike will enjoy viewing this visual journey of the Twin City region’s significant patchwork of remaining native and restored habitats including prairies, woods, and wetlands. The beautiful photography in this presentation illuminates 30 places within an hour of the Metropolitan Twin Cities area where you can see a wide variety of native plants and wildlife. Hear John’s expert insight on how to discover and explore the rich natural world of the Twin Cities. John’s new book A Field Guide to the Natural World of the Twin Cities will be available for purchase and author signing.  Interested in exploring specific habitat in the Twin Cities? Come and ask John where to find it!  

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 A huge thank you to our September speaker, Don Arnosti!

 If you didn't get a copy of his handout, you can download it here: 
What Can I Do About Global Warming?

 Here is the link from his presentation to the National Audubon Society Climate Report.

 See more about the Christmas Bird Count here, and read about last winter's count here in Minnesota.
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Cranes over the Mississippi River at Frontenac State Park, September 14, 2019
Woodland encroaching on the prairie.


 Thanks to Bonnie Harper-Lore and Steve Winter for guiding us on a member-only tour of Frontenac State Park on Saturday, September 14th with the Minnesota Driftless Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts!

We had a lovely day and learned much! 

 Frontenac offers "visitors a rich diversity of natural communities and landscapes: bluffs, prairie, floodplain forests, and hardwood forest in its 2,300 acres."



Bonnie leading the way through a prairie path, surrounded by a sea of Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Carefully making our way to a remnant prairie on the bluff.
Steve Winter of the Minnesota Driftless Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts helps Trudi ID a plant on the cliff

Spectacular view of the Mississippi Rive we enjoyed during a lunch break.
Natural treasures rewarded those who made the steep climb up the remnant goat prairie...like...
...clumps of Dotted Blazing Star (Liatris punctata)...
... though there were plenty of exciting finds along the roadside, like this Monarch caterpillar
on Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)
Asters & Goldenrods abounded across the park, a few of the many late summer species visited by a variety of busy pollinators while we took in their combined beauty!
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And a BIG thank you to our chapter volunteers as we begin a new program season!

 If you would like to know more about how we are positioning our chapter for 2020 and beyond, please read "Beyond the Scenery" - a message from our co-presidents.
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