Fall Mini-foray 2021
Hosted by: Calvin Herbarium, Dept. of Biology (Dave Warners, Garrett Crow) and the Calvin University’s Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens (Jeanette Henderson, Program Manager)
Date: October 9, 2021
8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.: at Ecosystem Preserve’s Bunker Interpretive Center
2:00 p.m.: Field trips leaving from plaza in front of Interpretive Center and dispersing home directly from field trips
Location:
Calvin University, Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens
Bunker Interpretive Center
1750 East Beltline Ave. SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49546-5649
Parking/Access to Building: a modest number of parking spaces are available at the entrance to the Bunker Interpretive Center in Lot 14, but plenty of parking is available immediately north of the Preserve’s designated parking in Lot 13. Additionally, one can park at the nearby Prince Conference Center in Lot 15––walk through the Prince Conference Center and take the path out the back side leading directly to the Ecosystem Preserve––enjoying the prairie plantings on the way. Overnight Accommodations are available at the Prince Conference Center, as well as at several nearby motels/hotels.
Maps:
COVID-19 Information:
Calvin University requires all to wear masks within buildings, encourages all to be vaccinated (or be tested weekly).
MBC Board encourages participants to be fully vaccinated.
Field trips: masks optional
Schedule:
Morning program:
Tour of Preserve and Native Gardens: 9–11 a.m. – general MBC members
An Easy-Access field trip guided tour by Ecosystem Preserve staff
Michigan Botanical Club Board meeting: 9–11 a.m. – MBC officers, The Discovery Room
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. – box lunches (Bunker Interpretive Center Hallway – catered by Calvin)
12:00 Noon Lecture: The Discovery Room
Dr. David Warners, Calvin University: “Using Native Plants to Heal a Degraded Watershed: A Decade of Plaster Creek Stewards Restoration Work”
Awards: MBC award announcements (2020 & 2021)
Afternoon Field Trips: 2:00 – Several field trips departing from the Preserve after award
Lowell Regional Greenspace: Leader, Jon Walt, grad student GVSU. Focused on Dry to Dry-mesic woods and Old-growth; (and adjacent shrub-carr wetland for anyone willing to risk getting wet and knows what Poison Sumac looks like).
Site on woodlands manuscript submitted to The Great Lakes Botanist
Dead-lake Bog: Leader, Peter Quakenbush, grad student Western Michigan University (bogs are wet; knee boots recommended or just plan to get wet).
Site written up in The Great Lakes Botanist Vol. 58. Jolman, Van Donselaar, Warners, and Crow. 2019. Bog flora in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area: a comparative study across sites and over time––1901 to 2017.
Plaster Creek at Shadyside Park: Leader, Deanna Geelhoed, P.C. Stewards Program Coordinator (easy access trip to PC floodplain/adjacent woods). Focus will be on Floodplain Restoration Project, one of several in the Plaster Creek Watershed undertaken by this Calvin led coalition effort. Calvin Herbarium’s Emma Cole Project inventoried the floodplain and woods in 2016.
Site written up in The Great Lakes Botanist Vol. 58. (Stockdale, Crow and Warners, 2019. Floristic quality assessment of remnant natural areas in the Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan region: evaluating botanical change since the 1890s.
Calvin Ecosystem Preserve (easy access field trip)Afternoon trip self-guided/trail map for those who would like a non-strenuous, pleasant walk in some very nice woods.
Boxed Lunches:
Croissant Sandwich: Turkey and provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, horseradish-bistro sauce; chips; pickle; bottle of water
Croissant Sandwich: Roast beef and Swiss-cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, horseradish-bistro sauce; chips; pickle; bottle of water
Vegetarian: Southwestern-Ancient Grains Wrap: Crunchy Romaine lettuce, ancient grains, Cotija cheese, roasted vegetables and cilantro-lime vinaigrette; chips; pickle; bottle of water.
Dietary Restrictions: Selections can be adjusted to accommodate any dietary restrictions; please indicate such in the COMMENTS section in the registration form.
Registration: Fill out the form on this page and submit it to register.
Payment at Event: Check (made out to Michigan Botanical Club) or exact cash. If you wish to print out a form and and mail it, A pdf form is here.