EFEIT Birders' Entomologists' Botanists' Blog

2009-10-04T20:21:00.000-07:00

Walking with Kate Havelin...
"The Best Hikes of the Twin Cities" - Kate Havelin

On All Things Considered, MN Public Radio, Tuesday Sept 22, 2009 - Author Kate Havelin picked The Richard T. Anderson, Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail as the first location go to and the best feature the EFEIT signage-(Installed in 2007, project Writers Rising Up)
Kate Havelin- http://katehavelin.com/default.aspx
Writers Rising Up mentioned in the audio interview
http://www.writersrisingup.org/

http://www.prairiehomeliving.com/

Kate Havelin RTA and EFEIT Signage Best Hike

2009-10-04T18:58:00.000-07:00

2009-09-23T15:08:00.001-07:00

Cynthia Thomas
Wild Food and Medicine Identification
Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail
Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area
This event was on Saturday, Sept 19, 2009
The purpose was to begin a continued seasonal exploration of the biomes and habitat in order to catalog the species as an educational reference, via photos.

Cutting Cottonwood Branches

2009-09-23T15:07:00.001-07:00

Cotton Wood Branches

2009-09-23T15:06:00.002-07:00

Burdock "burs" or Seed Heads

2009-09-23T15:06:00.001-07:00

Heal All (Prunella vulgaris)

2009-09-23T15:05:00.002-07:00

Crown Vetch: plant not used medicinally

2009-09-23T15:05:00.001-07:00

Wood Nettles

2009-09-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

2009-09-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)

Leaves are very large, to 10 inches long and 6 inches wide, joined together at the main stem (perfoliate), forming a cup (hence the name). The leaves are coarsely toothed, pointed at the tip, and feel rough. The stem is thick, square, and smooth, and may be a reddish color.

Native Perennial grows up to eight ft in sun to part shade; moist; prairies, along shores, wetlands.

Aster Family-

http://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/cup-plant

2009-09-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

Buckthorn

Is an Invasive Species.

Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Appearance: Tall understory shrub or small tree up to 25' high with a spreading loosely branched crown, often multiple stems at the base. Female and male plants.

Fruit: Large, round, berry-like clusters of black 1/4" fruit. Ripens in August and September.

Wood: Brown bark with elongate silvery corky projections (caution: native plums or cherries have a similar bark). Cut branch exposes yellow sapwood and orange heartwood.

Branch: Buds and leaves are opposite. Twigs often end in sharp, stout thorns.

Leaves: Egg-shaped, pointed at the tip, smooth, dark, glossy and finely-toothed. 3-5 pair of curved leaf veins. Leaves stay green late into fall.

www.dnr.state.mn

Showing Plantain (on right) vs "Heal-All" (on left)

2009-09-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

2009-09-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

Horsetail or Scouring Rush--

Oldest plant on earth...Long ago, it was eaten by dinosaurs. Today, it is an ingredient in medications that lower cholesterol. Throughout human history, it has been used for scrubbing kitchen utensils.

Known commonly as the horsetail or scouring rush, this plant has emerged as one of the species that is increasingly recommended by garden designers in search of high concept or minimalist designs.

These are designs that utilize plants for their shapes, architectural lines, foliage color, and durability, rather than their flowering characteristics.

Horsetail consists of many reed-like, segmented green tubes that grow straight up to a height of four feet. Attractive black and gray bands are found at both ends of each segment. It is often planted in long, narrow planters and makes a strong design statement. It does best in half day sun to light shade. In full sun it turns yellow-green which means that it will appear yellow-green as opposed to the emerald green color which it shows when sun protected.

www.gardenguides.com

Fern

2009-09-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

Viewing Specimens at the EFEIT Excursion

2009-09-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

Looking at specimens on a hillside...

From wooden bridge looking at Water Cress in a creek ..

2009-09-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

Spring Water running through the trails...

2009-09-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

Nature Lovers and Hikers explore the Big Woods

Cynthia Thomas Wild Food & Medicine Identification

2009-09-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

Cynthia Thomas

Wild Food and Medicine Identification

Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail

Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area

This event was on Saturday, Sept 19, 2009

The purpose was to begin a continued seasonal exploration of the biomes and habitat in order to catalog the species as an educational reference, via photos.

2009-08-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

The Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail Minnesota River Signage at the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Center...

Our 2009 program event Nature's Medicine and Wild Food Indentification Excursion

August 29th and September 19th from 10AM to 11:30AM

Meet at Flying Cloud Drive Lower Level Parking Lot- Free Event

Bring your camera and walking shoes..

The September Excursion will include walk through the Bottomland Forest, Sedge Meadow and Big Woods Biomes.

The following images were taken on August 29th. All will be catalogued and identified.

Joe Pye Weed

2009-08-30T06:42:00.001-07:00

Joe Pye Weed "Eutrochium purpureum or E. maculatum, syn. Eupatorium purpureum and E. maculatum"

Wild Lettuce

2009-08-30T06:41:00.003-07:00

Wild Lettuce "Lactuca spp"

Plantain "Plantago Major"

2009-08-30T06:41:00.001-07:00

Plantain seed head and seeds "Plantago major" (to the right)

Plantain "Plantago major"

Sunflower

2009-08-30T06:40:00.003-07:00

Sunflower- probably Jerusalem Artichoke "Helianthus spp"

Golden Rod

2009-08-30T06:40:00.001-07:00

Golden Rod "Solidago spp"

Mullein

2009-08-30T06:39:00.000-07:00

Mullein Flower "Verbascum thapsus"

Indian Hemp

2009-08-30T06:31:00.001-07:00

Indian Hemp "Apocynum cannabinum"

Wild Grapes

2009-08-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

Wild Grapes-

"Vitis riparia"
This is a vine that climbs high into trees with tendrils that wind around twigs. It can be found along streams or in damp, cool woods. The fruit is a cluster of round, juicy, very sour, dark blue berries that ripen in September and October. Uses include juice, jelly, and syrup. The leaves can be used for various middle eastern dishes such as stuffed grape leaves.
Do not confuse Parthenocissus tricuspidata, Boston ivy, with grapevines. Although this plant is similar in appearance and bears small, bluish-black berries, it is not edible. Boston ivy is usually found in landscaped situations, clinging to brick buildings. Wild grapes are nearly always found in the wild, climbing trees.

http://fruit.cfans.umn.edu/wildfruit.htm

Unidentified Beetle

2009-08-30T06:20:00.000-07:00

Unidentified Beetle walking across a Book...

Staghorn Suma, Jack-in-the- Pulpit, Boneset

2009-08-30T06:13:00.000-07:00

Staghorn Sumac "Rhus tyhphina"

Jack-in-the-Pulpit "Arisaema triphylum"

Boneset "Eupatorium perfoliatum"

WALNUT "Juglans Nigra"

2009-08-30T06:06:00.000-07:00

Black walnut "Juglans Nigra"

A handsome tree when growing singly in the forest; large, height commonly 50' to 60' but often reaching 100' with a diameter of up to 36"; straight and clear of branches for half its height; when grown in the open, stem short, crown broad and spreading.

Bark
Thick and very dark brown; divided by rather deep fissures into round ridges.

Leaf
Alternate on stem, length 12" to 24", pinnately compound with 14 to 22 yellow-green, sharply pointed leaflets, tapered at the ends and toothed along the margins; smooth above, pale and hairy underneath; yellowish-green turning yellow in autumn.

Fruit (seed)
A large, round nut borne singly or in pairs and enclosed in a solid green husk that is not sticky and does not spread open even after the nut is ripe. The nut is black with a very hard, thick, finely ridged shell enclosing a rich, oily kernel that is edible and highly nutritious; matures in the fall.

Range--
Grows on rich bottom lands and moist, fertile hillsides in the southern part of the state; is easily propagated from nuts and grows rapidly in good soil; shade-intolerant.Wood &amp;amp;amp; uses
Rich chocolate-brown heartwood is of superior quality and
value; heavy, hard, strong, and comparatively free from
warping and checking; takes a high polish and is very
durable; highly prized for a great variety of uses such as
furniture, gunstocks, and airplane propellers; finest veneers
are made from burls and roots; small trees consist mostly of
sapwood that is light-colored and not durable. Roots produce
a natural herbicide that is toxic to many plants.

For more information...
Find out more...

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/trees_shrubs/deciduous/blackwalnut.html

2009-07-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

Nature's Wild Food Identification Excursion at the Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail

Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail Excursions

Summer 2009

Two Days- Saturday August 29th and Saturday Sept 19th, 2009

10:00AM to 11:30AM

With Cynthia Thomas

Cynthia Thomas is a practicing herbalist, educator, massage therapist and Doula serving the Twin Cities area. She has been working with medicinal herbs for 20 years. She has a BS in Herbal Sciences from Bastyr University. Cynthia served seven years on the Board of Directors for the North Country Herbalist Guild, a local non-profit providing education and resources for the ethical and sustainable use of medicinal plants.“I have been blessed with many teachers from diverse backgrounds, all of who have helped to instill a deep respect for nature and faith in our collective power to heal.”Cynthia Thomas

http://writersrisingup.blogspot.com/

http://prairiehomeliving.com

FREE EVENT

2009-03-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

Watch for our 2009 EFEIT Events
Coming Soon...

2008-06-30T15:46:00.000-07:00

Lettuce Leaves

Lettuce Family

Wild Salad Recipes

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden/eat/recipes/wildsalad.html

2008-06-30T15:40:00.000-07:00

Campione

"silene spp"

Last year we referred to this plant as soapwort.Soapwort does contain saponins.

In many plants saponins are anti-feedants. Saponins have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activity.

Saponins are used to form a lather in water that is a gentle but effective cleaner. A number of plants contain quite high concentrations of saponins and have been used as an alternative soap.

Noun Biochemistry- any of a group of amorphous glycosides of terpenes and steroids, occurring in many plants, characterized by an ability to form emulsions and to foam in aqueous solutions, and used as detergents.

http://www.pfaf.org/leaflets/soap.php

2008-06-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

Native Medicine Plant Discovery
Saturday, June 28th 10 to 12
Free Event

Cynthia Thomas is a practicing herbalist, educator, massage therapist and doula serving the Twin Cities area. She has been working with medicinal herbs for 20 years, and has a BS in Herbal Sciences from Bastyr University. Cynthia served seven years on the Board of Directors for the North Country Herbalist Guild, a local non-profit providing education and resources for the ethical and sustainable use of medicinal plants.

“I have been blessed with many teachers from diverse backgrounds, all of who have helped to instill a deep respect for nature and faith in our collective power to heal.”
Cynthia Thomas

2008-05-12T11:38:00.000-07:00

Come See The Minnesota Zoomobile

Saturday, June 21, 2008

10 to 11AM

Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area

Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail

18700 Flying Cloud Drive

1/6 mile past Lions Tap Restaurant

Free Event

2008-05-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

This sprouting plant is a "fiddlehead," which is a common name for ferns when they are first emerging; they will uncurl into tall ferns. This could be an ostrich fern.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddlehead

2008-05-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

black willow (salix nigra) in bloom

First Spring Outing

All Spring photos Sean Jergens

2008-05-04T22:58:00.001-07:00

Minnesota River Valley

2008-05-04T22:53:00.000-07:00

virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginiana)

2008-05-04T22:52:00.000-07:00

Marsh Marigold

2008-05-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

Discovery and Viewing the Minnesota River Valley

2008-05-04T22:40:00.000-07:00

2008-05-04T22:35:00.000-07:00

2008-05-04T22:31:00.000-07:00

trillium cernuum

Sean Jergens, Jason Price and sons

Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail

2007-10-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

Journaling and Hiking at the EFEIT with Katrina Vandenberg

October 6, 2007

2007-10-13T17:25:00.000-07:00

Musings on the cup plant during a writing workshop

THE CUP PLANT

All dried up today (October 6) yet still impressive in stature.

The utilitarian cup plant has a unique leaf arrangement which allows it to capture dew and rainwater. Captured water provides life for birds and insects. Water-the essence of life and this plant is the guardian! – What an important role in life!-it rather humbles me. We two legged forest dwellers spend our years searching for our lofty purpose in life when perhaps we need to look closer to home, to the day to day small tasks. This plant wastes no time it just accepts the important role it has been given. Is there a lesson in acceptance to be learned here? Perhaps in our acceptance of the small and daily we too will realize our importance and value.

Judith Custer, Eden Prairie

10-07

2007-09-10T11:27:00.001-07:00

October 6th, Saturday

2007- 9 to 12 Noon-

Wilderness Writing Workshop

Katrina Vandenberg, "Atlas," Milkweed Editions

Explore the relationship between writing that tells the truth and mindfully walking the physical world. This journaling workshop includes brief readings by contemporary poets who were inspired by the physical, especially nature and the body; and a series of exercises to be contemplated and written over the course of the morning. Bring a journal and favorite pen to the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area, 18700 Flying Cloud Drive, 1/2 past Lions Tap Restaurant.

To pre-register send $30.00/check to:Writers Rising Up, 16526 W. 78th St #163, E.P. MN 55346.

2007-09-10T11:18:00.000-07:00

Nature's Seed Mechanisms and Fruits

9-09-07

White Baneberry Fruits

Herbaceous perennial The Fruit: conspicuous white berries. The shinny white berries have dark spots; hence they are sometimes called Doll's Eyes. The name Bainberry refers to the fact that the berries are poisonous. Habitat: RTA Big Woods.

2007-09-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

Nature's Seed Mechanisms and Fruits

9-09-07

Jewelweed (touch-me-not)

2007-09-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

Nature's Seed Mechanisms and Fruits

9-09-97

Jewelweed Flowers and Seeds

(touch-me-not)

2007-09-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

Nature's Seed Mechanisms and Fruits 9-09-07

False Soloman Seal Fruit

2007-09-10T11:05:00.000-07:00

Nature's Seed Mechanisms and Fruits
9-10-07

Jack-in-the-Pulpit Fruit

2007-09-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

Nature's Seed Mechanism's and Fruits

Outdoor Discovery 9-09- 2007

Wild Grapes

2007-08-31T16:04:00.000-07:00

September 9th Sunday-

1 to 3PM

Nature’s Seed Mechanism: Fruits and Seeds-
How Does Nature Work?

Shirley Mah Kooyman

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Botanist and Adult Education Coordinator
Learn about types of fruits, dry and fleshy; seed dispersal methods; flower structure with MN Landscape Arboretum Botanist, Shirley Mah Kooyman. Event Sponsored by Writers Rising Up
FEE: $15.00 per person- Twenty Person MaxWHERE: Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area, Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive TrailADDRESS: 18700 Flying Cloud DriveEden Prairie, MN - 1/6 mile past Lions Tap RestaurantPRE-REGISTER- Send a check for $15.00 to Writers Rising Up16526 W. 78th St #163Eden Prairie, MN 55346Family entry fee is $15.00 per family.
Contact: writersrisingup@comcast.net

2007-08-31T15:46:00.000-07:00

October 6th, Saturday, 2007- 9 to 12 Noon-

Wilderness Writing Workshop

with Katrina Vandenberg, "Atlas," Milkweed Editions-$30.00 per person- Twenty Person Max. Rain or Shine. Explore the relationship between writing that tells the truth and mindfully walking the physical world. This journaling workshop includes brief readings by contemporary poets who were inspired by the physical, especially nature and the body; and a series of exercises to be contemplated and written over the course of the morning. Bring a journal and favorite pen to the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area, 18700 Flying Cloud Drive, 1/2 past Lions Tap Restaurant.To pre-register send checks to:Writers Rising Up, 16526 W. 78th St #163, E.P. MN 55346.

2007-08-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail Sponsors

Thankyou For Your Support

City of Eden Prairie

Eden Prairie Lions Club

Minnesota River

Sedge Meadow

Settlers Ridge

Metropolitan Airports Commission

Big Woods

Prairie

Eden Prairie Foundation

Oak Savanna

Bill Clark Family of Eden Prairie

Bottomland Forest

2007-08-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

Grand Opening Day
August 2, 2007
Thanks to Nancy Trya-Lukens, Jan Mosman, Kathie and Ron Case for all their support.

2007-07-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

Sedge Meadow Sign Placement

Stu Fox, Jay Lotthammer of the Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation Department and City Manager Scott Neal at the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area to site the Sedge Meadow Sign.

July 2007

Thank You Nancy and Ron

2007-07-16T04:38:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Fries Ellet Grand Opening

August 2, Thursday 6PM 2007

Nancy Tyra Lukens, Michelle Ma of the Star Tribune and Ron Case at the RTA on July 11th, 2007.

Our sincere thanks to Nancy and Ron for their support during the three year process to make the EFEIT trail a reality.

Today the former Mayor and council member got to see the actual trail signs installed on site for the first time. After seeing the sign images many times through the approval process, it was a welcome sight to see the real bugs crawling over picture images of themselves.

Thank you Nancy and Ron for all your support....

Mourning Cloak at RTA July 2007

2007-07-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

It's a Mourning Cloak, Nymphalis antiopa, which hibernates and is seen in the early spring.

Medium-large butterfly, brown-black on dorsal surface with wide yellow borders. A row of blue spots occurs adjacent to the yellow border.

The males, like those of many other butterfly species, exhibit "territoriality." When disturbed, the butterfly will fly away, returning in a minute or two to the same vicinity.

The common name of this species has been spelled in a variety of ways-- "Morning Cloak", "Mourning Cloak" and "Morningcloak". The approved standardized common name (established by the Entomological Society of America) is none of these, but rather "Mourningcloak".

2007-07-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

Photographer Todd Norquist taking a picture of

Bloodroot in April at our first event: Identifying/Cataloging and Photographing Plant Species of the RTA- Sean Jergens, MN Native Plant Society and Todd Norquist, Eden Prairie Photographer led the plant discovery excursion.

April 2007

2007-07-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

Photographer Todd Nordquist and amateur botanist Sean Jergens led a group of Eden Prairie residents on a walking tour of Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area, located on the bluff above the Minnesota River valley for the first of four programs in 2007. The event was sponsored by Writers Rising Up and the Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail. Todd and Sean identified the presence of spring ephemeral wildflowers, which bloom in the short time before leaves appear on trees and foliage blocks sunlight from the forest floor. Nordquist offered tips on photography along the way. The March cold spell slowed down the emergence of wildflowers this spring, but the group was able to enjoy discovery of several species in bloom. They identified hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), and wild ginger (Asarum canadensis) in full blooming splendor. The new foliage of ferns, called "fiddle heads," were just beginning to unfurl. In the prairie they found a patch of prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) just beginning to bloom. Everyone looked forward to returning to the site throughout the seasons to see what they might discover next. "It was a perfect way to spend a beautiful spring afternoon" said Jergens. "I discover a something new every time I come to the RTA. "

April 2007

Photo: Hepatica taken by Todd Norquist

Yago identifying a native herbal plant for Eden Prairie residents.

2007-07-05T11:08:00.001-07:00

Stu Fox , Doug Ernst of Eden Prairie Parks and Rec Department and Doug Vanvalkenberg of Kestrel Design spotting the sign locations.

2007-07-05T11:07:00.001-07:00

Identify this Butterfly sitting on the wooden bridge between the Bottomland Forest and the Sedge Meadow.

2007-07-05T11:05:00.001-07:00

Yago looking at some cup plants.

2007-07-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

EFEIT Interpretive Trail Grand Opening Set For August 2007

2007-07-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

The Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail Grand Opening Date is being set for August 1st or 2nd from 5 to 6PM.

The trail is located at the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area in Eden Prairie on HWY 212, 1/6 mile past Lions Tap Restaurant.

There will be a city dedication, trail excursion for all who attend.

Please watch for updates.

BIRDERS- Bring your binoculars and cameras.

Plant Specialists- Let us know the species you can identify.

The next two programs at the EFEIT can be found at http://www.writersrisingup.org/.