Wild Ones of the Door Peninsula

Sturgeon Bay, Wis. (August 21, 2023) – Wild Ones of the Door Peninsula is the local chapter of a national organization dedicated to  promoting  environmentally friendly, sound landscaping to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communities.  

In August, in collaboration with the Door County Master Gardeners and Crossroads at Big Creek, Wild Ones will offer three special programs.

To meet a Wild Ones objective of “raising  public awareness regarding the benefits that native plants  in a variety of settings, Board Member Don Gustafson and his wife Joy invite the community to visit their  gorgeous native garden on Saturday, August 26 at 2:00. 

Don and Joy will conduct the tour and answer questions about incorporating native plants into a home landscape. 

Monarch Tagging is a Wild Ones/Crossroads tradition. Each fall, Master Naturalist Karen Newbern, who is a Chapter Officer of Wild Ones, presents  a beautifully illustrated lecture about monarch butterflies, explaining the importance of native plants in the annual phenomenon of monarch migration. Following the program, participants of all ages will take nets into the Crossroads Preserve and tag the butterflies, adding to the body of knowledge about monarch navigation and survival adaptations. This year’s tagging starts at 2:00 on Sunday, August 27.

Finally, due to concern about a jumping worm infestation in Door County, The Door County Master Gardeners, Wild Ones, Crossroads, the Door County Climate Change Coalition, The Door County Invasive Species Team, with support from Door County Medical Center are sponsoring a Badger Talk: “Biology, Impact & Control of a New Soil Invader & Plans for Door County.

Speaker Brad Herrick holds a B.A. in Biology from Luther College and an M.S. in Ecosystems Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He is the ecologist and research program manager at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum and a PhD student in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies also at UW-Madison.

Since 2013, he has been researching the effects of jumping worms on plant and soil interactions in forests and residential gardens, susceptibility of habitats to invasion, and potential control mechanisms. 

He has given dozens of public talks about jumping worms and has been interviewed by various periodicals and news outlets such as, The Atlantic, NY Times, Science News, and Vox.

After Herrick’s presentation, Sam Koyen, Door County Invasive Species Team Leader, will discuss what is happening in Door County and Josh VanLieshout, Sturgeon Bay City Administrator, will discuss the City’s plan of action.

The lecture is free and open to the public, but advance seating reservations are requested. Those interested can register on the Events page of the Crossroads at Big Creek website.

Pollinator Garden Tour

Saturday, August 26, 2:00 PM

Wild Ones Board member Don Gustafson welcomes visitors to his AMAZING Native Pollinator Garden and shares his experiences and expertise when the garden is at it peak beauty. Not to be missed. Free to Wild Ones and to non-members.

Don and Joy live  at 4850 Bay Shore Drive. If coming from the South (Sturgeon Bay) it will be beyond  Burmingham’s Restaurant but before Quarry.  Turn right on Bay Shore Heights Rd, (left if coming from the North), then take the first left on Drive marked by Wild Ones Pollinator Garden Tour. Drive all the way up so others can park. 

Sunday, August 27

2:00 Monarch Tagging Day

Join Wild Ones and Master Gardeners for our annual Monarch Tagging Event.  Presenter Karen Newbern, a Master Gardener, Master Naturalist and Wild Ones Board member, will explain the monarch life cycle and migration. Then participants—young and old– can help to capture and tag butterflies at the Crossroads preserve. Instructions and equipment are provided. No reservations necessary. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

Thursday, August 31

6:30 Badger Talk: “Biology, Impact & Control of a New Soil Invader & Plans for Door County

Jumping worms have been found in at least three of Door County’s compost sites. Brad Herrick, Ecologist and Research Program Manager at the UW-Madison Arboretum, will discuss why it matters that jumping worms have arrived, the long-term ramifications of their arrival, and ways to mitigate their impact and spread. 

After Herrick’s presentation, Sam Koyen, Door County Invasive Species Team Leader, will discuss what is happening in Door County and Josh VanLieshout, Sturgeon Bay City Administrator, will discuss the City’s plan of action.

The lecture, held at Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan is free and open to the public, but advance seating reservations are requested. Those interested can register on the Events page of the Crossroads at Big Creek website.