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Happening
at the Crossroads
November 24,
2008
by Coggin
Heeringa
Each
Thanksgiving, we at Crossroads at Big Creek “raise the song of harvest
home.” We are thankful indeed to our donors and volunteers, but
usually, our interest in harvest homes stems from questions about red
squirrels.
This year, the question came from a participant in
the Wisconsin Naturalist Program. This training (which resembles the
Master Gardener program, only for naturalists) was organized by the
staff of The Ridges Sanctuary. During the last several months, training
sessions have been held at Crossroads. In exploring her study site, one
naturalist was surprised to find mushrooms hanging in an evergreen tree
on her beach.
Clearly, these mushrooms did not grow on trees. We
suspect red squirrels. For these frenetic creatures, fall is the time
of gathering in, “ere the winter storms begin.”
Red squirrels
harvest spruce and cedar cones to hide in huge heaps called middens.
But, even for agile little rodents, harvesting cones from the tips of
conifer trees is a bit risky. So red squirrels nip twigs. Surrounding
most evergreen trees, are green wreaths of twigs - handiwork of
squirrels (or porcupines - they nip twigs too.) If the cones are still
green, the squirrels line them up in the sunshine to dry.
Red
squirrels also dry mushrooms. The squirrels gather mushrooms, some of
which would be poisonous to humans. They very carefully dehydrate these
delicacies before storing them. Mushrooms dry well when squirrels hang
them in trees.
On Saturday, November 29, at 11:00 AM, we invite
thankful people to come on a Family Hike. Participants will explore the
forests where red squirrels make their harvest homes. The red squirrels
may even make an appearance.
Crossroads
at Big Creek is a donor supported learning center located at 2041
Michigan Street (County Highway TT) is Sturgeon Bay . Trails are open,
free and safe—even during hunting season. Pets (on leash and under
control) are permitted.
Saturday, November 29, 11:00 am
Family Hike to Harvest Homes
Families
(and individuals) are invited to join the naturalist in exploring
habitats which support red squirrels. Meet at the Collins Learning
Center .
Sunday, Nov. 30, 2:00 pm
Journey to Jordan 2008 presentation by Kelsey Larsen
This
is an informative presentation Kelsey's summer in the Middle East,
which was made possible through the State Department’s Journey to
Jordan program for high school students studying Arabic. She will
address a wide range of topics, including current issues, specifics of
Jordanian life, and describe here personal experiences with a
fascinating culture that is unknown to many Americans. Free Lecture
Hall of the Collins Learning Center.
Monday, December 1, 6:30 pm
Deck the Hall Party
Visitors
are invited to join the Friends of Crossroads as they prepare the
Collins Learning Center for the holidays. Bring as holiday snack to
pass and a festive mood. Meet at Crossroads at Big Creek.
Tuesday, December 2, 7:00 pm
Meeting of the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society
Visitors
are invited to the December meeting of the Door Peninsula Astronomical
Society.The feature program "Comets" will be presented by society
president John J. Beck M.D. Refreshments will be served. Meet at the
Stonecipher Astronomy Center (use Utah Street Entrance to Crossroads.
Many of
the Past News articles may be retrieved from this directory,
indexed and named in the following manner: 080101-news.htm
where
the first two numbers are the year, the second two the month and the
last two the date.
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