Saturday, October 24, 2009

17th Annual Membership Meeting

The Annual Membership Meeting of the Grosse Ile Nature & Land Conservancy will be Saturday November 7th at 10AM at Centennial Farm.

All members are invited to join us for a continental breakfast to learn firsthand about the organization's activities over the last year. The Conservationist of the Year Award will be announced at this time. Take this opportunity to meet with members of the board to discuss past and future projects.

This year we are delighted to have Conservancy members Tracey and Roger Gaudette of Island Gold join us for the meeting. They will discuss their beekeeping activities on Grosse Ile, honey production and the decline of the honeybees.

Meeting Agenda:
10:15 – Welcome & Introductions (Liz Hugel / President)
10:20 - State of the Conservancy and Awards (Hugel)
10:35 - Election of Board of Directors (Pat Selby / Nominations Chair)
10:45 - Guest Presentation (Gaudette / Island Gold)
11:15 - Committee Reports & Informal Discussions (All)

Non-members are also welcome to attend this meeting, learn more about the Conservancy and sign up for membership.

We look forward to seeing you there!


It's almost time to start planning for next year's events. We hosted birds of prey in 2008, reptiles and butterflies in 2009, so what'll we do for 2010??? No matter what, we will again sponsor another Nature & Wildlife Photo Contest. So if you're in high school or middle school, I hope you've been taking pictures this summer and fall. Click here to see the 2009 winners.

Monday, June 15, 2009



Thanks to our wonderful volunteers we managed to plant ~ 45 viburnum, elderberry, wiegelia, butterfly and arbor vitae bushes, ~ 10 oak & blue spruce trees and a few flats of joe pye weed and ironweed at Intrepid Pond last Saturday.








It was a tough job digging the holes, since the ground was dry and hard as rock. Nevertheless, our volunteers persevered and managed to get the job done by about 1pm.

As we finished mulching and spreading wood chips a number of killdeer birds arrived at the pond and screeched at us to hurry up and be gone. A 10-inch bullfrog jumped around the inlet pipe and grumbled (at us or the birds?).

Although a few of us had some sore muscles & blisters afterwards, the aches will be forgotten as we enjoy a healthier pond, the vegetation and some shade there in future years.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Earth Day Celebration on Grosse Ile is this Sunday April 26th

We're hoping for sunshine this coming Sunday when we host our annual Earth Day Celebration. It'll be at Centennial Farm , 25795 Third Street on Grosse Ile, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Even though you may celebrate Earth Day every day, this Sunday will be special. Come join us for an exciting program!

This year we will kick start the event with a R.E.P.T.I.L.E. presentation by Michael Brophy. If you're an adult and comfortable with the idea, you'll have an opportunity to volunteer to assist with holding these creatures. For the rest of you, those who might be a little squeamish about snakes and lizards, or let's say for those whose preference in nature's beauty leans to the fluttering instead of the slithering - we'll also have an exhibit on BUTTERFLIES available all afternoon. Jed Bromefield, the "Butterfly Man", will have lots of specimens from the different life stages, some living, to capture your attention and interest.

As in years past, we'll have guided nature walks in the Centennial Farm Woods, a number of displays and games with prizes for the kids. Our "Re-Use" Table this year will be a toy exchange. Children should bring a gently used, clean toy that they can exchange for another.

Also new this year will be our first Nature & Wildlife Photo Contest for Middle & High School students. We'll have a judge pick a "Best in Show" winner and perhaps a few Honorable Mentions if the turnout and quality is high enough. Hopefully we'll have a nice display of entries and you'll be able to take a few minutes from 1 -3 pm to vote for the "People's Choice" award winner. Click here for the entry form and instructions