celery pond

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources links to a report called “A Guide to Control and Management of Invasive Phragmites.”  A lengthy report of 45 pages, we hope to highlight some of the major points.  Phragmites may look like decorative tall grasses but they are aggressive, nonnative plants, common weeds, that are highly invasive to wetlands and coastal shorelines.

The MDNR has information on phragmites because they pose a threat to the ecological health of Michigan’s most valuable asset – her shorelines and wetlands connecting to that ecosystem.

The new header picture above shows phragmites – the feathery topped tall plants in the foreground.  Phragmites displace native plants.  The goal of the continuing blog reports will be to show how research gives effective methods of control.  Information is the first step to effective action.  The header of Celery Pond shows a small area of phragmites growth – we need to understand what that means and what to do.

As the sun glides in a southerly declination, it reaches its solstice point on December 22nd at 12:30am EST.  Once the longest night occurs, we will gradually move back towards longer daylight hours.  The Celery Pond Advocates anticipate a busy 2012 – installing Terry Thomas’ sculpture in Black River Park, hosting a short dedication ceremony and hoping to create a greater awareness of the wetland within our local schools and community.

To everyone reading this blog page – a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

  Sunrise from the Overlook  in early October:  A deer was standing in the park area and a skunk was prowling around.  Both dashed off into the woods when they spotted the photographer.  A big blue heron later flew over the Pond.

I wonder if it’s the same blue heron that circled around us a year ago when we were planting the Overlook.  How time flies!

Picture sent to us by Thomas Fouts.  Thank you Tom!

The City Council unanimously approved accepting the gift from Celery Pond Advocates of Terry Thomas’ bench, “Flight of the Eagle: The Dream Catcher.”  (see post and picture below).  We’re very happy to make this announcement.

The bench will be installed by the Parks Department next spring with dedication ceremony to follow.  Also included in this new space within Black River Park will be a new border garden to be planted this fall.  The beds are being donated by the Advocates with help from members and volunteers from the Master Gardeners.  Huntree Nursery has helped with the overall landscape design.  We thank everyone for their help.

On Tuesday, September 13th, the Parks Department Commissioners gave a unanimous vote to the suggested CPA gift of a sculptural bench to be added to Black River Park.  We expect it to come before City Council shortly.

Created by local artist Terry Thomas, the piece is called “Flight of the Eagle:  The Dream Catcher.”  With a central image of an eagle, the dream catcher net sits high above a double sided black bench.  The artwork is expected to be a great attraction in the Black River Park.

Other news: our CPA August fundraiser was very successful as we now have a healthy budget to begin plans for removing cattails in a private area of Celery Pond, starting next summer.  More info to follow.

The annual CPA fundraiser – “New Perspectives for Celery Pond and Environs” – will be held Saturday, August 20th at Arthur Frederick and Mark VanderLeek’s Country Place in Ganges from 6-8pm. Please plan to join us for a fun-filled and informational evening.

The event is raising money to apply to a two year program coordinated by CPA to curb the cattail growth in the wetland.  An environmental specialist will be discussing details of the project and opportunities afforded by more open water space.

Tickets with directions (priced at $40) are on-sale at Wolverine Hardware (530 Huron) and Renaissance (507 Phoenix) Street.  Tickets will also be on sale at the door.  From South Haven, we suggest that you head north on Blue Star Highway, passing through Glenn and on towards Ganges.  Turn right in Ganges at 122nd Ave (East) and travel for about 2 miles.  Turn left at Sheffield Lane, just before 64th Street.

Last night the City Council voted to approve seeking monies for a Fisheries Grant to improve and redefine the new Linear Park area off Dunkley Avenue.  Brian Dissette, City Manager, explained that the estimated budget, $363,106.75, would be proposed with a 10% or $35,000 matching by the City.  Both Abonmarche and JF New were involved with the City, along with input from the various groups – the Steelheaders, Harbors Commission, Parks Commission, Celery Pond Advocates – to name a few, and all were in accord.  At last.  It was an epic moment in the wetland history to see the unanimous vote come in without an ounce of hindrance.

A few years ago it was a different perspective and reaction.   This shift of community spirit was wonderful to see.  The former attempt proposed a 100% funded project with a rigid steel embankment and bridge which would have joined to the other linear park area installed by the Steelheaders years ago when seeking Fisheries monies.

The new plan allows for fishermen, kayakers, bikers and naturalists to enjoy the public lands.  Also these monies help in seeking grants for the Celery Pond Creek improvement which will be newly landscaped with a water garden, of great beauty and educational value.  Bravo to this green vision.  This plan, along with the proposed new bike trail, will put Celery Pond’s wetland and floodplain lands in the laps of many visitors who don’t really know where this area is located.

We anticipate great new experiences will be had in the future by everyone in the community, the many tourists, the many second home owners and their guests who so love South Haven.

Why not pack a picnic and enjoy the new gardens, picnic table and bench in the Prospect Street Overlook?  The prairie and the herbal gardens look beautiful.  The quiet space and the breezes coming off the wetland are really something to experience.

To All CPA supporters, please mark your calendar for our 2011 fundraiser to be held from 6-8pm on Saturday, August 20th.  More details to follow.  We plan a wondrous event and hope you’ll save the date.

The members meeting in June was well attended and discussion was lively.  We’re working with the City in hopes of locating the sculpture placement in Black River Park.  Final details are being gathered before it appears to Council.  Once approved, the members will be working on a landscape plan, similar to our Prospect Overlook Project, including picnic table, bench and signage, along with bushes and other plantings.

The new sign was placed in at the wetland overlook.  With all the rain, the plantings are doing well – the herb garden is abundant and the prairie flower beds and butterfly bushes are thriving.  Several groups have gone over to weed the area.  If you want to volunteer, contact us at 646-675-1926.

Summer is almost here and CPA plans to have a busy one.

If you’re a member, please note that we have our annual meeting this year on Thursday, June 23rd starting at 5pm.  Rather than meeting at the library, Sandra Tyrrell has invited us to use her lovely home – located at 7163 Baseline Road.

We look forward to seeing everyone.

If you’d like to join us, you can become a member too.  Simply go to our website (www.celerypondadvocates.org), dowload/fill out an Application Form and mail it into us.  Join us and participate in planning new projects and the next fundraiser, slated for August!

Any questions on directions to Sandra’s house, email the blog and we’ll get back to you.