Bur Oak Land Trust Environmental Journal

MAY 2018

bur oak land trust protects and conserves the natural areas of Johnson

and surrounding counties for future generations.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ken Lowder President Chris Jensen, Vice-President Steve Schomberg, Secretary Carter Johnson, Treasurer Mary Sue Bowers David Bright Rose Danaher Ben Dillon Sarah Else Don Hodson Neil Joss Sandy Steil Shaun Vecera Larry Weber Seth Zimmermann

To make a contribution, sign up for volunteer

work, or find out more about us, contact BUR OAK LAND TRUST 5 Sturgis Corner Drive, Suite 1250,

Iowa City IA 52246 P.O. Box 2523, Iowa City IA 52244-2523 Phone: 319/338-7030 E-mail: info@buroaklandtrust.org Website: www.buroaklandtrust.org Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @BurOakLT!

by Carter Johnson THE GEESE ON THE POND are my alarm clock.

Their spirited cacophony can be a rude transi-

tion to wakefulness, but it is also a reminder of

those broader cycles in nature. Days are

lengthening and temperatures are rising. It’s

also a time of change. As it is in nature, so it goes with Bur Oak Land

Trust. On March 1st, nearly coincident with the

arrival of the geese, we hosted our 35th annual Prairie Preview, highlighted by

a captivating presentation by photographer Mark Hirsch. As usual, the event

was a chance to catch up with conservation friends and to unofficially ring in

spring. Furthermore, that first day in March marked 40 years since the founding

of our organization. Year-in and year-out our core mission has persisted as the Trust has changed

and grown. Moving from an all-volunteer organization to one with dedicated

staff, the Trust now protects 11 natural areas – over 370 acres in active man-

agement, and holds 13 conservation easements – totaling 336 acres, protected

privately in perpetuity. With consideration to its commitments in perpetuity,

the Trust recently undertook a rigorous re-accreditation process by the Land

Trust Accreditation Commission, a reflection of our ongoing commitment to

high standards for land conservation, stewardship, and nonprofit management.

So here we are rooted in our mission and prepared for change. This column marks a change for me. It is my last as Bur Oak Land Trust Board

President, and it has been a privilege to serve. I welcome Ken Lowder, who has

a passion for stewardship of our natural areas, as the new Board President. As a

tireless volunteer, Ken quite literally brings a “from the ground up” understand-

ing and care to the office. As always, I hope to see you out on the land.

by Ken Lowder IT'S SUCH AN EXCITING TIME to be involved

with Bur Oak Land Trust, and I'm thrilled to be

serving as Board President this year. Our organ-

ization recently executed and completed a

Capital Campaign for the purchase of the Big

Grove Addition, which doubles the protected

land at Big Grove Preserve from 40 to 80 acres.

Volunteer involvement has increased, which

directly affects the ongoing stewardship of the

land, and I'm also appreciative of our hard-working, professional staff. We also submitted our application for

re-accreditation this spring, which is an important step in maintaining sound

finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship. If

you are interested in becoming more active in support of the Trust's conserva-

tion efforts, please contact Executive Director Tammy Wright. We have many

options available, from serving on different committees (anyone interested in

helping to plan our Cider Moon event?) to office volunteering, to volunteering

on the land. I look forward to hearing from you, and stay tuned - there's more

exciting news to come.

As we celebrate 40 years of conservation, we are grateful for

so many things as we continue to

strive to move our Bur Oak Land

Trust mission forward – our dedi-

cated board of directors, staff, and many volunteers! It’s been a

busy spring with many things to report, a successful audit, a new

Strategic Plan, and submission of our re-accreditation applica-

tion, to name a few. Thank you to all who participated in our

recent Prairie Preview XXXV and made it a success. We look

forward to Spring Family Day at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve

May 20, featuring live raptors and so much more; Music on the

Prairie is scheduled for July 7; Fall Family Day September 16; and

Bur Oak Land Trust’s 12th Annual “Under a Cider Moon . . . a

Celebration of Autumn” fundraiser is Saturday, October 6. We are excited that the endangered rusty patched bumble

bee (see front cover) has been discovered at Bur Oak Land

Trust’s 107-acre Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. This has led to a

great partnership with the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service to protect

and enhance habitat in support of this important little pollinator. As you read through this environmental journal, please take

time to note the MANY supporters listed in the pages ahead.

Know someone who also shares our mission’s passion and

should be on the list? Please share a copy with them or let us

know who to reach out to. There are many ways you can assist Bur Oak Land Trust. Yes,

writing checks is one way; however, there are many other things

you can do. Donate your used ink cartridges, take your items to

Stuff, Etc., (credit them to Bur Oak Land Trust’s account), shop

Amazon Smile and name the trust as your non-profit, and, of

course, volunteer your time, talent, and treasure.

Property Steward’s Report by Seth Somerville Protecting An Endangered species: In October of 2016 Kristin Lee posted a picture of

her close encounter with a queen

rusty patched bumble bee at

Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, which we shared on social media.

Casey Kohrt, a volunteer property steward, sent me an email in

March 2017, pointing out the identification of a queen rusty

patched bumble bee, stating recently that it was added to the

federally endangered species list by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife. At

this point our full attention moved toward improving the habitat

at Turkey Creek specifically for the rusty patched bumble bee,

but we knew we couldn’t do it without a team effort from

experts, partners, and dedicated volunteers. One of the first people we heard from soon after was Andrew

Diallesandro, a Private Lands Biologist with U.S. Fish & Wildlife

Service interested in helping us support the existing rusty

patched bumble bee population at Turkey Creek. Soon after

that, we were fortunate to partner with Integrated DNA Tech-

nologies (IDT) to remove invasive species in and around our two

prairies on the west side of Turkey Creek. IDT’s work with Bur

Oak Land Trust also allowed us to match funds for a forbs

enhancement mix. In December Ken Lowder, Seth Zimmerman, Jacob Hillyer, Ian

Perkins, and I conducted a controlled burn on the southern

prairie at Turkey Creek. It was an impressive sight, and I recom-

mend checking out the videos of this burn on social media when

you get a moment. As chance would have it, Andrew

Diallesandro happened to be on the interstate heading back to

Illinois and said he saw the huge smoke plume and knew it just

had to be Bur Oak Land Trust’s Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. Now that the burn was completed, we were able to seed on

the freshly burned prairie. The mix contained New England aster

(Aster novae-angliae), smooth blue aster (Aster laevis), foxglove

beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), stiff goldenrod (Solidago

rigida), golden alexanders (Zizia aurea), and Ohio spiderwort

(Tradescantia ohiensis). In January we completed the frost seed-

ing. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service brought their ATV and a 50-gallon tub of cedar sawdust. Bur Oak Land Trust’s winter intern,

Amy Pajack, and I used our ATV to weave the seed throughout

the prairie. 2018 is sure to be another year of partnerships and hard work

at Turkey Creek. Bur Oak Land Trust will continue to improve the

habitat for the rusty patched bumble bee. I would like to

sincerely thank all of the volunteers and partners who chose to

support Bur Oak Land Trust and this endangered species through

service in 2017. Please check our website for more volunteer

opportunities and other ways to get involved in 2018.

Facing page: Cropped blue dasher, photo by Carl Kurtz. Front

cover: Endangered rusty patched bumble bee, photo by Rich

Hatfield, Xerces Society. Back cover: Common gray tree frog,

photo by Jim Kessler. Above: Great blue lobelia and bumble bee

photo by Dana Keeton.

Our 40-acre Big Grove

recently doubled to 80

acres, thanks to generous

contributions to “Conserve.

Protect. Grow. The Cam-

paign to Save the Grove.”

Don Bolin and I, as volun-

teer property stewards,

started working to clear out

the non-native plants to the

standards of the original Big

Grove parcel. As we evaluat-

ed a section we referred to

as the pasture, we

were frankly intimidated.

This pasture occupies the

far southeast corner of the addition, and it was originally fenced

off because of an agreement with the former owner to allow

cattle grazing. The name “pasture” is misleading as a pasture

suggests an open grazing area. This pasture was nothing of the

sort. The sheer volume of invasive plants was so large that it was

impossible to walk through most of the area. We found ten to

fifteen foot high multiflora rose, many honey locust trees – with

large thorns, fully capable of running through our work boots –

and huge autumn olive shrubs that we would need chainsaws to

cut down. So Don and I agreed to postpone any effort to restore

the pasture as we worked on the rest of the addition. But as it happened, our work on the rest of the addition pro-

gressed much faster than we’d predicted, and we were able to

start work on the pasture in July of 2017. Working steadily

through the summer, property stewards managed to clear virtu-

ally the entire area. It was a massive effort. Don and I had lots of

help from volunteers Adriane Moline, Chris Jensen, and Ezra

Edgington. Our work created huge quantities of cut brush strewn

all over the pasture. We had two major volunteer events to

gather the brush and haul it into several large piles. At one vol-

unteer event, we had over fifty people show up to help! We are

very grateful to Surly Brewing Company and Big Grove Brewery

for their help in these volunteer efforts. Since we didn’t want to burn the brush piles for fear of steriliz-

ing the soil, we were able to rent a forestry mower – with the

help of generous donors – to deal with the brush piles. When

Don and I first witnessed the forestry mower in action, we were

in awe. It literally chewed through standing trees and made

short work of almost any woody plant.

As we cleared the pasture, we starting rethinking the idea of

replanting trees because we had created a large open area.

There were already seventy-six acres of forest at Big Grove, so

we are considering the possibility of restoring an oak savanna

habitat. Oak savannas of the Midwestern United States once

formed a transition zone between the arid Great Plains to the

west and the moist broadleaf and mixed forests to the east. A

savanna is basically a grassland with occasional trees, and in the

northern range the dominant tree was the bur oak. Oak savanna

habitat was largely destroyed post settlement since trees were

harvested for building material and the grasslands were convert-

ed to agriculture. Thus, original oak savanna habitat is now un-

common. We identified several plants and trees in the area as

possible savanna species and the current plan is to continue

removal of invasive plants as they reappear and to monitor the

pasture to see what species begin to come back. Along with the

invasive removal, we have a fall burn planned this year. Contrary to our initial expectations, we have created a unique

area at Big Grove. We imagine a possible fu-

ture savanna with occasional massive bur

oaks. On a high overlook there, we envision a

bench for future generations to pause, re-

flect, and appreciate a piece of habitat that is

now quite rare. Ken Lowder is a retired audi-

ologist now serving as Bur Oak Land Trust

board president. He’s an avid birder and Big

Grove Preserve volunteer property steward.

Clockwise from top: Don Bolin in the Big

Grove Addition pasture, photo by Seth

Somerville. Forestry mower with brush.

Cleared Big Grove Addition pasture.

Photos by Ken Lowder.

Living in Splendor by Stefanie Navarette Living in a scenic state like

Iowa where there is green as

far as the eye can see, it’s easy

to forget that this is not the

whole world’s vista. Growing up

among the pollution of Mexico

City, I found it a pleasant cul-

ture shock to see that Iowa is a

vastly different landscape, like

something out of a nature

documentary. It’s abundant in

trees, wildlife, rivers, and blue skies, in contrast with the con-

crete, grey air, and small, rare oases of yellow-green grass

tucked behind cramped neighborhoods of an overpopulated

city. Iowans live with the splendor of nature literally in their back-

yards. There are parks, nature preserves, forests, and resorts

that can be visited, but if you want to take in the brilliant beauty

of earth, most Iowans only have to step outside, take a deep

breath, and look around. Until moving here, neither my mom

nor I had this experience. In order to take a good, clean breath

and see lush natural landscapes, we had to travel outside of the

city, to places largely untouched by civilization. It’s been decades since we first stepped foot on Iowan soil,

and we would not have our lives any other way. My sister and

brother have had the luck of knowing only this life, to have

grown up among the overabundant trees, to have always had

creeks and ponds and trails to play in. Having nature at her

fingertips instilled a great interest in the outdoors and wildlife in

my sister since she was a toddler, which we indulged with trips

to parks, lakes, zoos, and museums. These experiences satisfied

her interests, but as she grew into a teenager the same excur-

sions lost their novelty. We needed something new, but we

didn’t know where to turn. We became aware of Bur Oak Land Trust and its mission

through my workplace. After a volunteer event at Pappy Dickens

in the fall of 2016, I was smitten with the work and all but

rushed home to share my experience. Mom signed up for the

newsletter, and my sister asked me to show her the location,

excited by the pictures and descriptions I brought back. The

three of us signed up for a volunteer workday at the first availa-

ble opportunity, which turned out to again be at Pappy Dickens.

My sister was in love with the preserve. Mom was in awe of the

visible difference a handful of volunteers made in just one after-

noon. I was happy that we spent a nice day together, tending to

the same earth we’ve been admiring all our lives. We went

home that day with sore legs and full hearts, knowing that we

had found what we were looking for. Since then we have volunteered as often as our lives – and

the weather – permit. We have seen Big Grove Preserve, and

O’Mara-Newport, Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, and Belgum

Grove – each property more striking than we imagined. It has

been incredibly heartening to see the enthusiasm and hard

work that Seth and volunteers put into nurturing and conserving

these properties, and we are thrilled to have the continued

opportunity to contribute to their efforts. Stefanie Navarrete

works at UNFI and chairs their Helping Hands Committee. In her

spare time, she and her family enjoy walks in the park and

creative drawing, instrument playing, and writing.

From left to right: Stefanie, sister Manaar, and mother Ana. Photo taken by Stefanie.

Garlic Mustard Most (Un)Wanted Seriously threatens Iowa’s woodlands Dominates woodland understory within a few years Kills native plant species: ferns, flowers, tree seedlings Stop the spread cold: scrub boots and equipment

Dead or Alive: pull it and bag it alive, or kill it with well-timed fire or chemical

*Keep a look out: monitor sites up to five years*

May 15—June 15: Support Bur Oak Land Trust while shopping at Forever Green Garden Center!

Bur Oak Land Trust receives 10% of your Forever Green cash & carry retail purchases in the garden center when you

mention Bur Oak Land Trust. Consignment furniture and landscape/maintenance services

excluded.

Gifts In Lieu of Flowers

As we take time to remember this Memorial Day . . . Making a

tribute or memorial donation to Bur Oak Land Trust in honor of

a loved one is a lasting way to celebrate how much a person’s

life means to the donor. Donating in lieu of flowers celebrates a

loved one’s life by supporting the outreach of Bur Oak Land

Trust’s mission and values. When you make a donation in lieu of flowers to Bur Oak Land

Trust, the person or family you are honoring will receive an

acknowledgment from Bur Oak Land Trust informing them of

your gift. Tribute and memorial gifts in any amount can be made

to celebrate achievements or remember ones who have passed. Please consider making a tribute or memorial gift today!

5th Annual Music on the Prairie please join us at Belgum Grove

on Saturday, July 7, for our

annual benefit concert, this

year featuring Banjoy and Slow

Draws. Gates open at 4:00 for

guided tours and hayrides,

music starts at 5:30. Bring a lawn chair and a picnic

or buy Italian from Baroncini’s Ristorante. See you

on the prairie July 7!

by Charlotte Fairlie You may have often driven past Strub Prairie without even noticing it.

Indeed, at just over an acre, it is Bur Oak Land Trust’s smallest property. As

one of Johnson County’s native prairie rem-

nants, however, Strub is a jewel hidden in

plain sight. At one time, Strub Prairie was known

locally as “Propane Prairie” because Bud

Strub, who enabled the Trust to acquire the

property, ran his propane storage business

there. Ironically, the existence of propane

tanks protected the land from cultivation,

allowing native plants to flourish. A 2005 inventory of plants observed at Strub lists 117 species, ranging from

the familiar, such as joe pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum), Ohio spiderwort

(Tradescantia ohiensis), and prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) to those

perhaps less well known, such as boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), hoary

vervain (Verbena stricta), and golden alexander (Zizia aurea). Plant diversity of

this breadth, of course, is essential for a wide variety of insects, birds, and

other fauna. Not all the plants found at Strub are desirable though. The large eastern

cottonwood (Populus deltoides), for example, is not a prairie tree. More suited

to riparian or riverside habitat, it draws moisture away from the prairie plants

so is under consideration for removal. Crown vetch (Coronilla varia), which has

often been planted along roadsides and on banks to prevent erosion, has

established worrisome large patches. It is a stubborn invasive that will choke

out all the competition. Another aggressive roadside plant, wild parsnip

(Pastinaca sativa), has emerged as a much greater threat in the last two years,

especially since utility work disturbed the ground along the road. While Strub demands less maintenance than larger wooded properties,

much needs to be done. An infusion of knowledge in the person of new co-property steward, Joan Schnabel, who has years of experience in prairie care,

will energize us, and we hope to update the plant inventory. A rejuvenating

spring burn is also planned. Controlling invasives will be a struggle, but

scything around the commemorative rock will bring peaceful pleasure. The next time you drive out of Solon on Highway 382, take a right on Polk

and pull over. To your left will be a large cultivated field. To your right will be

tiny Strub Prairie, in winter a textural stretch of various shades of brown, seed-heads nodding, sparkling with frost, or sculptural in the snow; in summer and

early fall, a vibrant oasis of bloom. Perhaps an eastern meadowlark will be

singing from a powerline or a kestrel hovering above. Take a moment, also, to listen: to your left, you may hear the breeze

through the corn or perhaps nothing at all, but to your right, bees will be

buzzing, birds calling, and plants rustling, an audio contrast evoking the title of

Rachel Carson’s seminal work, Silent Spring. That hum of life is why even small

pockets of natural habitat, like Strub Prairie, are worth preserving. Recently

retired to Iowa City, Charlotte Fairlie taught English at Wilmington College in

Ohio. Among her favorite classes was “Literature of the Environment and Rural

Life.” She volunteers as a property steward for Strub Prairie.

Family Day at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve Connect with nature at Turkey Creek on Sunday,

May 20 from 1:00—3:00! Enjoy outdoor activities for kids of all ages. Outdoor environmental

educators will be on hand. Refreshments provided.

12th Annual “Under a Cider

Moon...a Celebration of Autumn” Support local conservation efforts!

Live and silent auction

items, hors d’oeuvres,

local wine and beer at

the Celebration Barn,

October 6. Doors open

at 5:30. Sponsorship(s)

and table sponsorship available.

A special thanks goes out to Holly Carver and Sara Sauers For their hard work and vision in developing our beautiful and informative Heritage issues for many years!

Groundnut by Mark Müller

Photo by Charlotte Fairlie

Mary Kroninger

Barbara Beaumont and Kurt Hamann Community Foundation of Johnson

County Dick Ferguson ITC Holdings Corp Steven and Janie Schomberg

Holly Carver and Lain Adkins James and Helen Crosheck Thomas Hosmanek Chris and Sheral Jensen Jeff Klahn and Elisabeth Swain Steve and Karen Laughlin Ed and Ann Lorson Nancy Lynch MidWestOne Bank Chris and Dina Mottinger Connie and Robert Mutel River Products Company George and Alliene Schrimper Kristin Summerwill United Natural Foods, Inc John and Jean VanRybroek

Katherine Belgum Donald and Liz Bolin Michael Chibnik David and Sally Dierks Jason and Suzanne Dumont Mike Feiss and Cathy Cole Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation

Services Tom and Becky Gelman Mark Graber and Hetty Hall Pat Grady Chuck and Anne Hesse Richard and Janice Horak Kenneth and Janis Hubel Hudson's Southside Tap Iowa Master Naturalists Lois James Carter Johnson and Jody McKee Monty Kehl and Craig Wilbanks Jim and Kathy Kessler Casey Kohrt and Christopher Munoz John and Patricia Koza Land Trust Alliance Jean Lloyd-Jones

Mary and Ken Lowder Kathy and Chia-Hsing Lu Lucky's Market Gary and Sharon Lust Alison and Eric Lynch Ryan and Elizabeth Maas Mark and Judy Madsen Jane McCune and Bob Wachal Bill and Judy Nauseef Thomas Novak Art and Ginger Nowak Martha and Russell Noyes Pagliai Pizza, LLC Wayne and Linda Petersen Jim and Beth Peterson Bryce and Rosemary Plapp Rockwell Collins Foundation Hutha Sayre Richard Schwab and Katherine Burford Grace Seiberling Jeffrey and Louise Smith State Of Iowa, Iowa Living Roadway

Trust Fund Mark and Mary Ellen Stinski

Foundation Taproot Nature Experience Theisen's Home, Farm, Auto Shaun Vecera and Maureen Marron Miechelle and Larry Weber

A. W. Welt Ambrisco Insurance, Inc. Craig and Chris Albrecht B & H Builders Diane Baumbach Dan and Minette Black Daniel and Terri Caplan Thomas Casavant Steve Hendrix and Karen Copp David Curry and Donna Friedman Environmental Advocates Carl and Saturnina Fagenbaum Nancy Fisher and Warren Williams Great Western Bank

Tom Gross and Linda Lee Grout Electric LLC Virginia Hadley Hall James Hayes Cole Hill Hills Bank and Trust Company Iowa City Downtown District Iowa Native Plant Society Iowa's Best Choice Buick GMC Dealers,

Inc. Joe and Pat McGee Riley Lewers and Cora Bern-Klug Don Merryman MidAmerican Energy Mottinger Real Estate Group Alan and Kristin Nagel Neumann Monson Architects Gregg Oden and Lola Lopes Gary and Nancy Pacha Armond and Polly Pagliai Project GREEN James and Jean Sandrock Cynthia and Frank Schmidt Shive-Hattery Inc. Ken and Marybeth Slonneger Susan and Steven Spears Virginia Stamler Alan and Elizabeth Swanson University Of Iowa Community Credit

Union Chris Van Auken and Deb Pullin-Van

Auken Paul Weller and Sara Rynes-Weller Wells Fargo Foundation Mary Woolsey and Mark Peterson Tammy and Bruce Wright Jim and Lu Yanecek Gerald Zimmermann and Carolyn

Brown

Amperage Marketing and Fundraising Bill and Linda Bywater Kristin and Cary Beatty Terry Boles Paula Brandt Mary Brown and Thomas Shepard David and Norma Carlson City of Coralville Bryan and Virginia Clemons Frank and Peggy Cummings Lon and Barbara Drake Sarah and Jack Else Bruce and Evelyn Endris Ray and Jennifer Fagenbaum

Charlotte Fairlie and Edward Agran Fiddlehead Gardens LLC Jeffery Ford and Lynette Marshall Forever Green, Inc. Friends Of Hickory Hill Park Gary Gaeth John Bruce Gardner Helen Goldstein HBK Engineering LLC Rev. Donald and Kathryn Hodson Elizabeth and Mike Hooley Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Michael and Teresa Kelly William and Judith Klink John and Claudia Knutson Knutson Construction Services Pete Kollasch and Patricia Knox Donald and Barbara MacDonald Yvonne McCabe Linda McGuire and Anne Burnside John Menninger Cheryl Miller Carrie Z Norton Osenbaugh's Prairie Seed Farm Robert and Sherrie Panther Julie Phye and Laurie Smith Scheels Mel Schlachter Short's Burgers Eastside Charles Stanier and Heather Widmayer Dorota Staniewska Jeanne Stoakes John and Elizabeth Stratton Veenstra & Kimm Engineering Dan and Sue Vogeler Trina and Ted Weiland Western Fraternal Life Assoc. Sue Zaleski Seth and Wendy Zimmermann Gail and Frank Zlatnik Robert and Claire Ashman Baroncini Ristorante Linda Bergquist Terry and Susan Brennan Paula Boback and Katherine Imborek Dan Bontrager

we are immensely grateful to the following individuals and organizations who gave to Bur Oak Land Trust in 2017. Due to your generosity, we can continue to protect the land we love and share.

William and Florence Boos Peg Bouska Marc and Marilyn Brown Richard and Ann Burton Robin Butler and Janelle Rettig Jeanne Cadoret Mike Carberry Joyce Carman Jennifer Carns Casey's General Stores Dustin and Meredith Chase David and Ruth Christ Robert and Cheryl Cilek Katherine Clifton Chuck Connerly and Martha

Crawford George and Eugenia Crosheck Robert Decker and Carrie Hough Gerald and Janice Denehy Charles and Carol deProsse Devotay Willa Dickens Kelley and Jean Donham Carolyn Dyer E & E Restaurant LLC/ Sushi Popo El Cactus Authentic Mexican Cuisine Carole Eldeen Sandra Eskin Harvey and Darla Fagenbaum Donna Farley Wayne Fields and Joni Kinsey Fields John and Randee Fieselmann Matt Fleming Jon and Jessica Fogarty Forbidden Planet Joseph Frankel and Anne Koopmans

Frankel David Froehlich James and Karole Fuller David and Joyce Gerleman John and Mary Lynn Grant Richard and Ute Grimlund Tom and Laura Hahn Robert and Sally Hall Peter and Kathryn Hansen Gary Harapat Mark Harapat Diana Harris Laura Hart Hart-Frederick Consultants, PC Nancy Hauserman Hawkeye Environmental Hawkeye Title & Settlement Philip Heckel Mark and Margaret Heffron Pat Heiden Mike and Gail Hensch Cheryl Herr and David Stern Bill and Jean Hines Hodge Construction Company Albert and Jean Hood H.D. and Myrene Hoover Michael Hovland and Nancy Jones Bob and Carolyn Howe Bill and Carol Hulbary Kathleen Janz and, Nancy Reincke Johnson County Conservation Board

Nick Johnson and Mary Vasey Jennifer Jordan Daniel and Jill Kahn Ruth Kellems Robert and Margaret Ketterer Mary Knight Diana and Debra Kruse Bill and Lynette Lancial Jude and Val Langhurst Mary Laughlin and Roger Swartz Kevin and Becky Leidal Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service Barbara Lindman William and Patricia Lounsbury Lowell and Joan Luhman Bob and Lyn Maske David and Dawn McKenzie Kerri Mead Christian Meier Jeff Meier and Susan Beekmann Meier Glen and Kathy Meisner Jerry and Carol Mennenga Lynn and Gordon Mennenga Jody Meyer Marti Milani Frank Mitros and Monica Maloney-

Mitros MMS Consultants James and Rose Marie Monagan Kevin and Julie Monson Dana Noble and Peter Bixler Mary Noble Poroy Oguz Doug and Sheila Ongie Robert Oppliger David Osterberg Mary Palmberg Michelle Payne Shelley Plattner and Kathryn Grove Dale and Kay Prediger Rebecca Reiter Kathleen Renquist Dakota Revland David and Harriet Reynolds Scott and Nancy Ritter Robert and Barbara Roelf Earl and Susan Rogers Robert Roggeveen Thomas and Carol Rosenberger Robin Rossignol John Rummelhart Gary Sanborn

Levi Saterfield Gene Savin and Susan Enzle Mary and Forrest Scandrett Bill Scheible Joan Schnabel Lynette Seigley Jay Semel Holmes and Elaine Semken Sharon Telephone Company Kent and Joy Short Max and Kim Shoultz Amy Shuttleworth and Ben Trachsel Dick and Rina Sjolund Jim and Jennife Skarda Slickdeals, LLC Nancy Smith Theodore and Penelope Smith Tim Smith Brian Soenen Sharon Somers Rebecca Soglin Florence and John Stockman Stumpf Construction Services Rodney E Sullivan and Melissa Fath Dick and Joyce Summerwill Joan Summerwill Daniel and Beth Stence Mark Tade Arthur Tellin John Thomas and Sarah Clark Justin and Connie Tolan Town Square Family Foot Care Robert and Nancy Upmeyer James Urban Vesta Dennis and Karen Visser William Waldie Jean Walker Hobart and Carolyn Walling Jim and Christine Walters Richard and Laura Walton Marcia Wegman Michael Welsh and Anne Schmidt Mary Westbrook Christine Wilcox Joseph and Cynthia Wilkinson Caroline and Olga Will Edward Williams and Susan Ahrens Larry T Wilson and Mary Mathew Carol Winter Shirley Wyrick Yotopia Frozen Yogurt LLC Lori Ziegenhorn and Murray

Bouschlicher Tony Zinn

Mike Altmaier Kamila Amanullaeva Kendall and Alice Atkinson Glorine Berry Jackie Blank Billy's High Hat Cassie Bott Robert and Vida Brenner Colette Brodersen and Bill Pusateri

Wendy Brown Carole and Robert Buchmiller Carolyn Buckingham and Michael

Biderman Dan Campion Ted and Kay Carpenter Jeanette Carter and Wayne Patton Karen H and Wally Chappell James and Maria Conzemius Terry and Laurie Dahms Marilyn Davis Thomas Dean Drew and Judith Dillman David and Karen Drake Bruce Drummond and Diane DeBok Chris and Anne Edwards Lolly and Del Eggers James and Ann Estin John and Wanda Evans Karin Franklin and Steve Atkins Friends of Neal Smith National Wildlife

Refuge Kent and Gretchen Fuller Adam and Teresa Galluzzo Ryan and Kate Giannini Chris and Gary Gnade Katie Goff Carolyn and John Gross Andrew Haley Eileen Hall Carroll and Barbara Hanson Patrick and Jean Harney Steve Hauser Patricia Hayek Richard and Janet Hollis Tim Holman and Meredith Sewell Julianne Hoyer Bob Irwin Deanna Kay Iverson and Arthur Lopez Deanna Johnson Douglas and Beverly Jones Alan Kay Mary Kirkpatrick and Blair Frank Heidi Lauritzen Kendra and Michael Lawler Phil and Joyce Leff Ron and Kara Logsden John and Linda Long Priscilla Lowther Shannon Ramsay Edie and Don Roberts Adrian Schoenmaker

Judy and Larry Schroeder Herbert Jordan and Linda Smith Sandra Steil Gene Zdrazil and Connie Waltz-Zdrazil

AmazonSmile Foundation Sharon Anderson Diane Barrett Megan Buick Peggy Burke John and Toni Claussen Terry and Pam Dowd James Fluck and Julie Scott Eric and Kathryn Forsythe Malika Hale Holly Hotchkiss Dick and Deb Irvin Margaret Kiekhaefer Dick and Mary Lea Kruse Douglas and Judy LaBrecque Robert McKay and Jill Turner Janet McKee and Terri O'Berry Phillip and Julia Mears Gina Morgan Jack and Frances Neuzil Randall and Kathryn Ney Nellie Yvonne Oliver Michael Owen and Cynthia Lippold-

Owen Emily Peck Trinity, Tara, and Jasper Ray Linda Rudolph Linda and Robert Scarth Jeffry Schabilion and Dean Logan Jerry and Jana Schnoor Kent and Joy Sheeley J. E .Shuttleworth Greg and Jeri Smith Eldon and Mary Snyder Nikki Stamer Daniel and Jodeen Stepleton Carol Tobias Derith Vogt Mary Wall Eric and Angie Weiler Charles and Marjorie Wilhite Phil Winborn

7g Distributing A Touch of Home B & B Lain Adkins and Holly Carver Aero Rental AirFX Trampoline Park and Play Station Alphagraphics Applebee’s Arby's Coralville Arby's Iowa City Arrowhead Resort and Motel Artifacts Atlas

Backpocket Brewing Backyard Abundance Baroncini Ristorante BASTA Kristin and Cary Beatty Barbara Beaumont and Kurt Hamman Becky's Mindful Kitchen Big Grove Basketry Big Ten Rentals Dan and Minette Black Blackhawk Soaring Blank Park Zoo Blue Heron Beadworks Boyd’s Bread Garden Market Brown Street Inn Brucemore Brueggers Bagel Bakery Brush & Barrel Cedar Rapids Kernels Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Champlain Area Trails Cheddars Chicago Cubs CJH Recycled Bicycle Parts Jewelry Climb Iowa Colonial Lanes Coral Ridge Mall Cost Cutters Costco Wholesale Cottage Bakery & Deli Rose Danaher Daydream Comics Deal's Orchard Dillard’s Dodge Street Tire Dublin Underground EarthView Environmental, Inc. Eastwood's Sports Bar El Bandito’s Bruce and Evelyn Endris Englert Theatre Every Bloomin' Thing EXL Auto Detailing Film Scene Fin & Feather Inc. Fireside Winery Flowerama Frida Kahlo Mexican Restaurant Four Mounds Inn

Four Seasons Car Wash Fuzzy's Taco Shop Gabe's Oasis Get Fresh Google Inc. Gorman House Hamburg Inn 2 Hancher Harte School of Art Herbert Hoover Presidential Library

and Museum Herteen and Stocker Jewelers Hudson River Gallery Hot House Yoga Iowa Artisans Gallery Iowa Book and Supply Iowa City Landscaping & Garden Center Iowa City/Coralville Convention and

Visitor's Bureau Dave Irvin Jumer’s Casino Kansas City Royals Kava House Jim and Kathy Kessler Kendra and Michael Lawler Kum & Go Leash On Life McDonald's Minnesota Twins Molly's Cupcakes Monica's National Mississippi River Museum and

Aquarium Oasis Old Creamery Theatre Co. Oryza Asian Cuisine Pancheros Mexican Grill Mike Partridge and Amy Dobrian Connie Peterson PlexiCraft Prairie Lights Books Prairiewoods Press Coffee Co. Raining Rose Rhythm City Casino Bonnie Riggan Riverside Casino and Golf Resort Riverside Theatre RSVP Stationary James Schoeck Scratch Cupcakery Share Wine Lounge & Small Plate

Bistro Simply Soothing Spenler Tire Service Suzanne Stock Tallgrass Business Resources Target TD&T CPAs and Advisors, PC Texas Roadhouse The Broken Spoke The Chocolate House The Frame Station The Grand Anne B & B Trees Forever Trumpet Blossom Cafe University of Iowa Basketball Office

Carmen Vecera Village Inn Walking Stick Adventures Whiterock Conservancy Wilson's Orchard World of Bikes Woofables Wilford Yoder Zio Johno's

Bur Oak Land Trust Helen Byington Josephine Catalano Ann Feddersen Allen and Sarah Hansen Margery Hoppin Kendra and Michael Lawler Arnold and Meenal Menezes Susan Enzle and Gene Savin Kristin Summerwill Sheila Vedder Tammy and Bruce Wright

Dan Black Don and Liz Bolin Lon Drake James Fluck and Julie Scott Carter Johnson Ken Lowder Mark Madsen Jane McCune Connie Mutel Jean Prior Dick Schwab Steve Schomberg Staff and board members

Tim Grady Christiane Hella Knorr Kenneth Lacina Nancy Seiberling Richard Winter Louise Wolf-Novak Dixie Young Tony Zaleski

many thanks to all of you on behalf of the birds, bees, flowers, and trees—who can’t thank you themselves!

Monkey flower, rose mallow, nodding bur-marigold, boneset, red turtle, button bush by Mark Müller

P.O. Box 2523 Iowa City IA 52244-2523

Protect, preserve, restore . . . it’s all about the trust.