HNPA`s Mission - Holliday Nature Preserve Association

Newsletter of the
HOLLIDAY NATURE PRESERVE ASSOCIATION
Volume 27 Number 2
Spring 2015
Holliday Association@ hnpa.org
HNPA’s Mission
H
olliday Nature
Preserve Association
(HNPA) is a group of
volunteers dedicated to the
William P. Holliday Forest &
Wildlife Preserve in Westland, Livonia and Canton.
The Preserve consists of 500
-plus acres of forests and
wetlands that run along
tributaries of the Rouge River.
HNPA seeks to nurture a
greater appreciation of this
unique natural resource by
hosting walks, conducting
projects with Wayne County
Parks and promoting the importance of the Preserve in
improving the quality of life in
Western Wayne County. Our
activities are free and open to
everyone. Learn more at
hnpa.org.
Attend Our
Meeting
W
e invite you to our annual meeting on
Wednesday, April 15
at 7 p.m. in the Michigan
Room of the Livonia Civic
Center Library (5 Mile and
Farmington Rds.).
The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
and after a short business
meeting, we will have a photo
Meeting, see page 3
A taste of upcoming spring in
the Preserve, from one of four
photo murals in Nankin Mills.
Photos were taken by Naturalist Carol Clements and reflect
the seasons in Holliday.
T
Upcoming Activities
his time around we
have three activities
but only one walk.
It’s been a while since our
last meeting. These meetings are a chance to find out
more about us and in comfortable surroundings.
And please note that
Rouge Rescue comes early
again this year. Hope you
can help.
Questions? Contact us at
Holliday Association@
hnpa.org.
 HNPA General Meeting
Wednesday, April 15, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Livonia Civic Center Library, Michigan Room
 Spring Wildflowers Walk
Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m., Cowan entrance
(Central City Parkway, west of Wayne Rd)

 Rouge Rescue
Saturday, May 9, 8:30 a.m.— 1 p.m. Cowan entrance
(Central City Parkway, west of Wayne Rd)
NO parking on site. See article on page 2.
Rouge Rescue is Saturday, May 9
W
e will return to the
Cowan entrance for
our Rouge Rescue
2015 cleanup. Between invasive plant species, fallen
trees, and a creek that
seems to attract all kinds of
flotsam and jetsam, this entrance, just north of the new
Westland Fire Station is
again in need of work.
Tasks include:
 Cutting and removing
invasive honeysuckle,
garlic mustard, bittersweet and buckthorn.
 Cleaning and opening
logjams – aka woody material in Morgan Creek.
 Collecting trash.
This is the 27th year we
will partner with Friends of
The Rouge on this important
project that has keeps Tonquish Creek--a tributary of
the Rouge--a clean home for
area wildlife, including
birds, fish and amphibians,
and an object of peace and
tranquility for visitors as it
meanders through the
Holliday Preserve.
Registration begins at 8:30
a.m. and we request that
everyone register. An accurate record of volunteers
allows FOTR to receive
credit for in-kind services
and that helps them meet
grant requirements. Please
wear long pants, long
sleeved shirts, old shoes or
boots. Gloves will be provided.
Friends of the Rouge will
give a special T-shirt to all
workers. HNPA will provide
water for thirsty volunteers,
a wash station, tools, and
trash bags.
While there is little chance
of mosquitoes bothering us
this early in the season, volunteers still need to be on
the lookout for poison ivy.
One big change since our
last project is the new fire
station directly across the
street from the entrance.
Although this makes for a
great landmark, it did eliminate our usual place for
parking. As a result, volunteers are being asked to
park in the former Dick’s
Sporting Goods parking lot
east of the Preserve and
nearer to Nankin Boulevard.
A map will be posted on our
website (hnpa.org).
NOTE: Wayne County Parks
Naturalist, Carol Clements,
will be leading a wildflower
walk immediately following
the Rouge Rescue and all are
welcome to attend her walk.
(The big reason for removing
invasive plants is so we can
have more wildflowers in the
Preserve to enjoy.)
Farewell to Another Friend
O
ur
friend,
Scott
O’Malley,
passed away
not too long
ago. Scott
was a very
active volunteer, who
worked hard at Rouge Rescue, and could be counted
on to attend our walks regardless of weather.
Scott enjoyed the beauty of
the Preserve and hated the
graffiti he sometimes
found—and he did something about it. He took on
the task of covering up the
graffiti that marred the trees
along the trails. He had his
bag of various spray paint
colors to help cover the bold
reds and florescent colors.
We will miss his smile and
helping hands. HNPA offers
our heartfelt condolences to
his family.
Don’t Move Firewood
Meeting, from page 1
presentation; provide an update on what is happening in
the Preserve and what may
happen; discuss the development of Clyde Smith Farms;
provide a bridge and trails
update; talk about changes to
the forest canopy, and finally
talk about whether there is a
way to add 10 acres of undeveloped land, including
wetlands, to the Preserve and
the Wayne County Parks
system, given that that Wayne
County is broke.
These meetings provide an
opportunity for members and
friends to meet and discuss
concerns. There will be
plenty of time for questions
and we will finish up by 8:45.
Hope to see you there.
Although the following was
released by the Dept. of Natural
Resources in respect to state parks,
it’s something anyone with oak
trees—or who enjoys oak trees—
needs to be aware of.
O
ak wilt outbreaks are
increasing in Michigan.
Oak wilt is an introduced
disease that causes rapid
death of infected trees. The
fungus is easily transported
by beetles from infected
wood to nearby wounded
trees.
Trees cannot be cured of
oak wilt, and once a tree is
infected the disease can rapidly spread to neighboring
trees through underground
root graft connections.
“The likely cause of the oak
wilt outbreak at Michigan
state parks is the movement
of infected firewood into
campgrounds,” said DNR
natural resources steward
Heidi Frei. “Campers and
other park visitors can help
prevent the spread of the
oak wilt fungus by not
moving firewood between
campgrounds.”
Oaks (especially red oaks)
are susceptible to the fungus
between mid-April and
October and owners with
oak should not allow trimming or pruning of oak trees
during these months.
Learn more at michigan.gov/foresthealth.
A Look Back at Recent Walks
(Above) A mix of original members and first-time visitors hiked the
Cowan section in January. All pitched in to clear a fallen tree across the
trail. Youngest hiker, Brendan, did the most lifting. His sharp eyes also
spotted several deer.
(Top right) Fifteen hikers braved a very, very cold day in February to
take a very, very close look at tree bark. More than 15 species of trees
were identified along the Ellsworth Trail.
(Right) The First Full Day of Spring walk at Hix found plenty of mud but
no wildflowers. It was just too early. Participants were very happy to
have the boardwalks. Things should green up (and dry up) soon and the
frogs should start singing. Get out there and enjoy!
Thanks to our Supporters
T
he following people joined HNPA, renewed their memberships or made
donations recently. We thank them and appreciate the continuing support they and our other members give along with the trust they put in us.
We will use the funds for the overall benefit of the Preserve.
Glenn & Gail Anderson
Larry & Linda Bernhardt
Nancy Butka
Thomas Carpenter
Erin Cassidy
Allen & Nancy Chartier
Louis Cyburt
Irene Deman
Lisa Denys
James Gilbert
Ron & Cheryl Graunstadt
Sally & Mickey Green
Sandra Guara
Dean Johnson
Judith Krantz
Susan Lanning
M
Arleen Latta
Gayle & John Mendler
Robert & Denise Miotto
Bill & Misty Mitchell
Noel & Nicole Mullett
Linda Poole
Suzanne Pudelek
Dennis & Pamela Scott
Johann Sheibley
Robert & Lynda St. John
Joseph Suggs
Steve Weis
Scott Williams
Larry Willis
Gregory Zaremba
Partner with HNPA!
embership in the
Holliday Nature Preserve Association is only $5
per year (Jan. 1—Dec. 31).
Your support makes it
possible to distribute our
newsletters, host a website,
support Rouge Rescue, offer
walks, educate the community and promote the Preserve.
Any additional funds over
and above are used to benefit the Preserve. You may
also earmark additional
funds to extend your
membership.
Thank you!
Name: _____________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________ Address 2: ___________________
City: ___________________________
State: ______
Zip: __________ + _______
$_______ Enclosed
Please make check or money order payable to the Holliday Nature Preserve Association and mail to:
HNPA, P.O. BOX 532243 Livonia, MI 48153