For those of us who were lucky enough to catch Kenny Salwey, the last river rat, during his visit to Quad Cities this past March, we have a number of people to thank for inviting such an incredible guest to our community. Our first thank you (if we were to make a list) should go out to Curtis Lundy, one of our own Master Naturalists, who helped get the initial contacts and efforts in place to bring Kenny our way. Curtis first came into contact with Kenny Salwey two years ago at a showing of his film Mississippi: Tales of the Last River Rat in Wabasha, MN where he was lucky enough to have breakfast with Kenny, the film cinematographer, and director. Ever since his first contact with Kenny, he's kept in touch and shared fishing trips with the last river rat, trying to bring him down river to us in the Quad Cities. This past January Curtis got a call that an opening would be possible in Kenny's schedule to visit with us and so the plan for an event was set in motion.

Mississippi: Tales of the Last River Rat was shown three times to sell-out audiences at Davenport's Putnam IMAX Theatre, with well over 1,000 folks trying to get into the shows. Donations were accepted at the event to benefit Nahant Marsh and $2,000 in contributions was collected from attendees of the event. Though Curtis was certainly the instigator for this event, many others brought forth Herculean efforts to ensure its success, including folks at Waste Commission of Scott County, Keep Scott County Beautiful, Living Lands & Waters, Friends of Nahant Marsh, and Sisters of Humility.

In addition to befriending Kenny Salwey, Curtis himself has led an interesting river-creature life that he describes as best modeled by his pet crayfish, who sheds his exo-skeleton every ten years or so, embarking on another life. Curtis grew up in Davenport, IA and joined the Jesuit religious order after finishing high school. He graduated from Boston College with degrees in philosophy and English in 1972, and then left for London to teach Montessori education for three years. Upon his return to Davenport, he earned an accounting degree from St. Ambrose University and embarked on a career in accounting and financial advising, serving his last six years until 2006 as Chief Financial Advisor for THE National Bank. In his time away from formal work, Curtis helped organize the first official IOWATER training in Davenport in 2000 and raised funds to purchase equipment for local schools to use in implementing the program. He was an original organizer of the Partners of Scott County Watersheds (PSCW) in 1998 and retired as chair in 2001. Curtis served as the treasurer on the board of directors of Living Lands & Waters from 2000 to 2006 and was also an original organizer of XStream Cleanup. Curtis came to our Master Naturalist program in the fall of 2005, already an incredibly active volunteer!

Curtis' new project for "retirement" will be to work on restoring 130 acres of bluff land he has purchased in northeastern Iowa. The land is bordered by the Yellow River and contains woods, constructed wetlands, meadows, and agricultural land that Curtis is working on converting over to organic production. The land is at present home to a high infestation of invasive plants and unwanted trees. Curtis has hired Driftless Land Stewardship Alliance to develop a management plan for the various ecosystems on site as well as rehabilitation of the trout stream wandering through his valley. Curtis' goal at the site is to promote diverse healthy habitat and ideally would like to host student groups to the property to learn and appreciate the delicate balance entailed in living in and managing the natural world.

Agro-Forestry Workshop Coming Again to Loud Thunder Forest Preserve!

The workshop will be held Wednesday, August 22, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. –

4:00 p.m. Sessions offered at the workshop include: Tree Identification, Wildlife Woodland Habitat, Crop Tree Management, Forest Regulations, Nuisance Pest Control/New Plantation Management, Forestry Tax Assessment & Federal/State Programs, and Timber Harvest. This workshop is sponsored by Interstate RC&D, Rock Island, Mercer, and Henry County SWCD, NRCS, U of I Extension, Loud Thunder Forest Preserve, IDNR. Registration is $20 if sent before August 10th, and $30 for late registration. Lunch will be provided. For more information, call Interstate RC&D at (309) 764-1486, ext. 4.

- –by Stephanie Crandall

URBANA – Spring has finally arrived and with it the opportunity to build a new relationship between children and nature, said Jane Scherer, University of Illinois Extension urban programs specialist and director of web development. In nature, children find a place to stimulate their senses–to become more observant and find a sense of freedom and fantasy," she explained. "Research shows that natural spaces and materials stimulate children's imagination and serve as a way to stimulate inventiveness and creativity."

U of I Extension has a number of websites that encourage children to explore nature and the out-of-doors, she added. These sites cover everything from trees to insects to starting a garden. "'Walk in the Woods' (http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/woods/) prepares kids for what they will see in the woods," Scherer said. "This includes everything from lichens to deer. It also features in-depth nature notes that explain in detail 19 different things encountered in the woods, including poison ivy and mushrooms. "Kids also can share what they learned on the walk with other children in the 'Woods Walkers Journal.'"

Warmer temperatures mean insects are more visible. The website "Let's Talk About Insects (http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/insects/) offers young people a chance to learn what an insect is and what makes insects beneficial to humans. "And they learn just how many insects there really are–40 million in an area the size of a football field," she noted.

An interactive website, "Dr. Arbor Talks Trees," (http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees3/) is targeted to children in sixth through ninth grades. "It covers tree anatomy--how roots, trunks, leaves, twigs, and buds are all put together," said Scherer. "The site also helps children learn to identify the various types of trees."

There is no better way to learn about nature than gardening and another website can help a child set up his or her first garden. "My First Garden" (http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/first garden/) teaches kids the basics of gardening. "Children learn how to read a seed packet, for example, and what tools are needed," she explained. "It also has a section for keeping a gardening journal. It covers both vegetables and flowers. And if children lack lots of yard space or a garden plot, they can learn about creating gardens in unusual places such as old shoes, cinder blocks, and sewer tiles." Using the website, children can plan and create their own salad garden, growing cucumbers, radishes, lettuce, and tomatoes. "There are even instructions for a 'pizza garden,'" she added. "These sites provide a wonderful opportunity for parents to introduce their children to nature in a positive way and combine fun with learning."

Source: Robert Sampson, Extension Specialist, Communications, rsampson@uiuc.edu

The 17-year cicadas will emerge from the soil in older established neighborhoods and wooded areas near the end of May and begin egglaying during the month of June. The principal damage suffered by trees and shrubs results from egg-laying by the adult female. The damage is confined mainly to smaller branches one quarter- to one half-inch diameter. Small trees and shrubs are at higher risk of damage than large trees. Cover the branches of small trees and shrubs with fine netting, such as bridal netting (tulle) or cheesecloth, when cicadas are present. Secure the netting to the trunk in order to prevent the insect from getting inside the covering.

DIRECTIONS:

Cover the plant loosely with netting.

Tie the bottom of the netting with twine or strips of cloth to secure.

Secure the sides of the netting with metal clips, clothespins,

or staples to prevent cicadas from entering.

Remove the netting once cicadas have died (July).

Information taken from Periodical Cicada Protection Netting, The Morton Arboretum, www.mortonarb.org.

During National Trails Day on June 2, 2007, there is a need for one or two prairie hiking guides at the 1st Annual Rock Island Trail Prairie Walk in Princeville, IL (in Stark County). The hike begins at 10:00 a.m. and can last as long as you would like. It would be helpful if the volunteer could ID a few prairie grasses or forbes and/or tell a little about the history of prairies in Illinois. No experience is necessary, just have a willingness to share a

few unique facts and passion for prairies!

If interested, a volunteer could also lead a 4-6 mile hike from the depot to the prairie. If you would like to volunteer, please contact: Dede J. Rice, Program Coordinator, Community & Economic Development, University of Illinois Extension, Henry-Stark Counties,

at (309) 286-6200 (office), (309)

883-1413 (cell), or ddrice@uiuc.edu.

The Practice of Restoring Native Ecosystems National Conference:

October 8–9, 2007

Arbor Day Farm Lied Lodge & Conference Center Nebraska City, NE

This conference will examine restoration as a form of environmental stewardship. Presentations will focus on issues, approaches, and techniques in restoration, successful restorations of ecosystems, and using restoration principles to address environmental problems.

For more information, please visit http://www.arborday.org/shopping/

conferences/conferencelist.cfm?detail=rne.

URBANA – If you have an ash tree in your yard, now is the time to begin checking it for emerald ash borers in the adult beetle stage according to University of Illinois Extension entomologist Phil Nixon. "May 20th to 26th has been selected as Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week because it coincides with the time of year that the adult beetles will begin to emerge."

How to identify the emerald ash borer beetle:

Bright metallic emerald green color

Half an inch long, bullet-shaped body

Exit holes in bark shaped like the letter "D"

"There are a number of look-alikes that people might mistake for the emerald ash borer," said Nixon. "The tiger beetle, ground beetles, even some bees and wasps have the green color. Other borers make an oval or round exit hole. The "D" shape is distinctive. It's made by the shape of their body coming out of the tunnels in the bark – perfectly flat on the bottom and rounded on the top."

In 2006 the beetles were spotted at ten sites in Kane County and six sites in northern Cook County in Illinois.

Insecticides containing imidacloprid have proven to be effective in preventing the ash borer from taking up residence in ash trees. The only brand currently available to homeowners is Bayer Advanced Garden Tree and Shrub Insect Control. Others can be professionally applied.

But, Nixon said that the best way to prevent infestation of the emerald ash borer is to purchase only local firewood and if you go camping, don't transport any left-over firewood. Leave it at the camp site.

The emerald ash borer was first identified in ash trees near Detroit in 2002 and has spread to neighboring states since then, most likely via packing materials and firewood. The larvae winter-over in the bark. Adult beetles emerge from the wood during May and June, then go on to infest a new neighborhood of unsuspecting ash trees.

Nixon said that, on their own power, the beetles only travel about half a mile a year. As with many other invasive species, with assistance from humans, the emerald ash borer can travel much greater distances and infest ash trees just about anywhere.

For more information, visit www.emeraldashborer.info/ or www.ipm.uiuc.edu

Many Illinois residents are familiar with the hit and miss nature of showers and thunderstorms during the spring and summer. You might receive an inch of rain, while a mile away hardly a drop falls. new volunteer program designed to increase the density of rainfall observation locations is being coordinated by the Illinois State Water Survey, the National Weather Service, and the University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources Management Team. The "Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow" (CoCoRaHS) network is a grassroots volunteer system of backyard weather observers of all ages working together to measure and map precipitation–rain, hail and snow–in their local communities. Volunteers are needed in all southwestern Illinois counties.

"This is a community project that benefits the entire state, and anyone can help, regardless of age or education," said Steve Hilberg, co-coordinator for CoCoRaHS in Illinois. "The only requirements are an enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions, and a desire to learn more about how the weather can affect and impact our lives. And, it only takes a couple of minutes a day to participate".

To participate as a volunteer weather observer, or for additional information, interested persons are invited to attend an information and training workshop to be held on Wednesday, June 13th, 6:30 p.m. at Western Illinois University–Quad Cities Campus: 3561 60th Street, Moline, Room 102.

CoCoRaHS is a non-profit organization supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation and other contributors. It is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow). By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive Web site, the aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research applications. It began in Colorado in 1998, and currently has over 2500 observers in 17 states. Data collected by observers are used by a wide variety of users such as climatologists, hydrologists, water managers, and the National Weather Service to monitor drought, heavy rainfall, and precipitation patterns.

Training is required to become a volunteer in this network. It also provides a great opportunity to learn from experts and to meet fellow CoCoRaHS observers.

There is no cost to attend the training session, but pre-registration is required. Register online at the University of Illinois Extension – Rock Island County website at www.extension.uiuc.edu/rockisland or call the Extension Office at (309) 796-0512. For more details about the network, visit http://www.cocorahs.org.

For more information, please contact Stephanie Crandall, Natural Resources Program Coordinator, at (309) 796-0512 or scrandal@uiuc.edu.

The workshop From Field to Fresh Waters: The Agricultural Connections to the Mississippi River will be held on August 15th, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information on this workshop or to sign up for this free educational training opportunity, visit www.livinglandsandwaters.org.

Sweet Clover Removal Workday

Sunday, July 9th: Please join the Quad City Audubon Society and the Whiteside County Natural Area Guardians for an invasive species removal of sweet clover from the Linden-Agnew Prairie in remote Whiteside County. Folks will meet at the Quad City Downs at 7:00 a.m. on July 9th to carpool to the site. The workday will last about three hours. If you are interested in participating, please contact Pat Carlson, QC Audubon President,at p.carlson@mchsi.com or at (309) 793-4131.

On Tuesday, July 31st at 1:00 p.m. and Thursday, August 2nd at 7:00 p.m., a teleconference entitled Rain Gardens: A Wise Way to Use Runoff will be offered at the University of Illinois Extension Office, outlining how to properly design a rain garden to enhance the beauty of your yard, collect runoff, and provide habitat for birds and butterflies. Register in advance at (309) 796-0512. Cost of the program will be $1 for Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners and $5 for the general public.

Celebrate Urban Birds!

Help scientists learn how birds use urban habitats by conducting a ten-minute bird watch for 15 local bird species. Find out more at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's "Celebrate Urban Birds!" web site. People of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can participate in a

bird watch on their own or with local organizations. Other "celebration" activities include gardening, bird watching, art, and science. Learn more and request

a free kit, while supplies last, at http://www.urbanbirds.org/celebration.

Help scientists learn how birds use urban habitats by conducting a ten-minute bird watch for 15 local bird species. Find out more at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's "Celebrate Urban Birds!" web site. People of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can participate in a bird watch on their own or with local organizations. Other "celebration" activities include gardening, bird watching, art, and science. Learn more and request a free kit, while supplies last, at http://www.urbanbirds.org/celebration.

Trees Forever and Aquila can help you improve your home's energy efficiency and save on your energy bills! Using an interactive tool, plant trees to shade your virtual house from hot summer rays or plant windbreaks between your house and those cold winter winds. Visit this website to play this fun and easy game to learn how to plant your way to energy savings: www.treesforever.org.

Memorial Day weekend is considered the official launch of mosquito season. Consequently, it's also the date to start protecting yourself from mosquito bites that could transmit the West Nile Virus. To learn how to protect yourself, visit www.ipm.uiuc.edu/wnv/.

In studying the form and shape of plants, the poet Goethe noticed two forces at work: those of contraction and expansion. In his studies, Dick van Romunde called these two tendencies suctioning and swelling. Looking closely, we can see that each individual plant brings about a unique balance of these two opposites in several ways. One common contraction is within the seed; the whole plant lies in its potential. As the plant is drawn out of the seed an expansive quality begins to show itself as the plant fills more space. This urge to fill, and ultimately to dissolve, is held back by a sort of drawing in that gives definition to the plant's shape. For more detail we can look at how these tendencies interact and play out in a particular species of trillium closely resembling trillium recurvatum.

As it emerges, the trillium's three leaves form a tented enclosure. This enclosure gives an appearance of tightness through its crunched appearance and overlapping leaves. This tightness is overcome as the leaves are elevated higher into the air and, with a sort of exhale, begin to separate and fold back until each leaf is draped over its central vein, spreading itself out above the ground.

On these leaves, we see veins which outline their shape along with the form of the whole plant. We can follow the veins as they come out of the ground and run parallel up the stem several inches to the point where they branch out in three directions separated by 120 degrees into the petioles, or leaf stems, and then out into the leaves which tend towards the horizon.

Taking an individual leaf, we see a central vein emerging from the petiole and reaching through the center of the leaf to its pointed tip. On both sides of the central vein, three pairs of veins spread out more towards the edges of the leaf, coming back together at the tip. The most interior pair takes a sort of feather or elongated eye shape. The most exterior pair runs close to the leaf's edge which takes on the shape of a circle being sucked outward at one point, approximating a round bottom spade. The central pair gives a transition between these two shapes. As a whole, the shape of the leaf shows an expansion out of the petiole giving over to a sharp drawing back in at the tip.

Together, the opening of the three leaves show three sepals taking the role which the leaves first had. More tightly than the leaves, but similar to their overall shape, the sepals create a raindrop-like enclosure. Initially, the sepals meet at a point directed vertically. From this point, they fall back in three directions which equally divide the distances between the leaves and end up pointing to the ground. What they reveal are three deep maroon petals which gradually stretch more fully upward and away from each other along the lines containing both their own central veins and those of the leaves.

The petals and leaves show further relations. Both are spade-like, but the petals expand more at the base so that they sag down below the point where the stem transitions into the petal. Additionally, the leaves and the petals are spatially close together. The leaves rise up as high as they can on the stem where they emerge right below the petals. They couldn't be much closer. This shows an affinity in the leaves towards the petals that is not always present in plants; the leaves seem to act as petals. Moreover, they show this by holding the bud within their enclosure just as the petals hold the stamens and pistil. They then make a blooming gesture to reveal the bud just as the petals bloom to reveal the six blackish stamens surrounding the central green and maroon pistil.

We find in the trillium a constant process of opening, of slowly flowering from leaves through several layers towards the ultimate showing of the pistil. Opening allows it to give and receive through pollination. What it receives then turns it towards an inward process, one of contraction, as the trillium's whole potential is drawn once again into seed form.

- –by Andy Hahn, Master Naturalist

Birds have been singing their spring songs and dandelions have shown off their blossoms. With warmer weather, now come the insects – beneficial and destructive. A helpless feeling comes over us when insects begin to attack our plants and spoil our picnics. Birds can be our first line of defense against insect pests.

During the late spring and summer months, the diet of many bird species is insects. Birds can be encouraged to come to your yard if you plant appropriate types of native cover that provide food.

Species of birds that help control garden pests are named by National Wildlife, June/July 2007 in an article on 'Backyard Habitat' by Sarah Boyle found on their website (www.nwf.org). Some that can be found in the Midwest are: purple martin, red-eyed vireo, chipping sparrow, downy woodpecker, common nighthawk, and house wren. The northern cardinal and black-capped chickadee also eat insects and feed them to their young during the summer. Growing natural plants that produce seeds and berries provide additional food and provide for those that stay around through the winter.

Birds can be encouraged to nest by providing habitat that supports their other needs. Good habitat for birds gives them more than food, says Cornell University on their website (www.birds.cornell.edu). "Provide dense thickets where birds can nest, perch, and escape from predators, by planting some shrubs, growing a hedge or training vines over fence lines. Try to create an area of thick, wild growth to imitate a natural environment.

"Dead wood is good. Try to leave dead limbs and trees in place if it's safe to do so. Insects that live under the bark and in the decaying wood are an important food source for birds such as woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches. Cavity-nesting birds...need old, hollow trees to nest in. To make a dead tree prettier, consider planting native vines, such as Virginia Creeper, to disguise its trunk.

"Build a brush pile. Recycle dead branches to start a brush pile for your ground-dwelling birds...it gives them protection from cold weather and predators. Lay down a couple of feet of thick branches, and put thinner branches over the top.

"Leave a mess. If you hate to tidy up your yard and flower beds in fall, birds will love you for it...Instead of bagging up fallen leaves for disposal rake them under your shrubs to act as mulch. They'll harbor insects that ground-dwelling birds will find. And, come spring those dead leaves, grasses, and plant stems will be a treasure trove for birds searching for nest material in your yard."

Even if you could, you wouldn't want to completely rid your yard of insects, writes Boyle. Beneficial insects are imperative for a healthy garden. Birds can keep insects at a stable, balanced level.

–Della Moen, Earth Team Volunteer, NRCS/Stephenson Soil and Water

Conservation District (Published in The Journal Standard, Freeport, Illinois.)

WASHINGTON, DC – Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, testified before the United States House of Representatives Interior and Environmental Subcommittee. He described an emerging children and nature movement which has taken shape since his book brought attention to what Mr. Louv calls "nature deficit disorder."

For a transcript of Mr. Louv's remarks, go to http://www. funoutdoors.com/node/view/1775.