President's Column - Ralph Jersild
Burnett Woods Fundraising a Success!
Your License Plate Money at Work in Your Back Yard
Vernal Stirrings - T.O. Swinford
Book Review - The Natural Heritage of Indiana - Ted Harris
Garlic Mustard - It's Taking Over!
There must still be room for nature! Driving along the eastern portion of US Highway 36 in Hendricks County one cannot help but be impressed with the amount of open space being developed for commercial and residential use. The same is true in parts of Marion and other surrounding counties in what until recently were considered open rural communities. Much of this development is in response to the real (and sometimes apparent) need for housing, and readily accessible commercial establishments for an expanding population. While unavoidable at times, it is especially heartbreaking to see when it is at the expense of existing remnants of our natural heritage -- i.e., the open spaces available as habitat for native plants and animals and which contribute to the enhancement of the quality of life for mankind.
It is hard to find persons who do not profess to receiving enjoyment of some kind from the viable presence of natural areas -- whether for personal use in nature study, periodic escape from the rigors of urban life, or simply being able to view them from a distance or in passing. This became most apparent during CILTI's recent campaign to attract funds to purchase the Burnett Woods in an exploding area of development in eastern Hendricks County south of US 36. The outpouring of support from individuals and organizations in Hendricks and nearby counties reemphasizes the human need for open space as a measure of our well being.
We applaud Mrs. Ruth Burnett, her supportive family, and others who possess, protect, and appreciate the importance of retaining and preserving natural areas into a time beyond their needs for the benefit of future generations. We, as a community, are deeply indebted to them! CILTI is fortunate to obtain Burnett Woods and will provide the stewardship needed to protect it as an example of what once was common to this part of Indiana when Mrs. Burnett and her husband established residence here in 1927 -- the beautiful deciduous forest.
Thanks to the Indiana Heritage Trust Fund, the Cinergy Corporation, local organizations and businesses, and to numerous individual contributors, the purchase and protection of Burnett Woods by CILTI will be realized. Burnett Woods is an outstanding deciduous forest near Avon in Hendricks County in an area of intense commercial and residential development. The desire of Mrs. Ruth Burnett, the longtime owner, is that the woods be maintained in its natural state for future generations, as it carefully has been for the past seventy years by her and her family. Because of Mrs. Burnett's great generosity, CILTI will be able to purchase the woods for a very small fraction of its appraised value. We extend our most sincere thanks to her for making this purchase possible.
Donations in response to our fundraising efforts have exceeded our expectations. Contributions from all sources have been important to the success of this endeavor. A portion of the funds, above those needed to purchase the property, will be used to establish a strong management program as part of the purchase agreement with the owner. The remainder will be restricted for the acquisition of additional natural areas. CILTl's objective will be to preserve this woods as an example of what once was common in this region. A variety of large trees and a diverse understory provide important habitat for a variety of birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. A request to have it dedicated by the State as a Nature Preserve is in progress. A limited, low impact nature trail will be the only modification made in the woods. Visitors will be required to restrict their activities to nature study and hiking on the trail to prevent any impact on or degradation of the natural quality of this exceptional woods. CILTI and the community at large are especially indebted to Mrs. Burnett for this generous gift. The purchase will be completed in late March. A dedication ceremony is set for Sunday afternoon, April 19. Please join us in honoring Mrs. Burnett with her family on this special occasion.When you buy an environmental license plate, you contribute to the Indiana Heritage Trust Fund (IHT). This fund is used to protect important natural areas which are part of our heritage in this state. In December, CILTI proposed that Burnett Woods be recognized and included as part of this heritage. The IHT members wholeheartedly agreed Burnett Woods deserved this honor and supported this decision with $45,000! The Department of Natural Resource's Division of Outdoor Recreation, Division of State Museums, and Division of Nature Preserves teamed together to come up with this grand total.
This is an important designation because this preserve will be dedicated as an official State Nature Preserve. This is the highest level of protection a preserve can receive in Indiana. CILTI will continue to own and manage this wonderful woods backed up by the state's protection. The money was added to your valuable contributions which, together, allows us to acquire and manage these woods that benefit us all. The protection of Burnett Woods is a great success for CILTI and the people and fellow creatures of Indiana. Everyone should be proud of their contributions of time and money which made this happen!From a very young age I have been captivated by amphibians -- they were always high on my "cool" list. What could be more charming than the "Mr. Toad" of the garden, more strangely unusual than an exotically patterned salamander, and more mysterious and beautiful than a chorus of spring peepers on a warm, still night? Yet these simple and common ties to our natural world are overlooked and unknown to many, often while right under our nose. This is unfortunate, for only a little awareness is necessary to enjoy amphibians. Many beautiful and very fascinating amphibians are common in central Indiana's wood-lots and rural areas, and early spring is far-and-away the prime time for observing them.
Right now, while we wait impatiently for spring migrant songbirds and wildflowers to appear, is when amphibians are at the peak of their activity. It is time to emerge, sluggish and blinking (that's you, not the salamander), to bear witness to the moments hesitation before spring bursts into its full glory. Pull on your farm boots and head for the woods -- the salamanders are out! I am presenting a brief list of some lesser known, yet common, amphibians of central Indiana and how you may find them. Salamanders -- Many of our central Indiana flatwoods (such as Burnett Woods), with their characteristic, ephemeral pools, are excellent salamander habitat. Most salamanders emerge early in spring, often as early as February, and make their way to the pools to breed and lay their eggs. This is a great time to find them under leaves and logs, especially after a rainy night.The Natural Heritage of Indiana
Edited by Marion T. Jackson, Indiana University Press, 1997. (1SBN 0-253-33074-2)
This alien, Garlic mustard, is an invasive plant that is overpowering the under-story of eastern deciduous forests. By coming here, Garlic mustard has been released from its competitors, predators, and parasites it was fighting back in its native land. Free of these enemies, it enjoys a tremendous competitive advantage over native plants.
The woods may very quickly become a sea of this exotic and little else. No more Spring beauty, Bleeding heart, Wild ginger, or any of the other beautiful wildflowers we love to see each spring and summer. One of the best controls we have for garlic mustard is to pull the plants before the seeds ripen. This management job will be taking place at Holliday Park and several CILTI properties. Please help us remove this unwanted weed before it removes our native beauties! Check out the calendar for work days going on near you, and for more information about the alien Garlic mustard.