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Welcome to Notes from Nature!
This is our new monthly e-newsletter where we will highlight all things natural resources in Rochester Hills. If there is anything in particular you would like to learn about, share it with us via email at parks@rochesterhills.org.
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The Clinton River is a tremendous asset to our community and is now a designated State Water Trail. Every year the City performs woody debris management in the river to open it up and address some of the blockages that occur in the spring. We also partner with groups like the Clinton River Watershed Council to stabilize river banks and restore habitat. And just recently, we applied for a grant to address a steep sandy bank at our Cloverport Green Space.
Night Hike and Campfire S'mores and Stars
Enjoy a scenic view of the night sky through telescopes with the Oakland Astronomy Club. If it's a cloudy night, enjoy a guided night hike, owl calling, and more followed by s'mores around a campfire. The program takes place at 7pm on Thursday, March 30, at Bloomer Park. Cost is $7 per person. Click here to pre-register!
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Antler Amble
Learn how white-tailed deer shed their antlers and take some home for yourself at Antler Amble at 1pm on Friday, March 31 at Bloomer Park. Dress for the weather and walking in the woods, rain or shine. Cost is $7 per person. Click here to pre-register!
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Sap to Syrup Pancake Breakfast
Visit Bloomer Park and our Sugar Bush to see an old-fashioned sap-to-syrup boiling operation. Sample some syrup and enjoy a pancake breakfast with sausage, juice, and coffee at 9, 10, or 11am on Saturday, April 15. Tickets are $12/adult and $6 children 3-12. Click here to pre-register!
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A Free Tree for your Property!
We are the first and only community in Michigan to give residents free trees for their private property through our Spring Community Canopy program. Starting March 21, residents can reserve a tree at arborday.org/rochesterhills. Residents can reserve up to one tree that will be sent through the mail. They are then expected to care for and plant the tree in the location chosen on the online tool. More than 1,000 trees have been planted as a result of this program in just over two years.
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Hike the Harding Green Space
The 27-acre Harding Green Space is the second largest of the City's green spaces, bordering the Clinton River and the Clinton River Trail. The different ecosystems within the property offer significant habitat to a variety of wildlife. Come explore the Harding Green Space with the Green Space Advisory Board for a Second Saturday Hike on March 11. The group will meet in the City Hall parking lot at 10 a.m. For more information on green spaces in our community, visit rochesterhills.org/greenspace.
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How to garden and landscape with deer
We are all familiar with the Whitetail Deer. But did you know that every winter they shed their antlers only to start growing them again in the spring? Searching for these antlers can be a fun activity as you explore some of our more natural areas in Rochester Hills. (Or you could even join us at our Antler Amble mentioned above!) When the deer start to grow back their antlers, it requires energy and nutrients. Unfortunately, that means gardens and landscapes become a go-to food source. In an effort to help residents protect their gardens, we have teamed up with Bordine's to host a "Gardening and Landscaping with Deer" program at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 27, at City Hall. The program is free but pre-registration is required here.
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Enjoy the sweet sight of a Red Maple!
The Sugar Maple/Red Maple are sights to behold. They are also great sources of sap with 40 gallons of sap from a Sugar Maple equal to 1 gallon of maple syrup. In Rochester Hills, Red Maples make up a large portion of our community canopy - too much, in fact. The reason why is if a disease or pest comes through that impacts the species it would wipe out a large amount of our canopy. To combat this, City staff has made an effort over the last several years to plant different species and diversify our canopy.
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