SCC Tree Crazy...

SCC, as you all know by now, is  Tree Campus USA certified through the National Arbor Day Foundation. The SCC Tree Advisory Committee is always working hard to raise the awareness of trees on campus and the important role trees play in the community and especially their importance in an urban environment.

Mike Walsh discusses the importance of trees in the community and explains the program, accompanied by his awesome mustache...

I recently had the pleasure of working with some SCC Ecology students at the Missouri Forest ReLeaf nursery, where they were kind enough to put in some time to give back, and get a little dirty in the process. Nine student volunteers showed up and worked with Mike Walsh, Forest ReLeaf coordinator, and planted around five hundred trees!

Mike Walsh, accompanied by his mustache,  instructs ecology students on watering new seedlings...

Another event the Tree Advisory Committee is facilitating is a Tree Scavenger Hunt right here on campus! There are even prizes to be won for those tree hunters that really take charge... Packets will be available at the Spring Fling, where the Tree Advisory Committee will have a table.

I know this is a short Blog, but as you know April is a busy time for us in the Green Industry. I promise to return next week! In the mean time I'll see you outside!

For the Birds...

The green of day, the cool rainy nights, and the song of birds. Spring really is the time when stars fill our eyes, and I myself am guilty of taking part in the blissfulness of Spring, even though I constantly caution myself as to what it may bring. This year it seems to be bringing birds!

After spending a lengthy amount of time the other day trying to free a robin that had made its way into our Grounds Shop, which we eventually freed, and employees working hard to protect Mallard nests, Killdeer nests, and Dove nests on campus. Protecting them with flags, cones, and even just a watchful eye ensuring they survive the passing lawn mower, the clumsy student, or the curious and mischievous pedestrian.

 Young Killdeer, possibly the cutest bird to ever exist.

We are also preparing our selves for the inevitable call, a bird stuck in a building on campus. We usually get this call a few times each spring, and we are usually successful after much trial and error, but we have a new technique this year I think will make the process much safer and even more successful!

While I am on the subject of birds, I would encourage you to check out Christina's Blog here. She is a serious birder that works in the bookstore, and we have chatted through e-mail quite frequently about birds on campus. Lucky for her, her building faces a field, over 100 acres in fact, that we have been allowing to grow the last couple of years. Since we have "neglected" to mow down this field, we see a lot of birds and wildlife returning to the area. I am hoping that one day my Bobwhite friend will return that has not been around for the last few years, I really miss her call.

Hopefully you will be inspired by Christina's Blog as I was, and get outside campus, and just keep your eyes peeled for some of the wildlife emerging and returning!