Good News from Unexpected, October 2007
It was a hot, dry summer here at Unexpected. Volunteers tolerated the heat to help us bring in six pickup trucks full of donated wood earlier in the year, and it was a rather intimidating pile of logs. Like beavers, Karen and Al and I picked away at it, sawing, splitting and stacking it in the barn. It is a wonderful feeling to have four cords of free firewood ready to burn before August is over. (I mean free in a monetary sense — we definitely paid for it with sweat and sore muscles.)
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The severe weather brought out the best in some plants, however. We had white and yellow fringed orchids, wild sarsaparilla and cardinal flowers that didn’t seem to mind the lack of water. And even with the pond and wetlands dry, the dragonflies and butterflies filled the summer air with their brilliance and grace.
Trails
The trails are all clear and we have been patrolling since September 8th when bow season began. It was difficult to mow the paths this summer due to the drought. There is nothing more terrifying to me than the thought of causing a forest fire with a hot combustion engine. Fortunately, we had two days of much needed rain, after which Helga and I grabbed the lawn mowers and beat it around the Perimeter Trail while things were still damp.
Trail Blazing
Ted McLeon, third from left
In early August, Ted McLeon, a Scout from Troop 8, completed his Eagle Scout Project here at Unexpected. Many of you may really appreciate what Ted accomplished with his army of volunteers. Ted took the color-coded trail map at Base and transferred the trail colors onto the major trails.
We now have colored trail blazes to follow through the Refuge. Red is the Perimeter Trail (red for patrol!), blue is the Main Trail, yellow takes you to Bluebird Field and the Inner Trail is orange. Now it is simple to walk alone here and not get lost. Ted’s project was particularly special for Troop 8, as he is the first Scout in his troop to achieve the Eagle Scout Badge. He did an outstanding job. Congratulations and thanks, Ted!
Expansion Update
Unexpected Wildlife Refuge has signed an agreement to purchase an adjacent property on Piney Hollow Road, the farm of the late Joe D’alessandro. This 29-acre farm is covered with beautiful indigenous grasses and flowers, and has a wetland area that drains into our Main Lake Branch. We share over a thousand feet of common property line, along which the Perimeter Trail winds (from Station 14 to Station 16).
D’alessandro Farm
We plan to acquire this farm with another loan from Open Space Institute. We submitted our application for funding to the NJDEP Green Acres Program, and we should be receiving a $140,000 grant from them if everything goes according to plan. As before, I will keep you posted on our progress.
Joe lived and worked on this farm most of his life. When Hope and Cavit moved into the neighborhood in the 1960’s, Joe became a good friend and valuable neighbor. Joe passed away at age 91 on September 20th and will be truly missed.
Beaver Update
For whatever reason (rainfall shortages, unpredictable water levels, lack of food, etc.) we still have no beavers living at the Refuge. However, letters and emails from Beaver Defenders from the US, Canada and Europe express excitement at seeing and enjoying beavers nearby. From Barbara in Sweetwater, Pat in Titusville, Len in Marlboro, Nancy in New Hope to Alex in Germany — beavers are part our lives.