Crossroads at Big Creek 920.746.5895

Straddles and Winter Recreation

Coggin Heeringa — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:07:11 +0000

American Indians invented snowshoes, presumably in a snowier era. For centuries, snowshoes have been used for transportation in Wisconsin, though these days, snowshoeing is a recreational way to exercise while getting in touch with nature.

Because Crossroads at Big Creek now owns fabulous new snowshoes and new skis [thanks again Raibrook Foundation, 4-H Youth leaders and Friends of Crossroads!] just waiting to be enjoyed, we are still hoping for significant snow. Within hours of a useful snowfall, the trails at Crossroads are groomed. Tracks are set for traditional cross-country skiing and our trails are wide enough also to accommodate skate skiing.

Some folks are so desperate to get out in the white stuff, they can’t resist exploring. Consequently, they head off across the open fields, creating trails of their own,
which is fine with me, especially if a woman creates the trail. When a man opens a trail, the tracks are usually too close for comfort–at least for my comfort.

Of course, I knew men and women were built differently before I took up cross-country skiing. Hips are the big difference. And because of this difference, men and women walk (and ski) differently. No news flash, eh?

If you look at tracks in the snow (provided some has fallen by the time you read this) you will see that typically, the distance between a woman’s tracks is greater than
the space between a man’s tracks. I have to admit that I have met some disagreement on this point. Several friends of the male persuasion are quite certain that women make the narrow trails. They explain to me that men plant their feet a reasonable distance apart. I guess it doesn’t matter with humans, especially on groomed trails, but to animal trackers, straddle matters.

In tracking, if you draw a line of travel between the left heels and a line of travel between the right heels the distance between these two lines is” the straddle.” Each species has a characteristic straddle which greatly aids in track identification.

Many tracks have very little straddle. Tracks left by members of the dog family appear to be in a straight line. A trail left by a fox, for example, is almost perfectly
straight—each paw print in line, for a fox trot is a purposeful movement. In contrast, domestic dog tracks go every which way. Dogs are curious, but haphazard in their
explorations of the environment.

Tracks of coyote are very similar to those of a dog. But like fox, coyotes make purposeful forward progress. However, a coyote has a wider straddle than a fox. After seeing
several examples, an observant human can easily learn the difference.

Red squirrel trails are pretty obvious in that they lead from tree. From outside edge to outside edge, the tracks of a red squirrel will measure between 3 and 4 inches.
Chipmunks and mice have smaller straddles than squirrels. The hind leg straddle of a snowshoe hare is enormous.

Low-slung waddling animals like the beaver and the porcupine have wide straddles. An average porky trail is about ten inches wide. Funny things, porky tracks in the snow. They
look like someone took a broom and swept a path from tree to tree. Porcupines usually follow their own paths and so as winter progresses, these trails get well established.

Fact is, I’ve often seen evidence of animals using their own trails or made by other animals. It’s far easier to follow an established trail than to break through fresh snow.
I guess that’s why most cross-county skiiers follow trails. With snowshoes, like the native Wisconsinsite, one can travel off trail through deep snow, at least when we have deep snow.

Ski and snowshoes may be borrowed Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 3:00-4:00, and Sundays 1:30 to 3:30 when we have sufficient snow. Pet walkers and hikers are asked to use designated hiking trails

Lecture: “Wild Rice, Our Native Treasure”

Coggin Heeringa — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:01:12 +0000

On Tuesday evening, February 28, the Door County Master Gardener Lecture will be “Wild Rice, Our Native Treasure.” Guest speaker Juniper Sundance will discuss of the world of wild rice, one of northern Wisconsin’s native treasures. The Ojibwa and Menominee have traditionally enjoyed wild rice as a staple of their diets, and its harvesting today is carefully regulated. Ripening in late summer, wild rice joined corn, beans and squash as a primary dish.

Not a true rice, wild rice grows in Wisconsin’s shallow lakes and streams and is actually a cereal grass. Juniper will describe places where real wild rice still grows, its importance to wildlife, how to care for it and what is involved in harvesting it. She is a relatively recent convert to ricing, and avidly recommends the practice.

Sundance received her BS in Biology from the UW-Green Bay, where she worked on a project to map the historic distribution of wild rice in Wisconsin. Currently she is involved in a long term forest survey project in the Nicolet National Forest led by UWGB professors, and volunteers with the Northeastern WI Audubon Society, with creating a vegetable garden at the NEW View Sheltered Workshop in Gillett, and in the UWGB Herbarium.

“Color in the Garden”

Coggin Heeringa — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:38:07 +0000

“What is in a name? That which we call a rose

by any other name would smell as sweet.”

–Shakespeare in “Romeo and Juliet“

The flowers most people associate with love are long stemmed red roses, which, even with the name of rose, do not smell as sweet as wild roses. Domestic flowers need not smell sweet, or for that matter, even have a scent. Wildflowers…at least those pollinated by insects… do. But aromatic flowers do not give off their sweet odors to please humans.The scents, the exquisite petals, the sweet nectar of flowers all function to attract insect pollinators. But if the function of color is to attract insects, then the petals really ought to be colors that are visible to bees. Research, pioneered by Karl von Frisch, revealed that honeybees cannot see the color red. Apparently, reds are perceived as shades of grey.But bees can see yellow, blue, purple, and the a color we do not see—ultraviolet. When a bee sees a white rose, it perceives it in the ultraviolet range of the spectrum. The pink wild roses probably register as light purple. Bees which visit red roses most likely are focusing on the pollen, which, being yellow, is visible to them.

Red Valentine roses are specifically bred and grown for long stems and gorgeous blooms. The flowers we plant in our gardens are the result of patient tinkering by plant breeders who are able to produce blossoms with a spectacular range of colors designed to appeal to humans.

On Tuesday, February 21, a Master Gardener lecture will look at the important role played by “Color in the Garden”. Color catches the eye, creates interest, attracts wildlife, and often determines the mood which characterizes any particular garden. Build your design skills and take advantage of the knowledge brought to Door County by Mark Dwyer, Director of Horticulture at Rotary Gardens (Janesville, WI). Along with a talented grounds staff and dedicated volunteers, he enjoys being involved with this wonderful botanical resource. His educational background is in landscape architecture and urban forestry. He is a plant enthusiast, gardener, photographer, and dedicated dad.The program is free and open to the public.

Night Sky Viewing – February 18

Coggin Heeringa — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:45:44 +0000

Night comes early this time of year, and on clear evenings at Crossroads at Big Creek, we have had spectacular views of the night sky…..the planet Jupiter surrounded by thousands of twinkling stars. And as they leave our evening programs, people often ask why stars twinkle?

Twinkling has to do with distance and the way our eyes work more than anything else. Many of the stars we see in the night sky are gigantic beyond our imagining, but because they are so very very far away from us, they look just like tiny points of light. Even through a telescope, stars look like pinpricks. My heart and mind know stars are huge, but my eyes see them as tiny. Your eyes do too.

Look at a planet through binoculars or a telescope (and you’ll have that opportunity this weekend) it will appear to be a round disk. You might even see moons. Planets appear much larger than stars, even to the naked eye. But we are absolutely sure that they are smaller. Smaller, but closer. And the moon? It’s really small (by space standards) but it’s also closer than anything else, so to our eyes, the moon looks huge, especially when it is near the horizon.

So what makes an object seem big is not necessarily its size, but distance. And the celestial objects that our eyes see as “big” tend not to twinkle while the things that seem to be tiny pinpricks of light do.

Here’s the deal. Light travels from the stars to us. It may take a few years or hundreds or even thousands of years for the light to reach to us, but just before the ray of light reaches our eyes, it has to pass through several layers of air.

When the light of a star passes through the layers of atmosphere, the air acts like a lens and bends the light ever so slightly in some random direction. The next layer also bends the light in a slightly different direction. The more layers of air, and the more turbulent the layers, the more times the light ray is bent. When it reaches our eyes, the light seems to jiggle slightly…to twinkle.

Remember, we know that the planets are smaller than stars, but they are much, much closer. Consequently, to our eyes, they appear larger. When we look at a planet, many light rays reach our eyes. The different rays may be bent in slightly different directions and some of those light rays might be brighter than others. But when the receptors in our eyes gather these rays and send information to our brains, our brains somehow average all of the rays into one steady image.

Planets, then, seem not to twinkle. At least they seem not to twinkle unless they are very low in the sky. Then, the light has to travel through so much atmosphere, especially when there is a great deal of turbulence, that the rays are bent much like light passing through a prism. When this happen, planets might twinkle just like a little star. And the more we on Earth learn, the more we “wonder what they are.”

For those who want to experience star or planet-gazing, the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society is offering a Viewing Night on Saturday, February 18 at the Astronomy Campus at Crossroads. Beginning at 7:00 PM, members of DPAS will be in the StarGarden with telescopes and astronomical binoculars available for visitors. The planet Jupiter and several of its moons will probably by the highlights of the evening, but one never knows. This will be a clear-sky only event. To reach the Astronomy Campus, turn east on Utah Street and travel up the hill. At the stopsign, turn left into the Crossroads preserve. Night vision-friendly red lights will show you where to go.

Ground Hogs and Lecture on Potato Gene Bank

Coggin Heeringa — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:33:01 +0000

It’s February—the month of hearts and flowers. I don’t know if I can stand the stress of all the romance. Oh, be still, my beating heart!

Though it seems like a bit of déjà vu, in February we celebrate Ground Hog’s Day, a secular and non-commercial holiday dedicated to a rodent with a heartbeat that is pretty close to being still.

Groundhogs (aka woodchucks) hibernate. When a goundhog retires for the winter, it passes into a state of torpor. It will breathe only ten times an hour. Its heart beats one or two times a minute and its body temperature hovers around 40 degrees F. This sleep may last from five to six months.

Research has reveal that all hibernating animals wake up from time to time. Seems animals just can’t stay asleep the whole winter. During arousal, the animal’s metabolic rate rises for a brief period. Then the animals drifts back into a profound sleep.

There is a remote chance that a groundhog might go into a state of arousal on Ground Hog’s Day, but unless the temperature is above 50 degrees F, the critter won’t leave the den and check for shadows. It will just curl up and continue its prolonged nap.

The obvious reason for hibernation is that it saves energy in a time when food is scarce. For most animals, winter is virtually a famine. Sleeping through winter is a coping mechanism—one that saves energy very well.

According to another theory, the depth of sleep is related to the “danger factor.” Deep sleepers such as ground hogs, jumping mice, skunks and raccoons are relatively safe in their dens and burrows if they stay put until spring (whenever that will be.)

Animals that sleep in the open–birds, sheep, cows and horses–are not safe when asleep. Being vulnerable to predators, they sleep for only short periods and are easily awakened. Their lives depend on being alert, even when asleep.

Scientists still are trying to learn why sleep is necessary, but there is not doubt that it is. And whether or not the sun is shining, I’m guessing that Door County ‘s groundhogs will remain in a deep sleep and stay safely underground.

Speaking of underground, the most popular vegetable in the world grows there. Potatoes will be the topic of the next Master Gardener Lecture. On Tuesday, February 7, Max Martin will present a program on “The US Potato Gene Bank.” The program is free and open to the public.

Beech Trees and The Big Read

Coggin Heeringa — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:16:09 +0000

During summer, it’s easy to overlook beech trees. They are just a part of the ubiquitous green of the growing season. But this time of year, when leaves are absent from most other trees, the doeskin-colored leaves give us some much appreciated color here on the peninsula.

A naturalist colleague often remarks that the trunks of beech trees resemble elephant legs. But that smooth grey bark is thin and not particularly insulating. Beech trees sort of peter out west of Green Bay. Botanists speculate that away from the tempered Lake Michigan climate, beech bark does not offer enough protection for winter survival. Protective or not, I think the smooth grey bark is absolutely striking against the blue winter sky (when we have one). I also appreciate the warmth of beech wood. It burns hot and clean in the wood stove and it smells nice too.

In short, I adore beech trees, so I was delighted to discover a bit of trivia. I read that the first pages of European literature were written on the smooth bark of beech. In fact, the word “book” comes from the Anglo Saxon “boc” meaning a letter or a character which, in turn, comes from the ancient word for beech.

Admittedly, European Beech is not quite the same as our native species, but it’s darn close. So this month, while beech wood warms my little house in the small woods, as I curl up to celebrate the Door County Big Read by reading, I will cherish the ideas that the amazingly beautiful and complex English language had its roots on the bark of a tree.

The Big Read is celebrated throughout Door County, but Crossroads is proud to host the Big Read Keynote Speech on Wednesday, February 8 at 7:00. Frederick “Doc” Heide, locally known as co-founder and performer with American Folklore Theatre (AFT), will combine his love of music and psychology and share “What the Heart is Hunting For: A Psychological Perspective.” Tutti Strings” Classical Trio will provide music that evening. The trio features Lori Meyer, Certified String Teacher (as 2nd violin), and two of her advanced students: Cassandra Renfrew, a junior from Sturgeon Bay High School (1st violin), and Jacob Blazkovec, a junior from Algoma High School (cello). Nanette Anschutz will be the sign language interpreter for the program. Susan Guthrie of Bluefront Café in Sturgeon Bay will provide delicious treats for the evening. All are welcome at this Free Program.

Teddy Bears and Book Club

Coggin Heeringa — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:41:46 +0000

Teddy Bears were wildly popular in 1906, within the depiction period of the Greene General Store in the Historical Village at The Crossroads, but the Door County Historical Society could never afford to buy a authentic antique teddy bear from that year.

To anyone alive today, teddy bears have always been. For many of us, these cinnamon-colored stuffed bears were probably the first and most loved toy.. So it is easy to imagine that teddy bears have always been…that Door County pioneer toddlers dragged them around their log cabins. But truth is the teddy bear came to be in 1902. And the first was a live black bear.

It seems that in 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt, and avid outdoors-man, was on a hunting trip in the state of Mississippi, and he wasn’t having much luck. In fact, after three vigorous days, the President was skunked. We don’t know how he was feeling, but his hunting guides apparently were frustrated. So the sent out their hunting dogs. The dogs located an old bear and chased it to the point of exhaustion. According to some accounts, the dogs actually injured the bear. At any rate, the guides were able catch the bear and tie it a tree.

The President was rushed to the site and invited to shoot the bear. Roosevelt was appalled, stoutly proclaiming “Spare the bear! I will not shoot a tethered animal.”

Somehow, the media jumped on the story, which inspired a cartoonist Clifford Berryman to draw Teddy Roosevelt, his gun, and the bear, with the caption: “Drawing the Line in Mississippi,” apparently a reference to a political dispute of the time. The cartoon was a big hit, so Berryman just kept drawing Teddy Roosevelt and the bear, but with each rendition, the bear got smaller and cuter.

Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, Morris and Rose Michtom created a clever display for the window of their novelty store. The couple fashioned a soft bear toy, and placed it in the window with the cartoon and a label: ‘Teddy’s Bear.” Well, the bear was a hit so, with permission of the President, the Michtoms started selling Teddy Bears. A German company started making plush bears as well, and by 1906, the fad began….and has never really died.

Much of what we take for granted, besides Teddy Bears, things like National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, the Conservation movement and the Panama Canal can be traced to Theodore Roosevelt. So in February, Crossroads and the Door County Historical Society will collaborate to offer a book study of David McCullough’s Mornings on Horseback, a biography of Theodore Roosevelt.

Sessions will be held in the Collins Learning Center under the leadership of Historical Village Director, Dan Olson. The book relates the remarkable story a little boy, seriously handicapped by recurrent and almost fatal asthma attacks, who grew into manhood and became one of the 20th Century’s most notable politicians and humanitarians. The very readable McCullough biography is without equal. Those interested may contact Dan Olson by email at dgolson45@yahoo.com; or call 920-559-2050. The time will be arranged to meet the scheduling needs of the participants.

Twinkling Stars-Viewing Night at the Astronomy Campus

Coggin Heeringa — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:22:38 +0000

Snowshoes at Crossroads

Coggin Heeringa — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:58:10 +0000

Snowshoe hares live in some of the more remote parts of Door County, but we don’t seem to have snowshoes at Crossroads at Big Creek. We don’t, that is, have the large members of the rabbit family. We do have quite few snowshoes, thanks to the young people who are part of the 4-H Engaging Youth Serving Communities program.

A core group of two adults and six 4-H members representing Sturgeon Bay, Southern Door and home school communities received a grant from the USDA and National 4-H Council. After brainstorming various ideas, this group decided to address childhood/teen obesity by increasing free or low cost opportunities for physical activities outdoors during the cold winter months. To achieve this goal, they decided to enlarge the collection of snowshoes at Crossroads at Big Creek and to help develop a loaner program for families.

The Friends of Crossroads had similar plans, hoping to encourage young people to get in touch with nature while getting exercise by upgrading the cross-country ski collection housed in the lower level of the Collins Learning Center. Crossroads has just learned that they will receive a grant from the Raibrook Foundation to purchase new skis, boots and poles.

As soon as snow is adequate for grooming, Crossroads will begin loaning skis and snowshoes on Sunday afternoons, and beginning in February will expand the program to Mondays , Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. So why are skis and snowshoes so helpful in traveling over snow? For the same reasons animals have adaptations for snow travel.

Admittedly, snow can be the death of some small creatures. Unable to run in deep drifts, they fall prey to faster or flying predators. But some creatures take snow in stride, literally.

Just as good equipment like skis and snowshoes help humans traverse snow, special adaptations aid certain creatures. The best equipped “snow bunny” is the snowshoe hare. This winter-white hare has hind feet that are disproportionately large, each having four toes which spread to a great width creating a significant surface area.

The advantage of natural snowshoes is obvious to anyone who sees the tracks. These hares can bound over the snow without sinking. Their predators don’t have a chance.

Among the most familiar sets of tracks at Crossroads are those of a bird…the ruffed grouse. A grouse is approximately the size and shape of a barnyard chicken, and like a chicken, it spends a great deal of time walking around. In winter, members of the grouse family grow weird but effective comb-like fringes on their toes. These seasonal growths double the surface area of the feet, and much like a pair of snowshoes, keep the bird from sinking into the snow.

Otters don’t have built-in snowshoes. The toboggan…on their bellies. These sleek creatures decrease effort and increase speed by sliding over the surface of snow or ice. It looks like fun.

Certainly, humans who ski or snowshoe decrease effort, increase speed, and have a great deal of fun when they travel over the snow. We hope exercisers of all ages take advantage of our facilities and new equipment for this seasonal recreation.

Lecture: ” Lessons from the Commercial Garden”

Coggin Heeringa — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:51:12 +0000

Lessons from the Commercial Garden — Maximizing Seasonal Displays!

Join the Door County Master Gardeners Association at a free public program, Lessons from the Commercial Garden — Maximizing Seasonal Displays! on Tuesday, January 17, at 7:00 PM in the Collins Learning Center.

Caleb Whitney and Kristen Peil – owners of Green Side Up (GSU LLC) based in Baileys Harbor will fill your head with inspiring ideas on how to expand the visual impact of your existing garden and how to push beyond the traditional growing season with advice and design help. Come enjoy a virtual tour through several years of successful local garden displays installed and maintained by Green Side Up. Caleb and Kristen will break each display down into its components to help you better understand design theory, practical installation methods, and maintenance practices. Be both inspired and prepared to improve your own gardening space. The program is free and open to the public.