Winter Wind-down at Jefferson County Park

Winter is the season where things begin to slow down here at the park. The campground closes, grass stops growing, and programs move indoors.

This is a great time to come enjoy the solitude our parks have to offer. When the leaves have gone and the cool, crisp air quiets everything down. This is the time for noticing.

Maybe you notice the deer through the trees that you might miss if there were still leaves. Or you see a Barred Owl during the day as they begin to look for winter mates.

Barred Owl perched in the park.

Programs here at the park take a similar tone during this season.

Birdy Brunch will teach you how to begin tracking the birds that you notice on the eBird platform. Kids will learn to notice the tracks of our wild neighbors and the methods of camouflage during Winter Nature Camps. Or you can slow down and learn how to tie a fly for springtime fishing. There are many ways to slow down and enjoy the park this winter season

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Programs to Explore Iowa in Fall

November is a great month to explore all of the amazing nature that Jefferson County parks have to offer. Early in the month, fall leaf colors will be peaking and the prairies have put on their seedy hats.  Animals are preparing for winter and may be more visible during daylight hours than they are during other parts of the year. Later in the month comes Thanksgiving, and what better way to walk off that turkey-belly than to hit the trails in one of our many parks?

This month, our programs will be highlighting Iowa’s prairie history. Fourth grade classes and home school will be collecting prairie seeds that will then be used by staff to restore prairies in parks across the county. We are also co-hosting a plant the park day that gives you the chance to help plant some beautiful natives in Jefferson County Park. Opportunities like these allow you to gain a sense of ownership with our parks while educating on the reasons that we restore habitats and the amazing things that plants can do for our environment.

Birdy Brunch explores the history of binoculars in birding. This class will also help you to decide which pair of binoculars to buy to help you find your next Thanksgiving Turkey. Toddler Time then follows the Turkey theme to teach littles about turkeys. They will even create a turkey craft that can be displayed on the big day.

Please check our events calendar for any upcoming events and make sure to get registered to learn more.

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Spooky Season at Jefferson County Park

October is a month when people like to think about spooky stuff. We tell ghost stories or decorate our houses with bats and spiders. But did you know that these spooky things can be found in our parks as well? Let’s talk about some of the spooky themed nature that we can find.

Ghosts

Did you know that there are ghosts in Jefferson County Park? I’m not talking about ghosts of campers past, but ghost plants. Ghost Plant is an amazing flowering plant that blooms later in the growing season. It is all white, which is pretty unusual since plants typically generate food through production of sugars in chlorophyll (the microscopic part of the plant that makes them appear green). Ghost Plants, however, don’t even produce their own food. Instead, their roots tap into mycorrhizal fungi, who in turn are taking nutrients from the roots of trees. So, not only are these plants ghosts, but also sort of vampires.

Bats

Bats are always thought of as spooky creatures that carry diseases, but they actually provide a great service to us. While we’re all sleeping, bats fly around, eating insect pests. It is estimated that bats provide the equivalent of $1 billion in free pest control for farmers by eating crop-damaging insects. Now, if you do manage to be bitten by a bat, or if you find yourself in a room with them, it is recommended that you receive a check-up from medical professionals because they are the most common carrier of rabies in Iowa.

Spiders

Like bats, spiders provide a great service to us through pest control. They also get a bad rap for being scary. There are over 40 species of spiders found in Iowa, but only a few very rare species that are actually venomous. Spiders are also not out looking to bite people like some movies and TV shows would make you believe. They’re only interested in catching insects. If they do bite you it is usually because they feel threatened and are acting in self defense. I’m not saying that we should be walking the prairies and woodlands petting these eight-legged creatures, but appreciate them and their amazingly intricate webs from a safe distance (for both you and the spider).

Our programs this month are themed around some of these “spooky” creatures. Please check our events calendar for any upcoming events and make sure to get registered to learn more.

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