Category Archives: Outdoor/Nature

Image

Are Weeds Edible? Catrina Adams Says, Yes!

Pictured: Catrina Adams. Photo by Diana Linsley.

Catrina Adams, who teaches a class in the Master Naturalist Program on the Meramec campus of St. Louis Community College in Kirkwood, has a timely message for you: “It’s OK to eat the weeds!”

In fact, that’s the actual name for her college continuing education class: “It’s OK to Eat the Weeds: Wild Edible Plants of Spring.” This past Saturday (5/4/18), she was hunting for weeds on campus with a dozen students who enrolled in the course.

“Plants I focus on in my Meramec class this time of year are the ones that people are pulling out of their yards and out of the garden,” said Adams.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted on May 10, 2018 in Environment, Outdoor/Nature

Image

Public Voices Both Concern and Support For New Trail Extension Planned For I-44 Bridge

Photo by Diana Linsley/Webster-Kirkwood Times.

Hikers, bikers and joggers are gaga over the prospect of traveling over the Meramec River on a trail extension using a rebuilt Interstate 44 bridge complex. Bridge construction could begin later this year with a 2021 completion date.

“We’re looking at this as a once-in-a-50-year opportunity – to be able to use a new, major river bridge like this,” said Seth Treptow, communications manager for Great Rivers Greenway.
Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted on April 23, 2018 in Environment, Outdoor/Nature

Image

Missouri Department of Conservation Donates Archery Equipment To Help Local School Kids and Encourage Police-Community Relations

Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

The St. Louis County Police Athletic League (PAL) is embracing the benefits of archery, which has been shown to improve school attendance, boost self-esteem, and increase physical activity.  They will soon begin teaching a competitive target archery program to St. Louis County kids, with the help of a donation from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.

MDC presented a kit of archery equipment used to teach the Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MoNASP) to the St. Louis County PAL April 13 at Hazelwood Middle School in Spanish Lake.

According to the St. Louis County PAL website, the program is volunteer-based with the goal of enabling members of the police department to coach young boys and girls in sports, help with homework and other school-related activities. The purpose is to build character, help strengthen police-community relations, and deter children from becoming involved in criminal activity.  The PAL also strives for youth enrichment with educational and youth leadership programs outside of sports.  The program has plans for members to train in and begin teaching MDC’s Discover Nature Fishing program in the future as well.

Read more from the MDC information release below.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted on April 20, 2018 in Outdoor/Nature

Image

Local Citizens Organize To “Save Sugar Creek”

photo by Ursula Ruhl/Webster-Kirkwood Times.

Sugar Creek Valley in Kirkwood has been called a wildflower haven, painters’ paradise and architects’ alley. The verdant drive that descends on West Adams Avenue, past Ballas Road, is dotted with homes of distinguished architecture on large wooded lots.

Many admirers would love to reside there, and if area developers had their way, many more homes would find a place on the lovely sloping hillsides. Homeowners who now reside in Sugar Creek naturally are protective – and wary of residential encroachment.

A proposal to rezone a 1.98 acre lot on 1837 Bach Ave. to allow more homes has neighbors getting organized. They have formed “Save Sugar Creek” and already have shown up in numbers at a planning and zoning subcommittee meeting in Kirkwood.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted on April 15, 2018 in Environment, Outdoor/Nature

Image

Celebrate Trees During Arbor Days In April

Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

Just in case you have not noticed yet, the local Redbuds are looking like they want to start blooming. Spring is around the corner! Finally!

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) offers a great idea to help celebrate our trees during Arbor Days.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted on March 25, 2018 in Environment, Outdoor/Nature

Image

THE OZARK TRAIL: IMAGES OF MISSOURI’S LONGEST HIKING TRAIL

The Ozark Trail: Images of Missouri’s Longest Hiking Trail, a new book by St. Louis Photographer/Author, Don Massey, Is Now Available!

Don Massey describes his work on this book as a “labor of love.” He says, “By putting the images in a book, I am hoping to share what the trail has to offer and the great gift and potential we have in creating and finishing the Ozark Trail.”

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted on February 15, 2018 in Outdoor/Nature

Image

Don Corrigan Honored By Ulysses Grant Site For Outstanding Service

Timothy Good, superintendent for the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, presents Don Corrigan with an “Outstanding Service” award.

Don Corrigan, a Sunset Hills resident and editor of the South County Times, Webster-Kirkwood Times and West End Word, recently received an award for “Outstanding Service” from the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site in Grantwood Village.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted on February 9, 2018 in Outdoor/Nature

Image

Invasive Asian Carp Removal Set For Creve Coeur Lake Park

Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

Visitors to St. Louis County’s popular Creve Coeur Lake Park may experience some temporary restrictions in using the park for a two-week period between Jan. 21 and Feb. 17.  The long-term benefit, however, should be the near-eradication of the lake’s biggest nuisance—invasive Asian carp.

Read more below from the MDC about how the carp will be removed and restrictions to lake usage during the project.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted on January 17, 2018 in Outdoor/Nature

Image

Kick Off 2018 With The Annual “First Day Hikes” In 36 Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites

On Jan.1, the annual First Day Hikes event will take place at 36 state parks and historic sites across Missouri. Participants can choose from more than 40 free, guided hikes that range in difficulty from easy to moderate, cover distances up to 4 miles and use a variety of trails in every region of the state.

In its seventh year, the annual event is part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes effort, which gives people the opportunity to start the year off right with an outdoor hike at a state park. A list of state parks with guided First Day Hikes and other related activities is available at mostateparks.com.

Read more from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources below.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted on December 29, 2017 in Local Events, Outdoor/Nature

Image

Donate Your Christmas Tree To Help Build Habitat For Missouri’s Fish

Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is accepting used natural Christmas trees to create fish habitat in Lake 33 on the August A. Busch Conservation Area in St. Charles and in north St. Louis County at Spanish Lake Park. Christmas trees can be donated at these lakes between now and Jan.10, 2018.

Read more below from the MDC about how recycled Christmas trees help native Missouri fish.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted on December 26, 2017 in Outdoor/Nature