Appreciating the Homewood Forest Preserve
On a flank of Shades Mountain near Homewood High School, there is a great wooded walk to be had at the Homewood Forest Preserve. It's a convenient place to catch some fall colors.
I included a hike at the Forest Preserve (along with an amble on the Shades Creek Greenway) in Five-Star Trails: Birmingham. One option for exploring the Preserve would be a work day scheduled for this Sunday (though the weather forecast makes it questionable that this will proceed). A schedule of future work days is below. Of course, you can go any time.
Especially now, since the trail just got better thanks to an Eagle Scout Project by Cade Fowler of Troop 95 in Homewood.
Fowler has installed signs for tree identification throughout the mountainside trail system. And its a thoroughly modern system of markings.
Bring your smart phone. The tree identification signs include a QR code, which allows you to pull up extensive information on the tree in question. The sturdy and simplified signage system should avoid problems typically found in these sign systems, which often fade and fall down.
A walk through the guided course reminds us what a magnificent variety of tree species we have, even in this small plot of ground. I enjoyed this walk this week, making a quick escape from work and into the changing leaves. Thanks to Fowler, I may finally complete my education in tree ID.
This Sunday, the Homewood Environmental Commission has scheduled a work day for routine maintenance and invasive plant control on the Preserve. After the work, there will be a guided tour. (Don't expect it to proceed if it's pouring rain).
Volunteers are supposed meet in the eastern side parking lot of the Homewood High School.
Bring gloves, loppers and/or some sort of digging tool to help cut and remove invasive plants.
Dress appropriately.
Email Hans Paul for more info cooterp14@gmail.com or call 807-7357
Work Days are from 2 to 4 pm on Sunday afternoons.
Planned dates of work days:
November 23, 2014
December 7, 2014
December 14, 2014
March 8, 2015
March 15, 2015
March 22, 2015
I included a hike at the Forest Preserve (along with an amble on the Shades Creek Greenway) in Five-Star Trails: Birmingham. One option for exploring the Preserve would be a work day scheduled for this Sunday (though the weather forecast makes it questionable that this will proceed). A schedule of future work days is below. Of course, you can go any time.
Especially now, since the trail just got better thanks to an Eagle Scout Project by Cade Fowler of Troop 95 in Homewood.
Fowler has installed signs for tree identification throughout the mountainside trail system. And its a thoroughly modern system of markings.
Bring your smart phone. The tree identification signs include a QR code, which allows you to pull up extensive information on the tree in question. The sturdy and simplified signage system should avoid problems typically found in these sign systems, which often fade and fall down.
A walk through the guided course reminds us what a magnificent variety of tree species we have, even in this small plot of ground. I enjoyed this walk this week, making a quick escape from work and into the changing leaves. Thanks to Fowler, I may finally complete my education in tree ID.
This Sunday, the Homewood Environmental Commission has scheduled a work day for routine maintenance and invasive plant control on the Preserve. After the work, there will be a guided tour. (Don't expect it to proceed if it's pouring rain).
Volunteers are supposed meet in the eastern side parking lot of the Homewood High School.
Bring gloves, loppers and/or some sort of digging tool to help cut and remove invasive plants.
Dress appropriately.
Email Hans Paul for more info cooterp14@gmail.com or call 807-7357
Work Days are from 2 to 4 pm on Sunday afternoons.
Planned dates of work days:
November 23, 2014
December 7, 2014
December 14, 2014
March 8, 2015
March 15, 2015
March 22, 2015
Trimming the shrubs at least once a year will help rid the shrubs from damaged or diseased parts of the plant. lopper
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