Red Oak Park in Ward 4 — City's First Ephemeral Park

Red Oak Park is narrow and wooded with an opening at its SE corner. The woods catch water from houses and streets upstream. The watershed used to be wetland prairie. Its concrete streets and storm drains dump into the park and cause flash floods during rain, eroding soil and creating a ditch-like stream and leaving tree roots bare. The Park Division of Fayetteville, Arkansas, is trying to find a way to protect the mature hardwood trees in the park and make the space safer and more accessible.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Ambrosia trifida feeds many birds in September and October and a few persistent ground-scratchers all winter

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of immature and adult male cardinals feeding on Ambrosia trifida in September 2010.
September and October are feasting months for locally fledged birds as well as the hoards of migrating birds that find Ambrosia trifida a special native treat in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The importance of allowing native plants to go to seed and remain standing as "feeders with legs" cannot be overemphasized.