Hedge Apple Woods Field Trip Members Only
Members Only Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Jack Muirhead gave a short summary of the history of Ewing Park before it became an ISU Foundation asset upon the death of Mrs. Hazle Ewing at her bequest. During the following years, Mrs. Hallowell, a member o the Audubon Society and Jack planted many native Spring ephemerals and trees to create habitat for birds. Since that time, Ewing Park has been designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Large numbers of migrating birds pass through the park each year. University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists became involved with stewardship of the park in 2015. Master Naturalists have donated thousands of hours removing invasive plants and adding native plants to the area. They, also, lead a group of community members who volunteer with the Ecology Action Center to remove invasives from Sugar Creek which runs through the Park. ISU graduate students volunteer hours to remove invasive plants as well.
The group then took a lovely walk on a perfect Spring day to identify native plants, shrubs and trees along the well maintained paths.