Linnaeus Arboretum » Emily Hoefs

Views from the Summer Solstice Garden Tour

Emily Hoefs — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:06:18 +0000

On Sunday, June 22nd, the Friends of the Linnaeus Arboretum hosted a Summer Solstice Garden Tour that included gardens in southern Minnesota. The group departed from Gustavus and headed west to New Ulm making stops at both the August Schell Brewery Gardens and the home of Gigi and Scott Rysdahl, as well as New Ulm’s German Park for a delicious picnic lunch. The tour then returned to Linnaeus Arboretum to enjoy refreshments, tours, and musical entertainment. It was a beautiful day the highlighted a few of southern Minnesota’s finest gardens. Enjoy the collection of photos taken during the tour.

New Hire in the Linnaeus Arboretum

Emily Hoefs — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:12:17 +0000

The Linnaeus Arboretum has hired its new Naturalist to start in August. Bob Dunlap is an ‘08 graduate of Gustavus with tremendous experience in both plant and bird identification. He brings with him vitality and excitement and will surely do a wonderful job in the position. His knowledge of birds is amazing and as you can see from the photo, he loves birding! In addition to serving as the Naturalist in the Arboretum, he will also manage the research greenhouse in the Biology Department. Join me in welcoming this new asset to the Gustavus community.

Updates from Bob the Birdman

Emily Hoefs — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:17:28 +0000

Gustavus has lost one of its great birding resources. Bob Dunlap graduated in May, but will of course continue his birding endeavors. He has set up a blog site of his own where he will update avid birders on what he is seeing in the skies. The site is – http://bobthebirdman.blogspot.com/ . This is a great site to find updates and keep in touch with Bob the Birdman.

Summer Solstice Garden Tour

Emily Hoefs — Mon, 19 May 2008 17:28:57 +0000

Join the Friends of the Linnaeus Arboretum for an early summer garden tour to three southern Minnesota botanical treasures. Van service from Linnaeus Arboretum will leave at 10:15 a.m. for the August Schell Brewery in New Ulm. German Park will be our destination for a picnic lunch. Then it’s on to the Rysdahl residence to view Gigi’s beautiful garden creations. Finally, it’s back to St. Peter for a mid-afternoon reception and specially guided tours of the Linnaeus Arboretum and the Melva Lind Interpretive Center. Relax at the end of this exciting tour with refreshments and live music provided by the Linnaeus String Quartet.

Cost is $39.00 for FLA members, and $49.00 for non-members. How do I become an FLA member? This includes van transportation from Linnaeus Arboretum, lunch, guided tours, and an afternoon reception with live music and refreshments.

For additional information, contact Shirley Mellema at (507)933-6181 or arboretum@gustavus.edu

Space is limited, so register today! RSVP by Tuesday June 17, 2008

A Great Day of Birding

Emily Hoefs — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:32:56 +0000

Yesterday afternoon was amazing for birding in the Arb! We had excellent looks at several
uncommon species, and the weather was absolutely beautiful. Here’s a list of what we
found:

American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Bald Eagle
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Brown Thrasher
Brown-headed Cowbird
Chipping Sparrow
Common Grackle
Cooper’s Hawk (heard calling briefly)
Eastern Bluebird
European Starling (apparently nesting in a wood duck box!)
Field Sparrow
House Finch
House Sparrow
House Wren
Killdeer
Lark Sparrow (heard singing briefly)
Lincoln’s Sparrow (pretty good looks at one of my favorite birds!)
Mallard (nesting? pair on one of the ponds)
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-necked Pheasant (intermittently calling from somewhere)
Song Sparrow
Sora (one bird called briefly from one of the cattail ponds at the north end of the Arb)
Swainson’s Thrush – probably the best looks I’ve ever had at one as it stalked out in the
open along the path not more than 20 feet from us!)
Tree Swallow
Turkey Vulture
Vesper Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow (very brief looks)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-rumped Warbler

All for a total of 34 species!!! In an hour and a half!!!

Birdman (Bob Dunlap ‘08)

Happy Arbor Day

Emily Hoefs — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:53:25 +0000

“He that plants trees loves others beside himself” – unknown

It is important to remember the value trees hold in our world. Arbor Day reminds us to look around and appreciated trees and nature that surround our homes. They offer so many special gifts to us as inhabitants of the Earth. Thank a tree today, or better yet – plant a new tree today.

“A civilization flourishes when people plant trees under whose shade they will never sit” – Greek Proverb

BPLP Earth Day Event in the Linnaeus Arboretum

Emily Hoefs — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:37:48 +0000

Last night, the Big Partner Little Partner Program (Community Service Office) hosted an educational Earth Day event in the Linnaeus Arboretum. This was a cooperative effort that focused on small ways to “save the planet” and “connect with nature”. The event was a huge success and lots of fun for the St. Peter youth that attended. The evening kicked off with a trash relay where kids learned how to sort waste into recycling piles, compost, and the landfill. It really gave them a good idea of how much of our waste ends up in a landfill and how much we can recycle or reuse. Next little partners, hand in hand with their big partner explored the arboretum on an interactive scavenger hunt that had them hunting for specific arboretum items, but also for any trash that may need to be picked up in the arboretum after a long winter. It was a wonderful opportunity for the kids to see the small actions they can take in their community. Various other crafts and activities filled the evenings time and when 8:00 rolled around, both little partners and big partners were pleasantly fatigued. The cooperative effort was both fun and rewarding. We look forward to continuing to strengthen the relationship between the arboretum and other campus and community groups and have an Earth Day event next year that is even bigger and better. Happy belated Earth Day!

Trees for Heart, Mind, and Spirit Begins Today

Emily Hoefs — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:11:11 +0000

Today is the kick-off of our Arbor Week activities in the Linnaeus Arboretum. Come enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery. Lunch is available for purchase, so all should join us for a brief visit. The schedule for the next three days is as follows:

Wednesday, April 23^rd

11:30 – “Yoga in the Arboretum” – Kari Lipke

12:00 – “The Importance of Play and Chance to Dance” – Michele Rusinko

12:30 – “Negative Effects of Nature Withdrawal” – Bonnie Reimann & Aaron Banks

1:00 – “Local Biking Routes” – Brian Koeneman

Thursday, April 24^th

11:30 – “Expanding the Arboretum – Coneflower Prairie” – Cindy Johnson-Groh

12:00 – “Birding with Bob” – Bob Dunlap

12:30 – “Geology of the St. Peter Area” – Jill Sotendahl

1:00 – “Interpreting the Spring Landscape” – Emily Hoefs

Friday, April 25^th

11:30 – “Tai Chi in the Arboretum Meditation Area” – Gretchen Koehler

(meet in the Natural Meditation Area of the Arboretum)

12:00 – “Natural Labyrinths” – Rachel Larson

12:30 – “Sewing the Seeds of Vocation” – Chris Johnson

1:00 – “Finding Musical Inspiration” – Karl Anderson (bagpipes)

We have native MN tree saplings available to attendees. Plant them in your yard, or give them as a gift to someone special in your life. We anticipate beautiful weather, wonderful information, and great company. Join us!

Birding in the Linnaeus Arboretum

Emily Hoefs — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:07:11 +0000

What a beautiful afternoon it was for birding! Migration is definitely well underway, as
we found several species now passing through the Arb. Here’s a list of what we saw today:

American Crow
American Goldfinch (nearly in full yellow summer plumage!)
American Robin
Black-capped Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Brown Thrasher (at least two within earshot of the Interpretive Center)
Cedar Waxwing
Chipping Sparrow
Common Grackle
European Starling
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Red-winged Blackbird
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Song Sparrow

The next birdwalk is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, at 4:30. Join me, won’t you?

Birdman (Bob Dunlap – ‘08)

Trees for Heart, Mind, and Spirit Schedule

Emily Hoefs — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:09:54 +0000

The Linnaeus Arboretum will host a series of brief presentations relating to how nature affects us physically, mentally, and spiritually. Please join us during your lunch hour on Wednesday, April 23rd – Friday, April 25th to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the arboretum. Attendees will receive a free tree sapling with each session they attend. Some lunch options will be available for purchase in the Interpretive Center. Contact Emily Hoefs with any questions (x7199)