Published: September 14, 2008 12:36 am            

Teal Ridge Wetlands trip planned by ONPS

David Hungerford is set to lead a field trip through the Teal Ridge Wetlands Area Sept. 20. The trip is sponsored by the Cross-Timbers Chapter of the Oklahoma Native Plant Society (ONPS). All ONPS events are open to the public. The group will meet at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 20 and car pool to the Wetlands. Interested people should meet in the parking lot across Monroe Street from Life Sciences West on the Oklahoma State University campus. The trip should finish before noon. Refreshments will be provided.

Teal Ridge is a 23-acre wetland demonstration site within the Stillwater Creek floodplain. It is located at 19th Avenue and Walnut Street. Restoration of the wetland is being administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. It will include an upland trail, which will provide a handicapped accessible path through the buffer area. This buffer area will feature existing woods and other native plantings, interpretive signage and benches placed along the trail. This trail is still in the planning stage.

Hungerford is the soil conservationist at Teal Ridge. He will talk to the group about the trail project as well as guide the group through existing trails. The trip should be comfortable for “easy walkers” as existing trails are pretty much established.

The ONPS encourages the study, propagation, protection, appreciation and use of Oklahoma native plants. It was formed in 1987 and comprises some 500 members statewide.

The Cross-Timbers chapter traditionally holds two potluck dinners and three field trips each year. Members are also welcome to attend activities held by the other ONPS chapters, the North East Chapter in Tulsa, the Central Chapter in Oklahoma City and the state-wide Mycology Chapter.

Contact Paul Richardson (speedy154@juno.com) or Elaine Lynch (mneslynch@yahoo.com) for more information about the field trip, ONPS or chapter activities. More information about Teal Ridge is available at http://www.tealridgewetland.com/tealridgewetland/

        

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