Greetings Mt. Pisgah enthusiasts!

My wife and I took advantage of mild weather and climbed Mt. Pisgah up the main trail to the Oak Demo area near the summit during an overcast late afternoon, with occasional slight drizzle. I paid special attention to the ecology of the Oak Demo area, as I haven't been there during the spring since the thinning project.  It looks GREAT.

John Cooney, host of KLCC's "The Natural World" reflects on Mt. Pisgah's South Meadow. To listen to this broadcast, click here.

When I first heard of Play in the Rain Day, I envisioned about 14 or 15 kids showing up to explore the nursery grounds while it poured rain for about 2 hours until everyone was thoroughly drenched and ready to head home. But when I woke up on Saturday morning, the sky seemed like it would be willing to cooperate, revealing only a few scattered grey clouds. And as I pulled up to the bridge leading into the park, I was meet by Hal Hushbeck maneuvering a trailer load of youngsters down the driveway from the arboretum.

Celebrating what is and may be

BY BOB WELCH
Register-Guard Columnist
Appeared in print: Thursday, Oct 1, 2009

Having hiked partway up Mount Pisgah one morning last summer, I stopped to take a sip from a water bottle. Suddenly, I sensed I wasn’t alone.

I wasn’t.

A young deer, no less frozen in motion than the oaks behind it, was staring at me from a whisper away.

Later I thought: How many places such as Eugene-Springfield have places like this in their backyards, the 2,300-acre Howard Buford Recreation Area?

As Friends of Buford Park & Mount Pisgah celebrates its 20th anniversary on Oct. 8, it’s time we took stock of our bounty; more than 100,000 of us will enjoy the wilds of Buford this year from 24 miles of hiker and equestrian trails.

Greetings my fellow friends of Buford Park,

        The crisp October air enhances the steam from my breath, fogging up my windshield on my way to the first day of interning in the Native Plant Nursery. 

Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah will celebrate twenty years of improving trails,  habitats and health at our public Fall Celebration on Thursday, October 8 at 6:30 pm in the ballroom of the Veterans Memorial Building, 1626 Willamette St., Eugene. 

Founded in 1989, Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah works to protect native ecosystems and compatible recreation n the Mt. Pisgah area.  Much of their work is on Lane County’s Howard Buford Recreation Area (aka Mt. Pisgah).  The community of volunteers and supporters and park visitors are rejuvenating in body and spirit by visiting and helping care for the 2300-acre park.

Rivers and their floodplains provide homes for salmon and other aquatic critters, as well as drinking water, recreation and rejuvenation for humans.   Floodplains also produce "ecosystem services," such absorbing our pollution, providing water for irrigation, detaining and storing floodwater, and providing favored places to build.  Yet, with climate change, a growing population and crashing salmon runs, how can "Science" help? 

Join us Thursday, September 10 at 7:00 pm at the Science Pub (199 W.
8th Ave., in the Cozmic Pizza building). In accessible language, Chris Orsinger will speak about how to apply knowledge from the sciences of hydrology, the geology and shape of rivers (fluvial geomorphology), climate predictions, and native plants to restore healthy rivers.

Greetings Faeries!

As you enjoy the delightful natural environment at Buford Park, consider contributing a bit of your time and energy toward enhancing this special place.

Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah is offering Faerieworld attendees a choice of two specially-designed service projects at the park on Saturday morning.  Just select one that appeals to you and sign up by emailing me with your project as the subject! Registration is limited. Don't miss this opportunity to create a deeper hands-on connection to one of the biggest and best pieces of native landscape left in Oregon!

Tools, gloves, supplies and supervision provided.  Just bring your good energy.  Sign up NOW.