Thanks to All Who Helped Make the 2018 Native Plant Sale a Success!

Saturday, April 7 may go down as the first great winter storm of 2018 in the state of Alabama. But seriously, the weather was pretty weird, so we’d like to thank everyone who showed up in the name of native plants, even in the cold and damp. The Ruffner team is a small one, and the Plant Sale is only a once-a-year event, so we sincerely appreciate your patience and support.

This year’s plant sale saw approximately 2,000 native plants entering yards and gardens in Birmingham and beyond. Some of our most popular natives this year were eastern bluestar, blue false indigo, woodland spider lily, red beebalm, white beardtongue, woodland phlox, Solomon’s seal, mountain mint, Old Cahaba rosinweed, aromatic aster, and scarlet buckeye.

Here's what Charles Yeager, Preserve Manager of Turkey Creek Nature Preserve had to say about the Plant Sale: “Thank you everyone that braved the cold rainy weather to make this year's Native Plant Sale an overwhelming success! It was very exciting to see so many people learning about how they can use native plants to support wildlife in their own yards. We would also like to thank the incredible staff at Ruffner for giving us the opportunity to be a part of this amazing day and for their support of Turkey Creek. We look forward to seeing how this event will continue to grow.”

We’d like to give special thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who helped on Friday and Saturday, including: Michelle Reynolds, Kate Musso of Jefferson County Master Gardeners, Chris Sykes of Birmingham Audubon, Celeste Pfau, our amazing JCIB interns, Friends of Turkey Creek, Linda Gail Sherk, and the Blanche Dean Chapter of the Alabama Wildflower Society.

Till next year, we’ll see you on the mountain!

Find Silphium & More at the Native Plant Sale Saturday, April 7!

Say hello to the sunny Silphium integrifolium, otherwise known as wholeleaf rosinweed, just one of the many native plants available this year at our Native Plant Sale. This herbaceous perennial is native to Eastern and Central North America and generally blooms from July to September. A wonderful attractor of birds and butterflies, it is know to grow quite easily in average, medium moisture to well-drained soils in full sun. It can even tolerate a bit of drought once rooted. This sunflower look-alike usually grows 2 to 3 feet tall, but can reach heights up to 6 feet. Find it, and more, on Saturday, April 7 at Ruffner Mountain! Plant Natives. Grow Diversity.

Staff Workday at Greenhouse

We held a Staff Workday on Friday, March 9, and couldn't have asked for better weather to spend the day outside. The morning was spent down at the Greenhouse, potting shrubs and trees in preparation for our annual spring Native Plant Sale on Saturday, April 7. The plant selection for this year's Sale will include over 40 varieties of native plants, including Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), Grayheaded Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata), Silphium, Scarlet Buckeye (Aesculus pavia), Red Oak (Quercus rubra), White Oak (Quercus alba), and so much more.

Later on in the day, new white oaks (Quercus alba) and red oaks (Quercus rubra) were planted near the Quarry. All in all it was a successful Workday for the Ruffner staff!

Don't forget the annual spring Native Plant Sale on Saturday, April 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and find your favorite natives to beautify your yard or home garden. We hope to see you there! 

Mark Your Calendars!

Bat Survey on Ruffner Mountain

Last week we conducted a survey of Mines #3 and #2, both of which are hibernacula for native bats, like the tricolored and big brown. Here is the Ruffner Conservation team, joined by local explorer Bradley Jones and Nick Sharp of the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, entering one of the mines. We tried to make them look as cool as possible, but really we didn't have to try very hard. Stay tuned for further updates and images from inside the mines (which should never be entered by the way!). In the last ten years, local native bat populations have been devastated, some nearly wiped out, by white nose syndrome, a fungal disease that prevents bats from hibernating properly and often leads to death as a result. This survey work is vital in understanding the effects of white nose and how it might be stopped.

Happy New Year from Ruffner Mountain!

There are so many ways to give back this holiday season

 

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Already a member? Maybe you simply value our rivers and streams, our plant and animal life, and want to see them preserved and protected for generations to come. Well, this is the option for you. Make a one time donation, and support conservation at one of the largest non-profit urban nature preserves in the country. 

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Are you a Ruffner regular? Do you know the Mountain like the back of your hand? How many times have you found yourself on a trail, in a valley, or atop a ridge, enjoying the simple thrill of being outside? Do you come here to walk your dog, to take photos, or to enjoy the beauty and solitude of the Mountain? Do you like tax write-offs? If the answer is yes, then it's time to become a Ruffner Member.