The Mountain is Calling
Yay to native plants and bravo to Protective Stadium and Macknally Land Design for prioritizing native species in their landscape. Can't wait to see all of the birds and pollinators it will attract! Be sure to check out the native plant gardens if you're attending the World Games next week!
Shrikes Finley June 2, 2022
Shrikes Finley June 2, 2022
Shrikes Finley June 2, 2022
Shrikes Finley June 2, 2022
Shrikes Finley June 2, 2022
Shrikes Finley June 2, 2022
The nectar-rich blossoms of the bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) are attracting lots of butterflies. With the help of the excellent guide on Alabama Butterfly Atlas, we identified this beautiful butterfly as a pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor). The butterfly uncoils its proboscis (an elongated sucking mouthpart that works like a straw) to probe and sip nectar from each flower. It’s important to provide nectar plants and larval host plants if you want butterflies. We will be planting host plant native pipevine, also called woolly Dutchman’s pipe (Isotrema tomentosum) in the Habitat Gardens for the caterpillars to eat.
We want more butterflies!
In preparation for the World Games (July 7th - July 17th), Ruffner staff completed training for First Aid/CPR/AED with Trio Safety CPR AED by GoRescue. We expect heavy visitation at Ruffner during the games and want to be as prepared as possible in the event of an emergency. With extreme heat this summer, we encourage you to follow the heat safety guidelines from the National Weather Service.
We are excited to partner with Birmingham Children's Theatre for a special hike-meets-theatre immersive experience at Ruffner Mountain, Red Mountain Park, and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve! Lace up your tennis shoes, slather on the sunscreen, grab your water bottle and get ready to be deputized as a BCT Junior Ranger.
Show run time is one hour.
The show will take place throughout the preserve, with one mile of walking.
Performances are recommended for ages 4-10.
Tickets are $10 for children and $20 for adults.
Click here for more information and to purchase your tickets!
Many thanks to State Representative Rolanda Hollis of Alabama House District 58 for her support of Ruffner Mountain and Jefferson County greenspaces!
Rep. Hollis chose Ruffner Mountain as an organization to support through the Jefferson County Community Service Fund. Her generous donation will provide our wildlife ambassadors with the food, enrichment, and enclosure maintenance that they need to live healthy lives. Rep. Hollis's support will ensure that our wildlife ambassadors can continue to educate District 58, along with all of Jefferson County's citizens, about Alabama's amazing ecosystem.
We would also like to commend Rep. Hollis for her efforts to fight for women's healthcare issues in the State of Alabama with the passing of HB230 - which prohibits practices regarding the treatment of pregnant female inmates or female inmates in the postpartum period, and HB250 which requires Schools K-12, and local boards of education to provide feminine hygiene products in women's restrooms of certain schools, at no cost to students. You can read more about these bills here.
A green anole (Anolis carolinensis) photobombed the blooms of the Alabama state wildflower, oakleaf hydrangea (hydrangea quercifolia). This lizard was giving us some serious side-eye!
Make plans to shop Turkey Creek Nature Preserve’s Spring Native Plant Sale on Saturday, May 7th, 10am - 4pm at the Turkey Creek Pavilion.
Need a nudge for a cool plant to buy? See Manager, Charles Yeager’s favorite plant and why it is an excellent choice for an Alabama landscape. A plant list and more information about the event can be found on their website at: https://turkeycreeknp.com/spring-2022-native-plant-sale/
