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Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees...Which Should You Choose?

Posted on December 6, 2024

When it comes to sustainability during the holidays, one question often stands out for folks who celebrate Christmas: Should you buy a real tree or an artificial one? Like most things in life, the answer to that question isn’t as straightforward as you might think—it depends on several factors, including how you use and dispose of your tree. Let’s break it down!

Artificial Trees
Artificial Christmas trees are usually made of plastic and are often manufactured overseas, meaning they come with a hefty carbon footprint before they even reach your living room. On the plus side, they can be reused for many years. However, research suggests you’d need to keep an artificial tree for anywhere from 5 to 20 years to offset the environmental impact.

Real Trees
The idea of cutting a tree down once a year (or even just once!) might feel crazy. But, “the chop” can come with surprising environmental benefits. Think about it: Christmas trees are typically grown on tree farms, not harvested from forests. These trees wouldn’t exist at all if not for Christmas tree farmers. Like any real tree, the trees on tree farms create habitat for wildlife, absorb carbon dioxide, and emit oxygen. Plus, real trees are biodegradable and can be composted, turned into mulch, or used for other eco-friendly purposes. And, if you buy local, you’ll be supporting a local farmer.

The Complications
If you have to drive a considerable distance to get to a Christmas tree farm, the carbon emissions from your vehicle can outweigh the benefits of buying a real tree. And, depending on where you’re located, you might run the risk of bringing home invasive insects.

Okay...so then what!? Well, if you don't plan on moving closer to a Christmas tree farm or downsizing, it's perfectly fine to buy an artificial tree and keep it for several years. As an alternative, try to purchase a gently used tree...or commit to a new house plant and decorate that instead!

The Verdict
If you’re looking for the most sustainable option, real trees are the greener choice—but only if they’re responsibly sourced and properly disposed of. Choose a tree from a local farm or a certified sustainable grower to minimize transportation emissions. Once the holidays are over, recycle your tree at a designated drop-off location or repurpose it in your yard.

For those who already own an artificial tree, the best thing you can do is keep using it for as long as possible. Avoid discarding it unless absolutely necessary. And if you need to get rid of it, consider donating it.

Ultimately, whether you choose a real or fake tree, being mindful of your decision and how it impacts the environment means that you're on the right track!

Minor Plant, Major Annoyance

Posted on October 30, 2024

As the saying goes, “It’s the little things,” and lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor) is no exception. This little plant is causing COL staff a major headache on multiple preserves, namely at Robinson Woods and Flynn Woods.

The Problem
You might already be familiar with Vinca. It was originally brought over from Europe for landscaping, and it is a popular addition to yards and gardens to this day. Some people even mistake it for a native spring ephemeral—it produces tiny, pinwheel-like purple flowers in March or April. While not technically classified as an invasive species in Michigan, Vinca minor is a non-native species with a tendency to take over areas of forest floors and crowd out natives.

In Robinson Woods, you can find spring ephemerals like prairie trillium trying to survive in the dense layer of Vinca. And trust us, it would be way cooler to have a blanket of varied wildflowers greeting hikers at the trailhead each spring instead of that big ol’ patch of Vinca.

Earlier this year, COL staff, volunteers, and Mighty Acorns students hand-pulled countless bags of this viney plant on multiple occasions (maybe you even helped us). While we certainly cleared a lot, this control method was time-consuming and the jury is still out on what percentage will grow back. Plus, Vinca isn't our TOP priority. Like we mentioned earlier, it's not officially considered an invasive species, but there are still better, native options that would be more beneficial to wildlife.

The Project
To save staff and volunteer time, our field crew has decided to do a science experiment to determine the most effective treatment method. Over the next six months, our crew will treat several test plots of Vinca using a variety of herbicide and surfactant mixtures at three points in the year: fall, winter, and spring. Environmental factors like temperature, humidity, wind speed, and cloud cover will be noted at the time of each treatment.

They will revisit the test plots one month after the initial application and then again the following season to assess what percentage of Vinca was affected by each unique mixture. They'll also monitor the presence of spring ephemerals along the way.

Recently, our crew finished the fall application. Five 2m x 2m test plots were treated in the initial application (boundaries are marked by the red pin flags):There's obviously nothing to report yet, but we're looking forward to—hopefully—drawing some conclusions about both WHEN and HOW we can most effectively handle this Vinca. Stay tuned for more updates over the next six months as we monitor our progress and photograph the results...because science is fun!

Who's Living in Your Leaf Pile?

Posted on October 18, 2024

By now, you’ve likely heard the phrase, “Leave the leaves!”
While we love this slogan—it’s catchy and self-explanatory—it’s also easy to immediately write off. Leaving all the leaves right where they are might feel extreme and even overwhelming.

We imagine people hearing it for the first time feel sort of like this-

And you know what? We get it! It can be really hard to find the balance between keeping the neighborhood peace and taking precautions to protect wildlife.

Luckily, there’s a secret loophole: It doesn’t have to be all or nothing!
You don’t have to avoid touching the leaves altogether OR completely mulch your entire yard…you can find a compromise somewhere in between.

Instead of raking the leaves and burning them, mulching them, or bagging them, consider moving them to a less visible area of your yard, under the bases of trees, or into garden beds. That way, any critters trying to snooze inside will make it until spring.

Speaking of critters…who's lazing in those leaves?

Swallowtail caterpillars attach their chrysalises to dead stems and other plant material in the fall. Like luna moths, these swallowtail butterflies are beautiful and hard to miss…however, their chrysalises look a lot like dried leaves dangling from a branch. To protect swallowtails, avoid cutting dead stems back until spring.

Fireflies… lightning bugs…whatever you call them, these beloved flying lightshows spend their larval stage in the leaf litter, under logs, or underground, insulated by the warm, moist blanket of leaf litter. If you want more fireflies in your yard next summer, leave the leaves!

Mourning cloaks are one of the first species to emerge after an ice cold winter, often on sunny days in late winter or in very early spring. As one of the first signs of life, they should be protected at all costs! Mourning cloaks overwinter as adults in the small crevices of tree bark, logs, and even in the leaf litter itself. In addition to leaving the leaves, you can support their peaceful slumber by creating small brush piles in your backyard.

These cutie pies are a common sight in fall and are famous for “predicting” the severity of the upcoming winter. They’re not actually psychic, but they are resilient. Woolly bears overwinter as caterpillars under logs or in the leaf litter and can withstand temperatures as low as -90 degrees Fahrenheit. When the weather warms, they feed briefly before spinning cocoons and pupating. Come late spring/early summer, they emerge as adult Isabella tiger moths.

Help protect these creatures by keeping at least a portion of your yard wild this winter. Remember, it’s not all or nothing!

Debunking Nature Superstitions

Posted on September 13, 2024

Ahhh Friday the 13th, we meet again. Every year (and sometimes twice, or even three times), this foreboding day inspires people all over the world to avoid things like ladders, mirrors, and black cats to prevent being cursed with years of bad luck.

Along with these well-known superstitions, there are several that are specifically tied to nature. Some of these superstitions perpetuate harmful stereotypes for a few of our favorite creatures, while others are simply silly and fun. Read on as we debunk the serious, the silly, and everything in between!

Superstition #1: If you disturb this spider’s web, it will weave your name into the new one.
According to an old folk tale, if you disturb the web of a yellow garden spider, it will weave in your name when it rebuilds the web, spelling trouble for you. This is impossible for a host of reasons (the main one being that spiders can’t spell). Although it can't write your name, this spider does form a cool, zig-zag pattern called a stabilimentum in the center of its web.

Superstition #2: Bats “vant to suck your blood."
You can thank our friend Bram Stoker for this one. While vampire bats exist, they are not found in the U.S., and they are the exception—not the rule. Of over 1400 bat species, only three are sanguivores (animals that consume the blood of other animals). These vampire bats are found in arid and humid regions of Mexico, Central America, and South America. They normally feed on livestock and very rarely bite humans. In Michigan, we have 9 species of insect-eating bats, such as the red bat shown below.

Superstition #3: If you step into a ring of mushrooms, you will become invisible and fairies will force you to dance forever.
While we don’t know anyone this has happened to, permanent invisibility is difficult to disprove… All jokes aside, circular formations of fungi (often called “fairy rings”) are a novel sight, and they’re formed in an interesting way. Check out this video to learn more!

Superstition #4: Toads give you warts.
This is a widely distributed claim, but it’s not true. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is only carried by humans. The wart-like bumps you see on toads are glands containing a toxic liquid that they secrete when feeling threatened. Go forth and touch toads freely! Just wash your hands afterward—and don’t lick them.

Superstition #5: It’s bad luck for a black cat to cross your hiking path.
If you see a black cat on a Chikaming Open Lands preserve, it’s probably just Shadow, our Education and Outreach Coordinator’s black adventure cat (who is very respectful and always wears his leash).

Well, unless it’s this black cat. Someone dumped this bedazzled black panther at Robinson Woods last year. Watch out! It just might reappear during this year's Enchanted Forest…

There you have it! Now get out there and enjoy nature without fear, Friday the 13th or not!

Managing the Lean, Green, Invasive Machine: Phragmites australis

Posted on September 5, 2024

Yesterday, COL staff met up with volunteers and Kowabdanawa odë kė staff for an “experimental” workday at Grand Beach Marsh Preserve. The purpose? Controlling non-native Phragmites (Phragmites australis), an aggressive invasive species that forms dense patches in wetlands, ditches, and along the banks of rivers and streams, colonizing the areas and crowding out native plants. In this particular case, the Phragmites is invading a coastal plain marsh, a globally rare ecosystem chock full of amazing (and rare) native plants. Boooooooooo.

What Do We Mean by “Experimental”?
During the workday, we tried a new invasive control method for the first time. This method is called “spading,” and it goes like this:

Position a spade at a 45-degree angle, 5cm below the ground at the base of the plant. Stomp on the spade to drive it into the soil, aiming to sever the rhizome. Remove the plant from the ground. Collect, bag, and dispose of all plants.

During late summer and early fall, Phragmites plants translocate their energy below ground to store in their rhizomes during winter. We hope our spading will limit the energy storage and weaken the rhizomes (plus, we're disposing of any seed heads in the process, which can’t hurt). While this method is totally herbicide-free, it is also labor-intensive. Oh yeah, and one more thing—we’re not really sure if it’s going to work.

Say what?! We're NOT SURE? Then why on earth would we use our time and human resources this way?

Science, of course!

A Grant That Goes Both Ways
We recently received a grant from the Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative (GLPC) through the Great Lakes Commission (GLC). to fund one year of Phragmites treatment at three of our properties: Nokmes Creek, Dayton Wet Prairie, and Grand Beach Marsh. The purpose of the grant is twofold: to help us reduce populations of Phragmites on our preserves and for the GLC to collect data that helps them understand the best ways to control Phragmites.

The GLPC will use the data to improve their Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PAMF)Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PAMF), a collective learning program anyone managing Phragmites can join. PAMF exists to help change the way Phragmites management is done throughout the Great Lakes basin and leads to approaches that maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of Phragmites management.

So, as a grantee, we’re not only treating Phragmites; we’re also contributing to an ongoing study that will help people all over the Great Lakes region effectively manage it! That's what we call a nature high five (which makes people cringe...but we don't care)!

When Will We Know if It Worked?
Next July. We’ll do a second round of spading again next June when the Phragmites is in its growing phase. Then, in July, we’ll conduct our annual Phragmites monitoring and hopefully draw some conclusions about the efficacy of spading. We’ve actually been working on Phrag control at this site using other methods since 2017, and we’ve made significant progress:

With 8 years of data on this site, we should be able to deduce whether the spading was effective. Stay tuned!

Learn more about Phragmites and best management practices here.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Geological Survey under Grant/Cooperative Agreement No. G23AC00436.