Moon Walks offer another season of information....and fun!

Despite ominous clouds on the horizon and a few scattered raindrops, the first Black Hills National Forest Moon Walk went off without a hitch last weekend (6/2/12).  We explored the rolling hills a few miles east of Pactola Reservoir in the central Black Hills and learned more about "pollinators."

We counted over 100 people for the event, which launched the beginning of yet another year of walks through diverse regions of the Black Hills.  It’s the 17^th year for the this outstanding program – and this first-of-the-season event did not disappoint.

U.S. Forest Service botanist Kelly Owens, along with colleagues Chelsea Monks and others, provided insight into the pollinators and wildflowers that are so important to this region.  They identified a variety of pollinators, the plants they pollinate, and the contribution they make in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

Our first real exposure to learning about wildflowers was on a 2010 Moon Walk at Reynolds Prairie north of Deerfield Lake.  That presentation featured USFS botanist Andrew Korth, who was among three persons who died in a tragic boating accident the following day.  So it was fitting that this 2012 inaugural Moon Walk be dedicated to Andrew Korth.

Botanist Kelly Owens

What is a pollinator you may ask?  Perhaps it’s best to start by explaining pollination, and that’s exactly what ranger Kelly Owens did early in the Moon Walk.

“Basically, it’s moving pollen from the male part of the plant to the female part of the plant – and that results in fertilization and fruit production” said Owens, a native of the Rapid City and Keystone area.  She graduated from high school in Rapid City and later earned a degree in Botany from the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

Indeed, the fertilization of plants described by Owens results in the production of fruits and seeds.  Some flowers rely on the wind to move pollen, while many others rely on a variety of animals to move the pollen.  They are.......  (drum roll, please) The Pollinators!

And so those pollinators – like bees, birds, bats, and insects – become critical in the reproduction of flowering plants, as well as in the production of fruits and vegetables.  Over 75% of all flowering plants are pollinated by animals.  We'd like to share with you a very short talk -- containing some fantastic video -- by cinematographer Louie Schwartzberg.  It's called The Hidden Beauty of Pollination.

Botanist Owens gave Moon Walk participants a quick “show and tell” quiz about the wide variety of things that require the active involvement of pollinators.  While the presentation was short --  it was a long list.

The Forest Service crew did a great job of “flagging” a number of plants, and they were kind enough to label them not only with their scientific names – but common names as well.

We learned the names of a few more wild flowers, and we also snapped a few photos of them on this outing.  You’ll find them in our Moon Walk Gallery for 2012.  If you’re interested in revisiting earlier Moon Walks, take a peek in our archived galleries.  You'll see photo links for them in the right hand column of this web site.

Rocky Mountain Iris

One of the things that makes us appreciative of these outings is the access to folks who are specialists on the topic at hand.  There were an abundance of botanists and other Forest Service personnel on this Moon Walk, and we saw and heard many of the visitors  tapping this enormous reservoir of knowledge and information.  And we’re betting we’ll benefit from forest archaeologists again next month when the Moon Walk moves to the Miller cabin homestead near Deerfield Reservoir to examine the restoration project that has preserved this cabin for us – and future generations – to enjoy.

Hats off again to Recreation Forester Amy Ballard for coordinating these walks.  It’s a task she’s had for some 17 years.  If the popularity and enthusiasm for these Moon Walks is any indication, they’ll be with us for a long time!  We know there’s considerable time and energy expended in preparing and executing these events.  But the stated purpose of the Moon Walks is to “provide a family-oriented activity that introduces visitors to the cultural and natural history of the Black Hills.”  Through this introduction, the USFS hopes there’ll be a greater understanding and appreciation for these resources, leading toward better stewardship of public lands.  Nearly 13,000 visitors have participated in the 122 Moon Walks to date.

 

We’ve seen and talked with many of those people.  They’re all ages and from many places.  Mostly, these are South Dakotans, but we’ve visited with Moon Walkers from Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and numerous other states.

We’ve already marked the calendar for Saturday, July 7, and the Miller Cabin Moon Walk.  If you don’t already receive e-mails alerting you to each Moon Walk, along with directions to the location of the event, contact Amy Ballard at 605-343-1567.