Ripley youth horticultural club enjoys Frog and Tree adventures at education shed

Members of the Ripley Horticultural Society's "For Our Youth" club were excited for the meeting Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network (PRWIN) McLarty education shed. The boys, especially, were eager and arrived well-prepared with nets in hand to catch frogs in hopes that the frogs would oblige.
 
But first, the group learned about trees. With rain pouring down, the shed was a welcome shelter to learn about the four trees: the Ash (ash borer), the Apple (wild apples), the Hawthorne (jam and thorns) and the Pine. The difference between broadleaf and evergreen trees was explained, and tree rings determining the age of a tree were examined in the wood slices that Grandma J’s husband, Al Jaynes, had cut from a birch tree.

Members began by sanding the wood, and leader Grandma J explained the woodcraft. Everyone went to work with enthusiasm to paint trees, leaves and frogs on these slices. Didn’t ancient tribes also paint pictograms of their prey before they hunted them?

Grandma J, and Josie and Alayna Middelkamp presented club leader Tryntje Eisen with a wood slice with beautiful fall leaves and the club name "For Our Youth" painted on it.

When the rain stopped, it was time for a tree walk, visiting and examining the four trees the club had learned about.

Unexpectedly, there was company as a ruffed grouse was walking a little ahead of the group on the path. Such a gift!

Back in the shed, the youth compared the taste of wild apples to store bought ones. A few children liked the wild ones better.

Leader Tryntje had the children imagine they were frogs using party blow-outs as “frog tongues” to catch their prey of insects and other invertebrates, by rolling up their sticky tongue. This was challenging and fun.

Then came the long awaited frog adventure. Armed with a net for each member and two deep pails, the group set out to catch the frogs, trying to move as little as possible because frogs are good at detecting movement, with their bulging eyes giving them almost 360-degree vision.

It would have been nice if the frogs had all lined up to be caught. Unfortunately, they showed only glimpses of themselves and were too quick for the nets. The youth did manage to catch some tadpoles.

For the club challenge: the largest sunflower stalk, largest zucchini, biggest potato and biggest pumpkin, Grandma J and Tryntje will visit the members’ gardens to measure them before the end of September.

The next meeting will be on the Saturday before the Ripley Fall Fair when the group will be preparing fair entries. Grandma J asked the children to bring five leaves (could be: tree, flower or any other leaf) to use in making leaf rubbings.

Thanks to PRWIN for allowing the group the use of the McLarty Environmental Study Area.