Connecting People
With Nature
Wachiska Program and General Meeting - Thursday, January 9, 7:00 p.m., Unitarian Church,
6300 A Street, and also via YouTube link: https://youtube.com/live/vVsa0sas-tk?feature=share
The Role of Prairie Pines
in Improving Tree Diversity
and Community Resilience Across Nebraska
with Justin Evertson, Nebraska Forest Service and
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
By Arlys Reitan
At this time, it seems especially appropriate to address the topic of how Prairie Pines is currently and will continue to aid in providing and researching tree diversity in Nebraska. After all, Walt and Virginia Bagley always had trees in mind when they settled Prairie Pines. They started the first Christmas tree farm in the state where people could pick out their trees and have them freshly cut for holiday decorating. Walt was a charter member of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. With assistance from State Senator Jerome Warner and Glenn Johnson of the Lower Platte South NRD, Bagleys established the first conservation easement in Nebraska.
Wachiska’s January 9th speaker is amply qualified to address Prairie Pines’ trees. Justin Evertson will discuss the tree diversity initiatives of the Nebraska Forest Service and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, including the role of Prairie Pines’ test plots. In these plots, about 70 unique types of regionally native but uncommon trees and shrubs have been lined out for trial and seed block establishment since 2014.
Justin Evertson is a favorite presenter to Wachiska Audubon. He has been assisting communities across Nebraska with sustainable landscape development since 1990. He is passionate about trees and the native landscape and practices what he preaches by helping in the planting and care of several community landscapes in Waverly where he lives.
Join Wachiska on Thursday, January 9, at 7:00 p.m. at Lincoln’s Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, for this free, public, in-person talk which will also be live-streamed on YouTube at
https://youtube.com/live/vVsa0sas-tk?feature=share
No registration is needed. This program can also be viewed at a later time. Check Wachiska’s website for links to past programs.
Wish List for Prairie Pines
As we move to Prairie Pines and get ready for a new year, we will be deciding on essential tools and equipment needed.
If you have hand or power tools, lawn items (sprinklers and hoses), or other equipment you would like to donate, please get in touch with Mark Brohman. We will be looking for a vehicle to transport disabled or elderly visitors as well as for maintaining trails and fences. An electric golf cart would be ideal or a UTV or side-by-side all-terrain vehicle. We will also be in the market for a small- to medium-sized tractor for various duties in the future. If you have a spare area rug, we could use one or two in the visitor’s center.
As always, we really appreciate the generosity of our members.
January 2025 Calendar of Events
January 6 Education/Outreach Committee
via Zoom, 6:00 p.m.
January 9 General Meeting, "The Role of Prairie Pines in
Improving Tree Diversity and Community
Resilience Across Nebraska,"
by Justin Evertson at 7:00 p.m. in person
meeting at the Unitarian Church and
live-streamed; no registration needed
(see link above)
January 13 Conservation Committee via Zoom, 6:30 p.m.
January 15 Newsletter Deadline, Wachiska Office, 5:00 p.m.
January 21 Board Meeting via Zoom, 7:00 p.m.
Give Nebraska is preparing to kick off this year's
campaign.
Wachiska Audubon Society will be participating and we are fortunate to be one of the 70+ members who benefit from the 100+ public and private workplaces that allow employees to contribute to their favorite non-profits through payroll deductions.
In September 2021, the Wachiska Board adopted the National Audubon’s Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as the Chapter’s own goals:
The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.
Wachiska Audubon Society's vision is to share the experience and love for nature and help protect its diversity.
Join Wachiska Today
Become a member of the Wachiska chapter of the National Audubon Society and support environmental conservation, education, and outreach in Southeast Nebraska.
Click HERE for details.
Read recent newsletters
Join friends and neighbors to show your concern about our climate and our elected officials. Stop by the Wachiska office and pick up your Climate yard sign.
Signs that say “VOTE with CLIMATE in Mind” are available for $10 each. They are made of material that will hold up well to the elements and come with a metal holder to push into the ground. You are encouraged to put your signs out now for the fall elections. Since they are so durable, they could easily last three or four years even if kept out all year.
NEW! Wachiska is on YouTube
The photos on this website were taken by Wachiska members. Many thanks to Bruce Wendorff,
Linda Brown, Paul Johnsguard, Tim Knott, Stu Luttich, John Carlini and Elizabeth Nelson.