Land Management Update
I am officially in my 4th month as Land Manager here at Wehr Nature Center and it feels like I’ve been here so much longer…and I mean this in the most sincere way. Working with the weekly volunteers of Phenology, Eco Warriors, Wheel n’ Chip, and Earth Care has made me feel like one of…
Read MoreWhat is Going On With Wehr’s Lake?
First, thank you for noticing and being concerned. We are concerned as well and are working towards finding possible solutions. It is helpful to know some background information about the lake to understand its challenges. What is Causing the Lake to Decline? Like many things in nature, the answer is not one simple explanation. There…
Read MoreLand Management
Hello everyone! My name is Jeff Veglahn, the new Land Manager here at Wehr Nature Center. I am very excited to join this great team and work on a beautiful piece of land! I’ve been here nearly two months now and feeling very much at home. One of the biggest challenges I have faced so…
Read MorePrairie Burn
After several months of making fire breaks and cutting and removing trees to reduce the amount of fuel in the prairie we finally had the right conditions for a burn April 24th. The prairie and an area up hill from the amphitheater were burned today. We hope you have some time to observe the new…
Read MorePrairie Season at Whitnall Park
An Article Written by Mariette Nowak, former director of Wehr Nature Center, for the Greendale Village Life, August 20, 1975. This article from Wehr’s archives describes the origin of Wehr’s prairie and highlights tallgrass prairie natural history. The prairie was called “Whitnall Park prairie” in 1975 since it was established ten years before Wehr Nature…
Read MoreFrom Yard to Natural Habitat
Here’s How We Did It! by Sarah and David Stokes When my husband, David, and I moved to Hales Corners in 2017, our yard consisted of a green grass lawn and several trees. We are both environmentalists and knew that a natural yard was in our future, but were not sure how to get started.…
Read MoreForest Bathing Opportunities Come to Wehr Nature Center
Many of us have had the experience of going into nature to “get away from it all.” Intuitively we have sought refuge in our green spaces for various reasons, such as rest, relaxation, stress relief, and personal reflection. We are guided instinctually to seek these spaces out; however, recent scientific evidence has shown that our…
Read MoreMemorial Donation Keeps Frogs Happy
I love Wehr Nature Center. I know. That might sound obvious. After all, I’ve been here for over 26-years, but I really do. Wehr is of course special. It’s an island of green in an increasingly urban metropolitan area. But what I really love are some of the special places within this special place. One…
Read MoreWehr’s Natural Diversity: The Upland Woods
The all-season beauty of the upland forest along our Blue Trail makes it must-see for visitors to Wehr. The 53-acre stand is diverse. Oaks, hickories, and black cherry trees are common in drier areas, while sugar maples dominate in moist north facing locations. Everything in the woodland revolves around these trees. Competition for light creates…
Read MoreWorms Threaten Wehr’s Woodland
Wait, what? Worms are supposed to be good for the environment, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. All worms in Wisconsin are technically invasive. Worms were wiped from the Great Lakes’ landscape by glaciers that receded just 15,000 years ago. European settlers reintroduced worms such as nightcrawlers and red wigglers when they arrived. But while…
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