Onward To New Adventures: A Farewell Note from Our Executive Director, Karen McCall

Greetings and farewell, PWC community!

I write with a mix of sadness and joy, tears and smiles, as I look back at my 12 ½ years at Piedmont Wildlife Center. I think about our mission, vision, core values and how we have grown; how much our reach has expanded. Before coming here, I worked as the Assistant Director at Charlotte Nature Museum, where we also had live animal ambassadors that connected so many. When we needed an animal, I would look to PWC for non-releasables they may have back when they/we were a rehabilitation hospital. As life changed, and I wanted to move back to Chapel Hill, I applied for the Conservation Coordinator position. During my interview with Gail Abrams, a counselor with a group of camp kids found an injured bird and came to get Gail to help. Down the road we went to free it from some plastic near a pond. Just like my interview with Charlotte Nature Museum, it was filled with excitement, live animals, and a foreshadowing of how working here would be - never a dull moment and always an opportunity to learn and teach!

I remember driving down the road after the interview and getting the strongest feeling that this was where I was supposed to be. I had never felt that so strongly before. The timing for that position didn’t work out, and I felt very conflicted going against my gut. Any time I have gone against my gut, it hasn’t panned out so well. But several months later, I was able to sell my condo in Davidson, NC, took a leap of faith, and moved back to my hometown. The first thing I did was reach out to Gail and start my time with PWC as a volunteer for a few months before getting hired on as the Summer Camp Coordinator. Wow, did my life change! 

Although I had a love of nature and connected with it, the philosophy introduced through camp and adult programs here, and the hard skills I learned brought me to a much deeper connection with nature, a big a-ha moment, and the opportunity to work with fabulous, knowledgeable, creative, accepting people. Working with Gail and Sarah Haggerty restored my faith and trust in people you work with. We had a community that was welcoming, accepting, supportive and trusting. We worked well together and balanced each other. So many wonderful people joined us that I cannot begin to name them/y’all for fear of leaving someone out. Although many have moved on to continue our mission in their ways, I am honored that I was able to work with all and learn from them. Many are still in touch and part of my community. What a road we have traveled!

There are so many memories that flood my brain, bringing laughter, tears, smiles and gratitude. Thank you all for the successes, chances to learn together, challenges we grew from, and belief in what we do. I offer my sincere appreciation to all who have supported us on many levels, connect with nature, build community, and continue to do so.  I encourage each of you to continue to support PWC, our passionate staff, and the new person who takes the reins. 

Summer is for change, fire and new beginnings. I am excited to see what the next leadership brings. As I head off on my own journey and set PWC on theirs, it is appropriate to use a term derived from the Old English word faran, which means to journey, and well, meaning wish the traveler a good or safe trip…FAREWELL!


Happy Trails,

Karen McCall

Plant Magic: Carolina Wild Petunia and Southern Magnolia

Carolina Wild Petunia (Left) and Southern Magnolia (Right). Photos by Karen McCall.

Join our retiring Executive Director, Karen McCall, as she shares her last installment in our Plant Magic series. The reins will be passed to Camryn Jefferson, another member of our staff who is passionate about plants. In Karen's farewell installment, she brings you two plants that remind her of summer, resilience, and childhood! 

It is with a heavy heart that I write my last piece of our Plant Magic series. I've delighted in sharing all the flora with you. It has brought lightness to my soul, smiles to my face, and deep gratitude for my senses and the beauty of our surroundings. In my last piece, I brought you white clover, Trifolium repens. Although I never referred to it as a native plant, I want to clarify that it is NOT native but does a lot to amend the soil. There are two clovers native to NC, but unfortunately, both are extremely rare. The first is Carolina Clover, Trifolium carolinanum, which looks similar to white clover but with a hint of pink. If you're lucky, you might find them by our coast in New Hanover, Onslow, and Duplin counties. The other is Buffalo Clover, Trifolium reflexum, whose red or white flower sits above the leaves. They have been found in Randolph, Stokes, Caswell, and other counties around our state. 

Now, I want to introduce you to two native plants that remind me of my time at Piedmont Wildlife Center ("PWC"). One, a common roadside and woodland plant, Carolina Wild Petunia, Ruellia caroliniensis, and two, the classic Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora. The Ruellia blooms from spring through summer and catches my eye everywhere I roam with its purple flowers. Despite the heat, humidity, dry spells, and thunderstorms of the season, the Carolina Wild Petunia continues to flash a few of its five-petalled flowers. There aren't many wildflowers blooming right now, so this one pops out. To me, this plant reflects the power of resilience. Throughout my time here, we have had some unbelievable challenges yet remained as resilient as Ruellia through them all, and I believe we will continue to do so. 

As I reflect on so many great memories and relationships that have grown in our community, I link many with smells. "Smell and memory seem to be so closely linked because of the brain's anatomy," says Harvard's Venkatesh Murthy, a Life Sciences Professor and chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology. Fires have always been an important part of our camp programs, and the aromas of cedar and oak leave me feeling happy, free, and cleansed. Their smells bring back fond memories of campers' first experiences with fire-making, and the excitement, fear, and empowerment that that activity brought. Flashes of backpacking trips, our annual solstice celebrations, and camping trips from a very young age to the present dance through my head. 

The smell of Southern Magnolia brings me visions of summer, all stemming (no pun intended) from growing up in Chapel Hill and going to the outdoor pool at UNC for swim lessons. Two big trees lined the steps leading to the pool, and I would inhale as deeply as I could when going down those steps. After spending many years in our Plant Guild classes at PWC, I am now drawn to the way this tree grows with its large gray trunk and low sweeping branches, the feel of the six-inch blossoms with 6 to 12 petals, and ovate, glossy, leathery leaves, so strong and protective. There is one near me that appears to have multiple trunks that grew from the main roots, though that is not described in any of the books I used for reference. These trees are planted in many yards as ornamentals, are native to North Carolina, and are evergreen. Traditionally, the Southern Magnolia was used to treat circulatory system disorders, and, according to NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, it potentially has extracts to use in pharmaceuticals.

I close this last entry with my gratitude for all of you. Thank you for supporting Piedmont Wildlife Center, and our native environment. I hope these writings have brought happy memories to you, or inspired you to engage with plants - whether by planting them, studying them, smelling them, sitting amongst them, painting your yard with their colors, or simply savoring their presence. Please continue to support PWC and connect with nature for your well-being and our planet's. 

See you out in the wild! 

Happy Trails,

Karen McCall

If you're interested in welcoming native plants like these into your own garden, consider supporting both your local ecosystem and Piedmont Wildlife Center by buying plants from Garden for Wildlife by National Wildlife Federation! 15% of each purchase you make through our referral link will be donated directly to Piedmont Wildlife Center to help us connect more people with nature. Purchase your plants before July 21st to take advantage of their Christmas in July sale!

Honoring Otus Through Poetry

OTUS – AN EASTERN SCREECH OWL

cared for by Piedmont Wildlife Center 2010 - 2023


I try not to impose named shapes on clouds

but today I did     high wispy cirrus

     writing quill     lying on a blue table

 

primary wing-feather

next     the swan     unafraid of heights

and     long swimmer’s torso     head hidden in blue

 

perhaps an olympian     wind-milling their arms

     the writing quill     changes into     a boat

          floats     something like two coat hooks

 

which on second sight transform into     an owl

reminding me of Otus     the Eastern Screech Owl       

     who like me

 

stretches wings in evening light

     my words     I hope

not spat out     like an undigested pellet

James Finnegan

Sun Jul 7th 2024

Happy Pollinator Week from PWC!

Happy Pollinator Week! Pollinators help plants reproduce by carrying pollen from one flower to another. They include birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, small mammals, and most importantly, bees. Pollinators sustain our ecosystems and contribute to our natural resources by enabling plants to reproduce. Sadly, many pollinator populations are in crisis due to habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. This Pollinator Week, ask yourself, “What can I do to help the pollinators in my community survive and thrive?” 

The best way to help pollinators thrive is to grow native plants. Native plants are a source of food and shelter for local wildlife, including pollinators. Plus, they require less water, fertilizer, and maintenance than non-native plants.

When shopping for native plants with pollinators in mind, opt for long-blooming perennials and shorter-blooming annuals to provide pollinators with a steady source of nectar throughout the year. If you’re in North Carolina, a few of our favorite NC natives include purple coneflowers, butterfly weed, and aromatic aster.

Pro Tip: Bees especially love blue, purple, and yellow flowers with sweet fragrances!

If you purchase native plants for your garden this Pollinator Week, consider getting them through Garden for Wildlife. When you use our referral link, 15% of your purchase will go directly towards PWC’s education and conservation programs.

Another way to support pollinators is to build a Bug Hotel. Orsi Magyari, a member of our community, recently created and shared this tutorial with us. In Orsi’s article, she explains that Bug Hotels enhance habitats for pollinators and encourage biodiversity in gardens. Plus, building a Bug Hotel is a fun and creative hands-on activity for everyone to enjoy!

Let’s get started!

Step #1: Gather your materials.

  • Gabion Basket (Pictured: 45cm x 45cm)

  • Helical Corner Kit, Rope, or Cable Ties

  • Logs, Pinecones, and Twigs: These create a perfect habitat for critters that thrive in dark, woody environments.

  • Compost: This serves as a food source for earthworms and mites, and should be placed at the base of the Hotel.

  • Bamboo: Its hollows offer solitary bees, bumblebees, and wasps suitable sites for nesting, egg-laying, and hiding.

  • Bark, Dead Woods, and Twigs: These offer hiding places and food sources for beetles, especially in urban areas!

  • Plant Pots: When filled with hay, straw, or leaves, plant pots make excellent shelters for snails.

  • Hay, Straw, and Dry Leaves: These offer warmth and protection for bugs during cold weather.

  • Bricks: These provide additional nesting options for bees.

  • Cardboard: Provides insulation, nesting material, protection, and moisture retention for a variety of species.

  • Tiles: These serve as ideal roofing materials, preventing water from entering the Hotel.

Step #2: Assemble your gabion basket by…

  1. Folding the four side panels up from the base.

  2. Using helical to attach the corners. If helical isn’t available, cable ties or rope can easily serve the same purpose!

  3. Twisting the helical into place, ensuring they secure the corners of both panels.

Once you have assembled all sides, leave the top lid open.

Step #3: Get creative in filling your gabion basket with the materials you’ve collected.

Pro Tip: Make sure to leave space for bugs by creating nooks, crannies, crevices, and tunnels!

Step #4: Close your gabion basket using the same technique as before, ensuring it sits comfortably on the fillings without any gaps.

Step #5: Add a roof to protect your Bug Hotel from bad weather. Then, consider decorating your roof with flowers to attract pollinators!

Thank you, Orsi, for sharing this easy, fun way to support local pollinators this Pollinator Week! Consider checking out Orsi’s WireFence Bug Hotel tutorial for additional tips and tricks.

More Pollinator Week Activities:

Thank you for doing your part to help the pollinators in your community thrive!

Plant Magic: White Clovers

White Clover, Trifolium repens. Photo by Karen McCall.

Join our Executive Director, Karen McCall, as she journeys outside amid the spring rains to bring us another installment in our Plant Magic series. In this installment, we explore some classic beauties and learn how to incorporate them into our diet and yard! 

Today, I bring you the white clover, Trifolium repens, that often grows in our yards. This low-growing plant usually has a leaf with three leaflets and looks like some creature took a white pen and scribbled lines forming an arrow across the middle of each leaflet pointing towards its tip. The flowers are white, sometimes with a hint of pink. They grow in patches through spreading roots across the ground and through seeds created by pollination from bees and butterflies.

Hopefully, many of you have experienced the magic of searching for and finding a four- or more-leafed clover (again, the number refers to the leaflet)! This discovery brings feelings of success and joy, and you cannot help but shout out “I found a four-leafed clover!” and smile. Legend has it that this find will bring you good luck. If nothing else, it will brighten your day and mood - what great medicine!

While white clover is often perceived as a nuisance in grass, it plays a crucial role in our ecosystem. It enriches nitrogen-poor soil by extracting nitrogen from the air and releasing it into the ground to fertilize surrounding plants. White clovers are also an excellent nectar source for bees and butterflies. Voles, rabbits, groundhogs, and squirrels eat them, among others, and it serves as the host plant for caterpillars of the painted lady and clouded sulphur butterflies. 

So next time you see them pop up in your yard, I hope you look at them in a new light and stop to revel in their magic as you search for the elusive four-leafed one!

If you’re interested in welcoming native plants into your garden, consider supporting both your local ecosystem and Piedmont Wildlife Center by buying plants from Garden for Wildlife by National Wildlife Federation! 15% of each purchase you make through our referral link will be donated directly to Piedmont Wildlife Center to help us connect more people with nature.

Disclaimer: White Clover is NOT a native plant. It is a naturalized exotic that is non-invasive.

White Clover, Trifolium repens. Photo by Karen McCall.

 
 
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