A Quarterly Newsletter for members and friends of Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary THE SANCTUARY Issue #3 - 14 Program Spotlight / Join the Fun! Monarch Mania Saturday, September 20 Anytime between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm This family event celebrates butterflies, particularly monarch butterflies that will be migrating south for the winter. With your help, we’ll capture, tag and release GARDEN CLUB FOR Community Gardening monarchs as part CHILDREN & FAMILIES Wednesdays, August 20 of the nationwide through September 24 effort to monitor their Tuesdays, August 12 populations. Kids can catch butterflies, through September 23 These meetings feature programs and discussions appropriate to the time make a butterfly craft, and get their faces These garden club meetings are painted. We will have live butterflies and designed for all children and their of the season followed by practical application. Meetings will be held at caterpillars on hand to view up close and families. Please bring gloves and plan to personal! Please call to register. work outside each week. Each class is MLTNS, and the gardening will take place at Ruth Moore Park in Liberty. Time: Anytime between taught independently and is not required 10:00 am and 3:00 pm for the next class. Please call to register. New gardeners may join us anytime during the season. Please call to Ages: Family Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am Fee: $5/person, $10/family Ages: Children and families register. (You may stay late and come in extra days to work in the garden Members: Free! (5 and older recommended) Donations welcome Fees: $5/family/program, unsupervised.) or $15/family/month Time: 9:30 – 11:00 am Members: $3/family/program, Ages: Adult or $9/family/month Fees: $20/month or $60 for the whole 2014 season HIKING GROUP Thursdays, August 21 through September 25 Relax, stretch and hike for exercise and fun! The hiking group will hike the trails of MLTNS and other parks in the City of Liberty. Meet at the MLTNS Picnic Shelter unless instructed otherwise. Please call to register and for the meeting place. Time: 6:30 pm Ages: Family Fees: $5/hike, or $15/month

The mission of the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary is to provide: u Engaging, hands-on environmental and natural science education for all ages u Biodiversity of native plants and animals through wise management of our natural resources u Understanding that all Earth’s inhabitants are part of complex, interdependent ecosystems, and u Opportunities for quiet reflection and reconnection with the natural world. Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink. 2 Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary rom the anctuary f s By Michael Sandy

Friends, Exciting news for Chris Willig: he is off to school at MU Columbia to join the PhD Program in Plant Sciences. I’ve always said he is really smart! Chris has taken charge of the Naturalist job here for the past few years, and he will be greatly missed. The old programs have been improved, new programs have been added and the science fun has been amazing! Chris, good luck in the Plant Sciences program and stop by to visit when you are in the neighborhood. The other side of this is a hearty welcome to our new Naturalist, Collin Edwards. Collin brings experience working with children, a BS in Biology and specialty work with insects and birds. We look forward to working with Collin.

Michael R. Sandy Sharing nature with friends and family!

‘Thank you’ to our sponsors...

...and to our partner!

We ask you to patronize these businesses that support the efforts of the Nature Sanctuary! The Sanctuary (Issue 3 – 14) 3 Species Spotlight By Chris Willig Eastern Collared Lizard

The Eastern Collared Lizard is one of Missouri’s largest and September, most colorful lizards. They inhabitant dry, rocky glades and can after which be found from Missouri westward into Kansas, Oklahoma and they burrow Colorado, and throughout the southwest states. In Missouri, most in loose dirt populations are located in the Ozark region, but small isolated under rocks groups can be found elsewhere if there is suitable habitat, even and hiber- north of the Missouri river. The males of this species have the nate until most striking coloration. Their bodies are green or even blue spring. with lighter green spots, and they have light brown to yellow Since heads with a rust colored patch under their throats. Both males Collared Lizards are a noticeable and highly recognizable spe- and females have two coal-black bars on the upper side of their cies, they serve as a good indicator species for Missouri’s glade necks, hence the name “collared” lizard. Females have more habitats. This means that their population numbers can serve of a drab brown coloring, with tan spots along their backs and as an indirect measurement of the total health of the ecosystem yellow legs, and sometimes orange spots along their sides during they inhabit. Like many native Missouri habitats, glades have pregnancy. declined in quality in the last two centuries, which in turn has Collared Lizards are extremely active, especially in the warm reduced the overall populations of Collared Lizards along with summer months. They can be found early in the morning basking several other Missouri glade species. One of the main threats to on rocks. During the day they spend most of their time looking glades is the encroachment of invasive plants such as cedar and for food, including crickets, grasshoppers, millipedes and spiders, locust trees. Natural fires once helped control trees and shrubs on and even occasionally vertebrates like mice or other lizards. glades, but now fires are necessarily suppressed. This means that These reptiles are very quick and agile and can move at speeds of an important aspect of preserving Missouri’s glades is controlled up to 16 miles per hour and run on only their hind legs. During burns spaced out every couple of years. Fortunately, Missouri has breeding season in May and June, the males develop brighter, several conservation areas containing properly managed glades more intense coloration and larger heads to help them compete where Collared Lizards can be observed. Tom Sauk Mountain with other males for a mate. Females lay their eggs in shallow in southern Missouri, for instance, is an excellent place to find burrows where they incubate for 2 to 3 months before hatch- some in the wild. Also, right now there are a male and a female ing. Adult Collared Lizards remain active until about the end of Collared Lizard on display right here at the Nature Sanctuary.

Just for Kids Just for Kids Salt Crystal Garden Animal Picture Puzzler Does your family enjoy growing veg- Start out by putting a few base pieces of etables or flowers in a garden outside? Well, charcoal, porous brick, cement or sponge in here’s a recipe for an indoor Salt Crystal a glass or plastic bowl, and pour the follow- Garden, which has also been called a Coal ing over the base pieces: two tablespoons Garden or a Depression Flower (it was of water, two tablespoons of salt and two popular during the 1930s). Get your parents tablespoons of Mrs. Stewart’s® Bluing (a to help with the ingredients, and you should laundry aid). see some lovely crystal formations in just a The next day, add two more tablespoons few days. of salt on top of the base pieces. On the third day, pour two tablespoons each of water, salt and bluing into the bot- tom of the bowl, and then put a few drops water, salt, bluing and ammonia below the of mercurochrome, food coloring or ink on existing growth, and enjoy! each base piece. The crystal “flowers” will grow best in (Source: www.mrsstewart.com. See this well-circulated dry air. If you don’t have website for fun variations for your garden, any crystals by the third day, try adding and to learn more about the scientific two tablespoons of household ammonia to principles involved, including dissolution, help the crystals get started. To keep your colloidal suspension, evaporation, capillary garden growing, occasionally add more action and recrystallization.) 4 Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary

mltns programs and EVENTS Month Call 816-781-8598 or visit www.naturesanctuary.com for further information. UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, PLEASE CALL TO REGISTER FOR ALL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS.

AUGUST Wednesday, August 20 SEPTEMBER PRESCHOOLERS: Saturday, August 9 & 16 FOOTPRINTS IN THE MUD LIVE ANIMAL FEEDING Watch our animals do what comes natural: eating! Registration not required. Monday, September 1 Time: 3:00 pm LABOR DAY Fee: Free, donations welcome The Nature Center is closed, but the Nature Sanctuary grounds are open for Tuesday, August 12 Learn about animal tracks and other hiking. HOMESCHOOLERS: animal signs. FOSSIL FIND! Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm Tuesday, September 2, 9, 16 & 23 Look for fossils and Ages: 3 – 6 years GARDEN CLUB FOR rocks at the creek, then Fee: $5/child or $10/family and CHILDREN AND FAMILIES make a fossil cast to accompanying adult Seasonal gardening lessons for take home. Closed-toe Members: $3/child or $5/family families. See page 1 for tennis shoes or boots and accompanying adult details. are required footwear. Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm Wednesday, August 20 & 27 Wednesday, Ages: 6 and up COMMUNITY GARDENING September 3, 10, 17 Fee: $5/child or $10/family and Community gardening lessons. See & 24 accompanying adult page 1 for details. COMMUNITY Members: $3/child or $5/family GARDENING and accompanying adult Thursday, August 21 Community gardening lessons. See HOMESCHOOLERS: ANIMAL page 1 for details. Tuesday, August 12, 19 & 26 TRACKS AND SIGNS GARDEN CLUB FOR Learn to identify animals from their Thursday, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES tracks and other signs. September 4, 11, 18 & 25 Seasonal gardening lessons for Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am HIKING GROUP families. See page 1 for details. Ages: 6 and up Weekly hikes at MLTNS and around Fee: $5/child or $10/family and the City of Liberty. See page 1 for details. Thursday, August 14 accompanying adult INSECTS AND Members: $3/child or $5/family Saturday, September 6 SPIDERS and accompanying adult MLTNS GROUNDS WORK Study the life of insects and L&R WORKDAY spiders, make a craft and Thursday, August 21 & 28 help keep our wildlife habitats healthy. read a story. HIKING GROUP Registration not required. Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm Weekly hikes at Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm Ages: 4 and up MLTNS and around the Ages: 14 and up Fee: $8/adult, $5/child City of Liberty. See page Members: $5/adult, $3/child 1 for details. Saturday, September 6 & 13 LIVE ANIMAL FEEDING Friday, August 15 Watch our animals do what comes PRESCHOOLERS: Saturday, August 23 natural: eating! Registration not required. HOP, HOP, SPLASH! ADVENTURES IN STORYTIME Time: 3:00 pm Learn about water-loving animals like Fee: Free, donations welcome turtles, frogs, crayfish and aquatic insects! Tuesday, September 9 Closed-toe tennis shoes HOMESCHOOLERS: or boots are required KIDS’ FISHING DAY footwear. hear a nature themed story, take a hike, Learn catch & release fishing Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am make a craft, and stay late to meet an in our pond. Ages: 3 – 6 years animal. Time: 1:00 – 2:30 pm Fee: $5/child or $10/family and Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm Ages: 6 and up accompanying adult Ages: Family Fee: $5/child or $10/family and Members: $3/child or $5/family Fee: $1/person accompanying adult and accompanying adult Members: Free, Members: $3/child or $5/family donations accepted and accompanying adult The Sanctuary (Issue 3 – 14) 5

mltns programs and EVENTS (cont.)

Saturday, September 13 Saturday, September 20 MONARCH MANIA FALL FUNGI Learn about native mushrooms and other Come celebrate butterflies, particularly fungi and look for them on the trails. monarch butterflies that migrate south for Time: 9:30 – 11:30 am the winter. See page 1 for details. Ages: Family Fee: $5/person, $10/family Wednesday, September 24 Members: $4/person, $8/family PRESCHOOLERS: BUTTERFLY BONANZA Saturday & Wednesday Learn about the Scout Programs September 13 & 17 butterfly lifecycle and MOONLIGHT NIGHT HIKE help tag any monarch Please call to register. Limit 20 Learn about the nightlife of butterflies we catch. scouts per program. Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm MLTNS and take a moonlight hike. Two adult leaders free with each Ages: 3 – 6 years Time: 9:00 – 10:30 pm group. Additional adults are $5 per Ages: Family Fee: $5/child or $10/family and Fee: $8/adult, $5/child accompanying adult adult. No fee for adult MLTNS Members: $5/adult, $3/child Members: $3/child or $5/family members. and accompanying adult We ask that groups of 13 or more Wednesday, September 17 scouts call to schedule a private LEAVE NO TRACE Thursday, September 25 program. Learn to minimize your impact on our HOMESCHOOLERS: natural world, then hike outside. MONARCH TAG Time: 9:00 – 10:30 am Learn about monarch butterflies, then Thursday, September 11 Ages: 6 and up catch and tag monarchs for a research WEBELOS: FORESTER Fee: $5/person project with Monarch Watch. Time: 6:00 – 7:30 pm Members: $3/person Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am Fee: $5/scout Ages: 6 and up Friday, September 19 Fee: $5/child or $10/family and PRESCHOOLERS: accompanying adult FALL FISHING DAY Members: $3/child or $5/family Bring your pole for easy catch and and accompanying adult release fishing at our pond. Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am Ages: 3 – 6 years Please call with specific requests Fee: $5/child or $10/family and for Girl Scout programs. accompanying adult Members: $3/child or $5/family and accompanying adult

ELVES’ WORKSHOP UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday & Sunday December 13 & 14 1:00 to 5:00 pm The Elves will help your child shop 29TH ANNUAL FAIRY TALE FOREST A DAY OF PASTELS the Holiday Store and choose the Friday, Saturday & Sunday Saturday, November 1 perfect gift for friends or family. October 24, 25 & 26 10:00 am – 4:00 pm 5:30 to 8:00 pm Join Holly Ann Schenk for an Want to help prepare for Elves’ Work- This non-scary Halloween event intensive day of pastels, covering shop? Look around your house for includes a jack-o-lantern trail hike, everything from choices of materi- new, nearly new and slightly used, fun animal characters and fairy als and techniques to plein air and re-giftable items to donate to the tale folk, live animals, exhibits and working from photographs. Holiday Store. crafts. 6 Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary

MLTNS Chrysalis Gift Shop News Volunteers These volunteers assisted with one or more of the following projects: accounting, Martha’s Mix bird seed animal care, bird feeding, committees and attracts a variety of birds board work, displays, grant applications, to your feeders. land and resources, newsletter preparation and folding, program and event planning, preparation and assistance, reception, recycling and volunteer training. Dixie Baldwin, Paula Barger, Daniel Martha’s Finch Mix makes Durocher, Iva Lea Durocher, Eli Eber, your finch feeder a very Frank Gannon, Pat Gannon, Julia Harner, popular spot. Kathleen Harner, Immacolata Manor My Day, Betty Ledford, Virginia Long, Esther Ray, Susan Seyboth, Everett Shaver, Doug Smith, Kay Thornton and Marjorie Yates Our many thanks to the Master Gardeners and the Master Naturalists from the University of Missouri Extension We were saddened to learn that Wish List Office and the Missouri Department of Allan Littlefield passed away Conservation, who have been helping to improve our grounds. in June. He was a long-time Lawn tractors Note: Volunteer hours recorded after Loppers for trimming trees volunteer at the Sanctuary and March 31, 2014 will be listed in our next Washer and dryer will be greatly missed. newsletter. Rug spot cleaner Aquarium filters Green $avers Family Fashions Birthday Parties GREEN$AVERS Donors WILD Carolee Bussjaeger, Carla Changar, Gail Celebrate a birthday on the wild side! Doerr and Cyndy Jenkins a big Thank You to Ann Simonis, Choose a theme from the following: owner of Green$avers Family Fashions, for making donations to MLTNS possible through sales at her store these past several years, and for all of her many volunteer efforts supporting the Sanctuary.

TRACKS & TRAILS INSECT EXCITEMENT BIRD BONANZA Please use.... www.Goodsearch.com as your search engine – a great way SCIENCE MAGIC of donating to MLTNS! SNAKES ALIVE DINO-RIFFIC

Call MLTNS at (816) 781-8598 for Thanks to Backyard Bird Center a birthday flier, reservations, or more information. for donating our bird stations and monthly feed. The Sanctuary (Issue 3 – 14) 7 Memberships & Donations Many thanks to all who have contributed to the mission of mltns!

NEW MEMBERS Bluebird Level MEMORIALS William & Debbie Bednar Memorial donations have been received a.H. & Pat Deitrick Bluebird Level in loving memory of: Carolyn & Tim Frame Stephen Anderson Jean Geitz from Anna Crump, Jeanne The Gallimores Stacey Cooley Crews, Jennifer Naylor and the heather Howard Gretchen, Jeff & Senova Martin Saint Joseph Historical Society and Duane & Cosette Kelly Diane Poe Robidoux Row Museum David & Marilyn Lindsey

Brenda & Jerry Long Coneflower Level Stephanie & Don MacNeil Suzanne Gough DONATIONS Gretchen Martin east Clay Rotary in the Sari & Mark Mutchler Family name of Kara Burgess Ladybug Level Jennifer & Chris Naylor Green Wish, Kansas City adam Kush amy Petersen Desiree Libeer Jeanne Ralston Daniel & Roberta Robinson NUTS & BOLTS MEMBERSHIP Clara Beth & Bob Saunders Ralph Brant RENEWALS Dick Brown Coneflower Level ann Henning Kingfisher Level ann Henning Solveiga & Jim Unger Chris & Regina Ahrens Lynne Lund Nancy Workman everett & Ruby Shaver Monarch Level GIFTS John Chick Law Firm Ladybug Level Marise Hansen: Richard Moore & Linda Hezel Christina & August Baanders Scrumptious Catering Mr. & Mrs. Charles Schmidt Pauline Davis Gretchen Martin Cheryl Holtman everett & Ruby Shaver Betty Johnson Bluestem Level virginia Long Fred & Carole Barth Melissa Smith-Heath Ken & Diana Ludwig Joe & Diane Snyder Carol Blum & Steven Wilson

NOTE: Memberships and donations received after March 31, 2014, will be listed in our next newsletter.

Benefits of Membership Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary • Quarterly newsletter. • Discounts on all public programs. Membership Application Individual Privileges • 10% discount on gift shop items. r Ladybug $20-34 • additional discounts during special, Date: ______r Renew r New r Gift r Coneflower $35-49 member-only gift shop sales. Family Privileges • Special member-only events. Name: ______• a Cathy Johnson print (at Monarch Address: ______r Bluebird $50-74 Level). r City, State, Zip: ______Bluestem $75-124 r Make check payable to: Phone: ______Monarch $125-249 MLTNS r Kingfisher $250-499 Email: ______Send to: r Sycamore $500-749 Gift / From: ______407 N. La Frenz Road r Bobcat $750-999 Liberty, MO 64068-8417 To apply by phone using a credit card call: 816-781-8598. r Martha’s Circle $1,000 + The Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and member donations are tax-deductible to Join us on Facebook: Friends of Martha LafiteThompson Nature Sanctuary. the extent provided by IRS regulations. The Sanctuary NON-PROFIT ORG. (Issue 3 – 14) US POSTAGE PAID Martha Lafite Thompson PERMIT #50 Nature Sanctuary LIBERTY MO 407 N. La Frenz Road Liberty, MO 64068-8417

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Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary

407 N. La Frenz Road, Liberty, MO 64068 (816) 781-8598 www.naturesanctuary.com Also see: www.kcnature.org Email: [email protected]

- BOARD OF DIRECTORS - President...... Kent Peterson President Elect...... Anne Nickel Secretary...... Debra Ahern Treasurer ...... Dan Vlamis

Joe DeBold • Bill George • Steve Karol Glenn Longworth • Amy Petersen Holly Ann Schenk • Paul Schenk Chris Wilson • Waiva Worthley Hours The Interpretive Center: The sanctuary and trails: Tuesday – Saturday April through September - MLTNS STAFF - 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Open Daily, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Director...... Michael Sandy Closed Sunday & Monday October through March Naturalist...... Collin Edwards Open Daily, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Administrative Assistant...... Gail Doerr Interpretive Center closed on major holidays. Hiking Trails are open unless Newsletter Editor...... Kay Thornton weather hazards (such as lightning, high winds, falling trees, etc.) or construction/maintenance hazards dictate.