The zoo has a new exhibit! While it may not be as breathtaking as a polar bear, we are still pretty excited about it! The new attraction is an interactive watershed model that lets children (and children at heart!) explore and create their own landscapes and water flows. In a sandbox, you can design your […]
New Watershed Exhibit at Henry Vilas Zoo Read More »
Compost is like chili–everyone has their own recipe. You throw in what you find in the fridge, it takes a while to cook–and it always smells good when it’s done. Compost is much better for your garden than chemical fertilizer. It adds structure to soil and releases nutrients slowly. In many ways, it’s one of the
Tips & Tricks for Composting Read More »
Friends of Lake Wingra has begun a new program to help understand and protect the amphibians that call our lake home. We are working with a group of volunteers to listen for frogs and toads near the Vilas Lagoon throughout the spring and early summer to learn when each species is most active in the
TIME TO THINK COMPOST! This is the last really free lunch on the planet–at least for your garden. You can pay for a composter by avoiding the purchase of just three bags of lawn fertilizer. Compost is much better than chemical fertilizer because it adds structure to soil and releases nutrients slowly. Why
Compost: Nature’s Recycling Read More »
As our loyal Friends, we know that you’ve heard from us before about the problem of road salt contaminating Lake Wingra. Environmentalists can easily visualize how road salt in the water supply is bad for biodiversity. The problem is, most people link deicers to winter safety and struggle to see how their overuse
The Danger of Using Too Much Deicer Read More »
Spring cleaning is just around the corner and we want to help your home feel fresh and safe, for your family and for the environment! Check out these cheap and easy DIY cleaning solutions that will leave your house smelling lemony fresh. 1) All-purpose cleaner: Cuts grease & deodorizes 1 cup white vinegar 1 cup
5 Tips for Do-It-Yourself Eco-Friendly Spring Cleaning Read More »
Phosphorus is natural and essential, but when present in excess it can cause algal blooms, fish deaths, and decreases in water clarity. Phosphorus is currently one of the biggest challenges facing Lake Wingra so it’s time to get creative about finding solutions. Through my graduate studies at UW-Madison, I had the opportunity to design an
Floating Plant Islands Offer Phosphorus Reduction & Food Read More »
Rain gardens are a beautiful way of making our watershed a happier and healthier place. This year, Friends of Lake Wingra received a grant from the Natural Resources Foundation to spread the appreciation for all our dedicated rain garden care takers. Some of you may have noticed the bright orange butterfly rain garden signs
Education, Awareness, Beauty: A Happy Note to Brighten Your Day Read More »
A majority of Americans believe climate change is real and caused by human activity. Yet Donald Trump has said climate change is a hoax. Our current political climate is a challenge to all environmentalists. Even the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has recently removed references to climate change from their website. Given this
Climate Change – Citizens Must Lead Read More »
Happy New Year! As Friends of Lake Wingra transitioned from 2016 to 2017, we looked ahead to the coming year, and saw immense opportunity, often balanced by immense challenges. Opportunities and their associated challenges lead to change, and we embrace a year of coming change with optimism. Some changes will be obvious,
New Year’s Challenges and Opportunities for the Friends Read More »
Black ice is relatively smooth, hard, and clear. Packed snow eventually turns to black ice, especially when it rains, or when there’s a thaw, followed by freeze. You must completely remove packed snow if you want to prevent ice buildup. Black ice is most slippery when water is present. Then it can be very
Black Ice – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know Read More »
We’re looking for homeowners to help demonstrate salt-free methods for clearing snow from sidewalks, including solar snow removal. We’re testing some improved methods. But you can use any method, provided no salt and that it’s a showcase job. All the snow doesn’t have to be cleared at once. We’ll provide you with a small sign
Volunteers needed for Salt-Free Sidewalk demo Read More »
