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John Lovie's avatar

Thanks, Priscilla. I'll be in Boulder in a couple of weeks. Will try to check out Chautauqua.

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Priscilla Stuckey's avatar

Great, John! Our leader was Dave Sutherland, who organized the volunteers each summer. He's retired from the parks dept now, so I don't know if it's still a native demo garden or who is taking care of that little hillside now. I hope it's still pretty! Regardless, you'll love the Chautauqua trails—magnificent.

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Laree Kline's avatar

Wonderful! Love this! Are the wild boar native to the land?

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Priscilla Stuckey's avatar

No, they, like the deer, were introduced. There were no ungulates on these islands at all! No predatory mammals, so the birds and plants had it all to themselves.

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Laree Kline's avatar

I heard there were no snakes either.

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Priscilla Stuckey's avatar

None. I love snakes, but I don't miss getting surprised by a rattler, like in New Mexico. But we have no hummingbirds either! I do miss them.

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Laree Kline's avatar

I would miss hummingbirds too. So, with the deer and boar, will the new forest always have to be fenced or will there eventually be some kind of balance?

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Priscilla Stuckey's avatar

I assume always fencing. It would take a very long time to reduce those tens of thousands of deer, let alone the boar. And they're still increasing because hunting can't keep up with them. One of the ranches up there—the ranch where the new greenhouse is—runs a humane hunting and dressing program where they sell deer meat. And if you're local, you can drive up to the ranch and receive 2# of ground venison for free. The general store is next door to the new greenhouse, so I picked up our 2# for that day. It's the Ulupalakua Ranch Store.

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Gail D Storey's avatar

This is so great, Priscilla! I especially love the photos of seedlings then later visible plants!

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Priscilla Stuckey's avatar

Oh, Gail, I too love the before and after so much! Those little plants are such bundles of vitality—makes me feel good just looking at the photos.

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Karen Davis's avatar

This so wonderful!!

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Priscilla Stuckey's avatar

Thanks, Karen, glad you enjoyed!

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