Friends of Lincoln State Park Newsletter
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First of Three Family Movie Nights June 14
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The Friends of Lincoln State Park will present the animated feature "Bee Movie" on Saturday, June 14th starting at dusk at the Lincoln Amphitheatre.
Animated Feature
Voices by: Jerry Seinfeld,
Renee Zellweger, Chris Rock
DreamWorks Animation;
Directed by Simon J. Smith and Steve Hickner
Rated PG; 90 minutes; 2007
Barry B. Benson, a bee who just graduated from college, is disillusioned with his only job prospect, honey. When he ventures outside of the hive he breaks a cardinal rule and talks to a human, a florist named Vanessa, and is shocked to find out that humans have been stealing bees honey for centuries and decides to sue them in this animated comedy.
Concessions will be available starting at 7:30 PM from the Friends of Lincoln State Park for a reasonable charge...not movie theatre prices!
You can visit the official Bee Movie website and view the trailer by going to http://www.beemovie.com.
Admission is free except for the park entrance fee of $5 per Indiana vehicle or $7 per out-of-state vehicle.
Where Have All the Bees Gone?
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Have you seen a honey bee lately? If not, it could be because there just aren’t as many as there used to be. Starting in 2006, beekeepers began to report that bees were mysteriously abandoning their hives, never to return. According to the Purdue University Entomology Department, surveys conducted in 2007 and 2008 found a total loss of over 35% of managed bee colonies. Scientists are still trying to determine precisely what is causing the bees to vanish, but they have dubbed the phenomenon Colony Collapse Disorder.
Why should we care, doesn’t that mean we’re less likely to get those painful stings when we accidentally step on one in the grass? Well, honey bees play a central role in our food supply and are crucial to the plant fertilization process through the spreading of pollen. Pollination is critical to the production of the vast majority of fruits and vegetables we humans eat as well on crops that feed livestock. A massive decline in the bee population could have a negative impact on farming and cause crops to fail affecting our food supply.
Why are the bees disappearing? Scientists have been looking at a combination of factors that could be making bees sick. Some of these factors include pesticide exposure, an inadequate food supply, and a new virus targeting bees' immune systems. Bees are also susceptible to parasitic mites. However, research continues in hopes of narrowing down the true culprits. CCD has been reported in at least 24 states including the neighboring states of Ohio and Michigan.
The National Resources Defense Council offers the following suggestions for how you can help keep bees healthy and thriving by making your yard and garden colorful, diverse, and pesticide free:
- Native Plants: The NRDC suggests using local and native plants in your yard and garden. Native plants thrive easily and are well suited for local bee populations, providing pollen and nectar for bees to eat.
- Diversity: Plant lots of different kinds of plants in your yard. Plant diversity ensures that your garden attracts many different varieties of bees and gives them a range of flowering plants to choose from throughout the year. Make sure your yard plants vary in:
- Color: Bees have good vision and are attracted to several different colors of flowers.
- Shape: Different species of bees are better suited for different shapes of flowers. Give your bees some variety!
- Flowering times: Having a sequence of plant species that flower throughout the year helps sustain the food supply and attract different species of bees.
- Pollen Is Good: Pollen is bee food. Genetically engineered pollen-free plants trick bees into thinking they'll find food, and then leave them hungry.
- Minimize Pesticides: There are many natural methods to control pests in your garden. Researchers believe pesticides are a contributing factor to Colony Collapse Disorder. Moreover, some insecticides are harmful to bees and wipe out flowers that provide bees with food. If you must, use targeted pesticides and spray at night -- when bees aren't active -- on dry days.
- Build a Hive: Building your own bee hive is easy and fun. Creating a wood nest is a good place to start -- wood- nesting bees don’t sting! Simply take a non-pressure treated block of wood and drill holes that are 3/32 inch to 5/16 inch in diameter and about 5 inches deep and wait for the bees to arrive.
You’ll also find information at the DNR’s Entomology website at www.state.in.us/dnr/entomolo/5632.htm.
Check Out These Interpretive Naturalist Programs in June
Summer officially arrives in June which means there are lots of naturalsit activities offered at Lincoln State Park. You can visit the nature center anytime Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM where you can see creatures, learn about nature, and kids can even earn their own patch. If you’ve never had a chance or taken the time, check out the Col. Jones Home. It’s open from 8-10 AM on Fridays and 11 AM to 4 PM on Saturdays and Sundays for self-guided tours. Guided tours are generally offered at 2 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.
During the month of June you can learn more about what present day Lincoln State Park was like during the time that Abraham Lincoln roamed the woods of the area. This program will be offered at the Nature Center on June 12 at 11 AM, June 20 at 11 AM, and June 27 at 11 AM. You can walk in Abraham Lincoln’s footsteps and get to know his neighborhood by going on the Neighborhood Walk. This hike begins at the amphitheatre parking lot on June 14 at 10 AM and June 22 at 11 AM. Other naturalist-led hikes include a Weber Lake hike, a firetower hike, and a hike to the Sara Lincoln Woods preserve. Go to www.lspfriends.org/Events.html for a link to the complete June schedule of Naturalist activities.
Friends of Lincoln State Park Awarded $1,000 Grant
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At a presentation program on June 10th, the Friends of Lincoln State Park were awarded a $1,000 grant from the Spencer County Community Foundation, a member of the Community Foundation Alliance. The grant award will fund the commission of an original artist’s mural to be located in a newly expanded nature center exhibit. As part of the Nature Center expansion, it will be relocated to a renovated lower level of the Group Camp dining hall. It will contain many new exhibits and hands on activities to interpret the natural surroundings of the area as they existed during the years when Abraham Lincoln and his family lived in this area. As part of this project, a local artist will create and paint a mural to be included as part of the experience visitors to the new Nature Center will enjoy.
The mural will attempt to incorporate the Seal of the State of Indiana along with other images relating to young Abraham Lincoln and his experiences living in what is now Spencer County and Lincoln State Park. It is hoped this project will help foster a greater appreciation for pioneer life and specifically the life of Abraham Lincoln and his family.
The Friends of Lincoln State Park were also awarded a grant from the Spencer County Community Foundation in 2006 which funded a new interpretive sign at the Noah Gordon home site.
Welcome to Our Latest New Members
The Friends of Lincoln State Park would like to extend our thanks and a warm welcome to our newest members who have joined and generously extended their support to the Friends of Lincoln State Park since last month’s newsletter:
| Supporters | $100-$249 | |
|---|---|---|
| St. Meinrad Archabbey | ||
| Friends | $25-$99 | |
| Jonathan & Emily Bryant | David & Karen Dougan | Charles & Iris Ludwig |
As always, If you’ve lost your renewal form, just visit the Membership area of our website where you can print a form or pay online with a credit card. We appreciate everyone’s support!
Pins, Magnets, and Medallions Remain on Sale
Lincoln State Park hiking stick medallions, hat pins, and magnets can still be purchased from the Friends of Lincoln State Park. The cost is $4 each with the net proceeds going to the Friends of Lincoln State Park. They are available for purchase online through our website at our new online gift shop.
You can also send your request to our mailing address with a check for your order plus $3 for postage. If you live in the area we would be happy to arrange for you to pick up your order at the park without payment of shipping charges. We also have postcards and the Jerry Baum Huffman Bridge prints as well.
Questions? E-mail us at info@lspfriends.org or call (812) 362-7954.
