On April 3rd and 4th, Federated Garden Club held Course 3 of the Environmental Studies School in Columbia at the Sheraton Town Center. This was the first time for this location. Our room overlooked the lake and spring flowers were coming up in the woodsy area fronting the spot.
Dr. Sarah Via, who specializes in ecology and climate change at the University of Maryland has been one of the speakers at all three of the courses thus far attended. She is very energetic and interesting. She spoke about air quality, climate and vegetation and the impact of the Clean Air Act first. Her second lecture focused on the rain forest-the Earth’s lungs- and its critical role. She also talked about deforestion and the impact of biodiversity.
Next Kerry Wixted of DNR Wildlife talked about beneficial insects and spiders plus how to attract them.
The luncheon provided was incredible if only for the varied choices.
After lunch, Ned Tilman, an author who has written many books on conservation, preservation and sustainability (Chesapeake Watershed, Saving the Places We Love, etc.) lectured about today’s challenges, being stewards of the earth and the interconnectedness of all life.
We then had a field trip. This involved walking around Wilde Lake and hearing about Columbia’s plans for becoming a more liveable exurb and apparently this diverges away from the original Rouse individual neighborhood centric plan. Now that Columbia has been growing so much with all the traffic isues, etc, many of the original buildings in the “city” area near and possibly including the library will be torn down and replaced by combination living spaces and businesses. There was already much evidence of road building and construction where we were walking. It seems like they are seeking an urban feel which is so popular with the millenials.
Once we got closer to the lake path, which was concrete–great for bikes and strollers but hard on knees–we started to see the plantings put along the lake. Very little was in bloom other than mini daffodils and the willows, but we did see “the structural bones” of the place.
-
- You can get close to the water in many areas
-
- One of the many walkways by the water, close to many businesses.
-
- Kind of lame looking rain garden in a parking lot
-
- Under road construction-many places
-
- Little water fall and sign of flood-see debris in the tree crotch?
-
- Pantings along the waterfront
-
- This branch was probably at a 30 degree angle out over the water-with nest.
-
- Daffodils-one of the few things in bloom early April.
-
- Check out the man-made islands with the goose taking advantage.
-
- Nice bridge-almost back at the hotel.
I have to admit I prefer a quieter venue for a walk although this is good for people to get closer to nature in this busy environment. Columbia also has Cross Lake where one can take out paddle boats.
The next session on the following day, Lynn Walter (a past District V Director) spoke about species extinction from elimination of habitat, over-consumption and toxic substances. She also covered the impact of the Endangered Species Act. She also had a second lecture (the last of the session) on Environmental Ethics-duty, obligations and princples of earth citizenship.
Chuck Schuster of Montgomery County Extension covered pollution’s effect on plants, animals and structures. He reviewed the effects of our air pollution laws and regulations.
Linda Harris, who is the Environmental Chair for FGCMD, gave a great lecture about how Garrett County’s group initiated conservation projects with the local elementary and high schools to get kids and parents interested in environmental studies with local impact.
This course concluded with the final exam (open book with a prior review).
