05/28/2026
Sometimes we come across things that remind us of how important education is for visitors of The Ridges. Director of Programming Amy Shook was leading a Festival of Nature field trip this weekend when she found a picked bouquet of flowers sitting on the side of the trail. This bouquet included dwarf lake iris, a small flower endemic to the northern Great Lakes coastal habitat, and marsh marigolds, another native wildflower we find in early spring. Dwarf lake iris can only be found in Wisconsin and Michigan and is recognized as a federally threatened species. Additionally, it is considered a state threatened species in Wisconsin. Both of these protections make it illegal to remove these plants without a permit.
While we are very sad that someone chose to pick these flowers in the Sanctuary, it reminds us of the importance of education for the conservation of these special species, and more broadly, the ridge and swale habitat. Every person hiking the trails has an impact on the Sanctuary. Practicing good environmental stewardship by staying on the trails and following Ridges guidelines for hiking can lessen the impact a person has on this fragile ecosystem. As Emma Toft said, "Flowers are loveliest where they grow / Love them, enjoy them, but leave them so".
One way you can help ensure the protection of natural spaces is to check the guidelines for a property before you hike there! Different organizations have different regulations based on the plants, animals, or habitats that are found at a particular property. Many organizations prohibit foraging or picking any plants on their property. In addition, some plants also have state or federal regulations, like the dwarf lake iris, which makes picking them a prohibited activity under the Endangered Species Act. If you see someone wandering off the trails or picking plants at The Ridges, kindly remind them of our regulations and why we have them. Most people don't mean to cause harm to a habitat, they just don't know that what they are doing has a negative impact. Together, we can promote positive environmental stewardship practices not only at The Ridges, but all over the Door Peninsula.
