Friends of Cardinal Valley

09/05/2026

Webb City’s Mining Days Festival is returning, and Friends of Cardinal Valley will be there! Play the Monarch Migration Game and discover how restoring habitat right here at Cardinal Valley helps monarchs and other pollinators. https://www.facebook.com/events/1040218691865819/

09/02/2026

07/22/2026

We are in the middle of National Moth Week, a citizen science project that takes place during the last week of July each year. During these studies, people spend their evenings attracting and observing moths, recording data, and submitting it to scientists to be processed.

We wanted to take this opportunity to give a shout out to some local lepidopteran superstars that have been observed at Cardinal Valley; Cercopia moths! Their scientific name is Hyalophora cercopia and they belong to the Saturniidae (giant silk moth) family. Seeing them on our sites is an indicator that habitat is rehabilitating as they rely on native plant species, such as maple and willow, to reproduce. These plants provide habitat at all life stages as well as food for the caterpillar stages. Adults appear between May and June, they live for about two weeks and do not eat during that entire time. The species spends the winter in the pupae stage and continue the cycle the next spring.

Have any moths caught your eye on these hot summer evenings? Do you have a favorite moth? We would love to hear from you and see your pictures in the comments!

If you are interested in learning more about National Moth Week visit: https://nationalmothweek.org/

📸: A. Wild

07/18/2026

Frogs are nature's water quality ambassadors. Stop by our booth on July 25th at the Shoal Creek Water Festival to learn more. https://www.facebook.com/events/1431160475699204

07/03/2026

With all the recent rainfall across the area, keep your eyes on the woods, trails, and forest floors—mushroom season is in full swing!

Two fascinating fungi you might spot are:

Chanterelles :These beautiful golden-yellow mushrooms are often found in moist woodlands during Missouri's warm summer months. They have a trumpet-like shape, wavy edges, and a fruity aroma. Chanterelles form important partnerships with tree roots, helping forests stay healthy.

Turkey Tail: One of Missouri's most colorful mushrooms, turkey tail grows in layered clusters on fallen logs and stumps. Its bands of brown, gray, tan, and cream resemble the feathers of a wild turkey's tail. These mushrooms play a vital role in the forest by breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients back into the soil.

Fun Fact: Mushrooms aren't plants or animals—they belong to their own kingdom: Fungi! Missouri forests are home to hundreds of fungal species, many of which appear after periods of warm, wet weather.

Safety Reminder Never eat a wild mushroom unless you can positively identify it with complete certainty. Many edible species have look-alikes, and some mushrooms can be dangerous or even deadly. When in doubt, enjoy them with your eyes and a camera—not your dinner plate!

Have you discovered any mushrooms after the recent rains? Share your photos in the comments!

📸&✍: Shayla Eimer

06/26/2026

At Cardinal Valley Habitat Area, restoration efforts are already showing how quickly pollinators respond to habitat restoration.

Native plantings and improving habitat conditions are helping bring bees, butterflies, and other pollinators back into the landscape, right where they belong. This is what recovery can look like: small changes to habitat creating visible change in biodiversity.

As Pollinator Week comes to a close, the message remains the same: protecting pollinators starts with protecting and restoring the places they depend on.

Learn how to protect pollinators https://www.pollinator.org/7things

06/22/2026

What would our meals look like without pollinators? A lot less color. A lot less variety. And in some cases, familiar foods could become rare, smaller, or disappear entirely.

Pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, and other insects help many crops reproduce. Without them, food choices would be significantly reduced. Scroll through the photos and let us know what you would miss the most.

This National Pollinator Week, take a moment to recognize just how much they make possible. Click here to learn what we can do to help protect them.https://www.pollinator.org/7things

06/11/2026

There was a lot of talk about “Poo!” Thursday evening in Webb City.

Friends of Cardinal Valley was honored to attend the premiere of Cardinal Valley: A Restoration Story after supporting Meredith Ludwig and her production team throughout the past two years.

The film tells the remarkable story of how Webb City transformed wastewater biosolids ("poo"), wood chips, and cow manure into nutrient-rich topsoil. That soil is now helping to restore lands impacted by historic mining and to create habitat for wildlife at Cardinal Valley.

What was once considered waste is now part of a thriving ecosystem.

If you missed this beautiful documentary, follow us and watch for future screening opportunities in our area. It is an inspiring story of innovation, restoration, and the power of community partnerships.

View the trailer and learn more:
www.cardinalvalleyfilm.com

Thank you to Meredith Ludwig and her production team, the Webb City Council, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Missouri DNR, the Missouri Department of Conservation, property managers Randy Haas and John Nichols, our volunteers, and everyone who helped make both the project and the premiere a success.

Hope is blooming in Webb City.

How a Missouri town transformed a wasteland into a natural wonder. Check out our one-and-a-half minute trailer below. Help Tell This Story You’re Invited!The Cardinal Valley Premiere One Night OnlyThursday, June 46:30 pmThe premiere screening of Cardinal Valley: A Restoration Story Watch in Webb ...

06/03/2026

Visit the Route 66 Movie Theater on June 4th. Showing Cardinal Valley: A Restoration Story!

This Thursday, June 4th, we invite you to learn about something going on in your own backyard! Pretty amazing to learn about what Webb City has taken a chance to improve our environment. Speak with the producers and creators as well. One Show at 6:30.
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Tickets at www.Rt66Movie.com

05/31/2026

We’re excited to share that we received a $600 Spark Good local grant from our Walmart store at 1212 S. Madison St. in Webb City!

This funding will help us purchase outreach booth equipment and educational materials for ongoing public events and nature education programs at the Cardinal Valley Habitat Restoration Area and other local community events.

We would like to sincerely thank Store Manager Chris Hull and the Webb City Walmart team for supporting local conservation, environmental education, and community outreach. Their support will help connect families, students, and residents with the natural beauty and wildlife right here in our own backyard.

Thank you, Walmart, for investing in our community and helping inspire the next generation of environmental stewards!