As you walk around Lakeshore State Park you may notice the park is in a time of transition. While some plants are vibrantly in bloom, others are fading. Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) and Common Milkweed (Asclepias syrianca) are beginning to drop their flowers and go to seed. False White Indigo (Baptisia lacteal), seen primarily in the north Demonstration Gardens, are dropping their flowers, and creating pods. As tempting as it may be to pop these pods, please resist as they help create the seed bank necessary for next year’s growth!
While we have many beautiful, native plants to enjoy, this is also the time of growth for some invasive plants. The DNR staff is currently tackling Queen Anne’s Lace or Wild Carrot (Daucus carota), first introduced from Europe. With its tall, flat topped white flowers, this plant may be visually appealing, but has a large tap root that makes it hardy in many environments, crowding out native plants. To help maintain and create better biodiversity for native plant species, DNR staff pull the Queen Anne’s Lace from the tap root or dead head the flowers to keep them from going to seed. If you’d like to join our removal efforts, we are offering Stewardship Thursdays every Thursday in the month of August from 1:00pm-3:00pm! We will meet at the south entrance park sign and tools will be provided—we hope to see you there!
On July 9th, over 400 people visited the park during our second annual Brunch By the Beach. Many thanks to David HB Drake, Tots on the Street, Sweetly Baked, Plastic Free MKE, volunteers and everyone who helped make for a family-fun event. Below is a collage of some photos from that beautiful day – we’ll be hosting more events like this, please look for more info in our newsletter.
August Park Events
- Stewardship Thursdays from 1:00pm-3:00pm (South Entrance), Aug 3rd, Aug 10th Aug 17th Aug 24th Aug 31st
- Friday, August 4th: Sunrise Hike, 5:30AM-6:30AM (North Entrance)
- Sunday, August 6th: Track Tales, 11:00AM-12:00PM (North Entrance)
- Wednesday, August 9th: Pollinator Hike, 2:00PM-3:00PM (North Entrance)
- Thursday, August 10th / Jueves, 10 de agosto: Medicinal & Edibles Hike/Caminata de Plantas Medicinales y Comestibles (Bilingual), 6:30PM-7:30PM (North Entrance/Entrada Norte)
- Friday, August 11th: Prairie Hike, 6:00PM-7:00PM (North Entrance)
- Saturday, August 12th: Edibles Drop In, 9:00AM-10:00AM (North Entrance)
- Sunday, August 13th: Fishing Clinic, 9:00AM-12:00PM (Fishing Pier along western path)
- Wednesday, August 16th: Dragonfly Hike, 6:00PM-7:00PM (North Entrance)
- Thursday, August 17th / Jueves, 17 de agosto: Sunset Hike/Caminata al Puesto del Sol (Bilingual), 7:00PM-8:30PM (North Entrance/Entrada Norte)
- Friday, August 18th: Mammal Hike, 2:00PM-3:00PM (North Entrance)
- Saturday, August 19th: Story Time: Grouchy Lady Bug, 2:00PM-3:00PM (North Entrance)
- Sunday, August 20th / Domingo, 20 de agosto: Pollinator Hike / Caminata de polinizadores (Bilingual), 6:30PM-7:30PM (North Entrance/Entrada Norte)
- Friday, August 25th: Urban Critters: Rabbits, 1:00PM-3:00PM (North Entrance)
- Saturday, August 26th / Sábado, 26 de agosto : International Bat Night Hike/Noche Internacional del Murcielago (Bilingual), 7:30PM-9:00PM (North Entrance/Entrada Norte)
Our park educators offer a wide variety of programs for both kids and adults, such as fishing clinics (no license required for children 15 and under) and events that focus on nature education and exploration, all designed to be hands-on and family-friendly.
For details on events, please visit the FLSP Events Page
Want to help with events and programs? Please complete a volunteer interest form