ROSCOMMON- The Gahagan Nature Preserve added to the Christmas in the Village festivities by hosting our Make-and-Take Wreath Workshop. An additional session was hosted at the Houghton Lake Senior Center the following week. The workshop is hosted in partnership with Michigan State University Extension, where we are joined by natural resources educator, Julie Crick.
Each session began with conifer identification and a quick demonstration. Holiday music filled our ears, and the scent of fresh pine, spruce, and fir filled our noses as we worked on our masterpieces.
The finished products were beautiful and had benefits beyond the workshop. Conifer trees release phytoncides, or natural oils, that help protect the trees from pests and disease. When we breathe them in, these chemicals stimulate our immune systems and brighten our moods.
Gahagan offers other opportunities to get outside this winter. Join us for snowshoe hiking and learn how to identify trees during our Winter Tree ID hikes on Jan. 20 or Feb. 17. Registration information can be found on the Gahagan Nature Preserve website: https://www.gahagannature.org/calendar. For more information or questions, please contact info@gahagannature.org.
