Vegetation Management (TREES):

Different types of Trees in this park?
-Oke Trees
-Pine Trees
-Maple Trees
-Ash Trees














Invasive Species in this park:
-There is not that many invasive species in this park, but one of the main ones that is common by most of the ponds is known as the Frag Mites also known as Reeds. This type of plant can spread fast and occupy and fill areas not allowing other plants to grow there. By the reeds only occupying the ponds it doesn't affect much of that park at all, and does not need to be treated.






Are park does not have really a set system to help out with any of the invasive species of plants. They want to keep this park as natural as posible, and don't want to take any of the plants out; however they do want to keep the trails and the park as clean as posible. Van Raalte Farm Park does how ever keep the fields and lawns mowed, and the sticks, trash, and trails are moved, and clean so people are able to walk with ease.

Plants in this park are very important for the parks ecosystem. Plants are not only food for other animals and bugs in this park but they also when they die provide fertilizer for the ground keeping the trees healthy. Plants also provide homes for animals, they provide protection from predators, and give the park shade during hot days.

Wildlife Management:

Animals in park:

-Birds, Squirrels, Rabbits, Ducks, Muskrats, Fish, Deer, Turkey, Batts, Coyote, Fox, Raccoons, and mink are common animals in VanRaalte Farm Park.

Insects in park: 

-Flys, Mosquitoes, Beetles, Butterflys, Worms, Bees, and Moths Are most common insects in this park. 

Invasive species:

-This park does have an invasive species that came in not to long ago it is an insect called the bark beetle. The bark beetle is known for its name it burrows into the bark of trees and feeds off of them eventually killing the tree. The cow bird is also and invasive species that has come into this park. Cow birds will steel nests from other birds and lay their eggs in them. 

Regulation:

-In this park it would not be a good Idea to bring other species into the park to help regulate it, because the animals in this park do the regulating already. There is like a huge food cycle that keeps things regulated here. The bugs eat dead things, birds and other smaller rodents, and fish eat the bugs, the fox, coyote, and mink will eat other animals like the muskrats, deer, turkey, rabbits, squirrels, and other small rodents keeping the populations at a steady, and stable rait. 

-Hunting also plays a big role around this area even tho you can not hunt in this park those animals travel and get hunted by naboring properties which also helps keep things regulated and not out of controle in this park.

http://www.bigelow.org/edhab/fitting_algae.html

Spring Time

-Spring in this park is beautiful, there is a lot more wild life running around in the park than there is in the winter periods. The park is full of green and color, and is filled with lots of life. Spring time is also not to hot, but not to cold ether, nights can get cool, but most of the time it is comfortable.

-Animals in this park mate during the spring and reproduce. In pakes like this you will see ducks, geese and other birds making, and already laying eggs on their nests. Same with other animals in the park.
-Plants, in this park you will see lots of in the spring. Most plants and flowers are just starting to come up and bloom, leaves on the trees are also just starting to come out they wont be as thick as they would be in the summer but will be out. When visiting the park in the spring I noticed lots of polin on the plants but also in the water by the rivers and the ponds. I noticed also that the bugs have started to come out pollinating other plants as they work during the day.

-In this park there are many different kinds of pollinators. Animals, wind, and bugs play a big role in pollinating plants and trees in this park. Animals relocate seeds ether by brushing up on them or burying them for food in the winter even, Wind blows pollen off of the trees and plants and helps pollenate the seeds, bugs do the same thing as animals and are attracted to the many different colors on the flowers in this park, and fly to one then another one spreading pollin for the plants.
-In the spring time things that help the plants and, other growth in this park have a lot to do with the amount of rain fall, and sun the plants and land gets. In Spring there tends to be a lot more rain fall than most of the other seasons have because all the plants are trying to come out. Photosynthesis also has a big role in growth also, because plants feed off of it and it helps them grow.