Welcome! Friends of Greenview and Pioneer Nature Area is a group of neighbors who have joined together to care for the Greenview and Pioneer Woods Nature Area, a wonderful park and natural open space along South 7th Street and Scio Church Road in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Click here to read more about our organization and how you can donate to support our activities. For latest updates visit us on:
What’s Happening Now
Friends of Greenview organize work days to bring together the community to help with park stewardship activities. Follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter to be notified of upcoming volunteer opportunities and other events.
Seasonal Changes at Greenview
In late summer, the central meadow is full of colorful wildflowers, from the yellow shades of goldenrods and Rudbeckia to the purples and pinks of coneflowers and ironweed. Bees, beetles, and wasps of all kinds buzz among the blooms.
As fall sets in, asters brighten the landscape with clusters of white, blue, and purple blooms. They provide essential food for insects and are especially popular with butterflies, including migrating monarchs.
Prairie grasses dominate the central meadow, with airy plumes moving gracefully in the wind and catching the light at sunset. Big Bluestem, Indiangrass, Little Bluestem, and Switchgrass offer refuge for many insects, birds, and reptiles. In the nearby Pioneer Woods, fall brings beautiful colors, with oaks, hickories, and maples showing off shades of amber, gold, and deep red.
As cooler temperatures arrive, the landscape’s colors soften, but prairie grasses, native flower seed heads, red dogwood branches, purple raspberry twigs, and bright red viburnum berries still add a touch of color. Together, they provide essential food and shelter for birds, insects, and other wildlife.
Highlights of Our Stewardship Activities in 2024
In 2024 the Friends of Greenview and Pioneer Nature Area is actively involved in various stewardship activities to restore and enhance the natural features and beauty of this wonderful community open space. We also organizes community work days and educational events throughout the season. The generous donations and grants allow us to buy native seeds and plants, to and engage a professional consultant to conduct restoration projects, and guide our overall strategy to improve the nature area.
Butterfly and Wildflower Tour / June 13, 2024
Friends of Greenview organized a Butterfly and Wildflower Tour in conjunction with Ann Arbor Farm & Garden. We would like to thank all the butterfly enthusiasts who joined us for this wonderful event. Special thanks to our guides and butterfly experts, Dr. Swales, Judy Lobato, and Marcy Breslow. Walking along the paths in the central meadow and the pollinator garden, we observed several butterfly species, including the Checkered Skipper, American Lady, Orange and Clouded Sulfur, Tiger, and Black Swallowtail.
Goatscaping at Greenview / May 22-29, 2024
This May, Friends of Greenview hired goats to help control invasive plants. Six goats, confined by a temporary fence, browsed an area just east of the Project Grow Community Garden. The event proved to be a very popular neighborhood attraction. Pioneer High School students visited the site to learn about goatscaping.
Eagle Scout Service Project at Greenview / May 26, 2024
On May 26, the Huron Trails District Scout troop undertook an Eagle Scout Service Project at Greenview. The Scouts installed essential drainage infrastructure on the trails south of the wetland and pond. They dug trenches and installed drainage pipes to redirect water into the wetland. To complete the project, they spread several yards of wood chips to enhance the quality of the trails.
A big thank you to all the Scouts and volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to this important project. Your hard work has significantly improved the trails for everyone to enjoy!
Volunteer Work Hour / May 11, 2024
FOG coordinated a volunteer work hour that saw a great turnout of dedicated volunteers. Their efforts made substantial progress in path maintenance throughout the nature area. Wood chips were distributed along trails near the Pioneer Woods Glen Leven entrance, around wet areas neighboring Greenview Pond, and along paths in the Pollinator Garden. This event was dedicated to honoring Jim Rogers, our former Park Steward, whose commitment to park stewardship and volunteerism left an indelible mark on Greenview/Pioneer Woods.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our enthusiastic volunteers for generously contributing their time, tools, and energy to these projects, and for their invaluable role in strengthening the Greenview community.
Planting Swamp Oaks with Pioneer High School Plant Club / April 26, 2024
Friends of Greenview purchased four Swamp White Oaks for the Glen Leven entrance to Pioneer Woods. We thank the students from the Pioneer High School Plant Club for joining us on April 26 to plant these trees. The students also spread wood chips and underplanted the oaks with native sedges and wildflowers. Their enthusiasm and hard work were truly appreciated!
Prescribed burn / broadcasting native flower seeds / April 10, 2024
This year the burn concentrated in areas north of the main path. Controlled burns are a crucial part of our conservation efforts. Carefully planned and controlled fire helps us manage vegetation in a way that discourages weeds but encourages desirable plants, promoting the overall well-being of the ecosystem.
To enhance the Greenview meadow, Friends of Greenview volunteers have broadcasted native flower seeds across the burnt sections of the meadow. Overseeding, following the prescribed burn, aims to boost the diversity of native prairie plants. Seed mixes were purchased from Michigan Flower Farm, and also collected from our nature area last fall. Over the winter, the Friends also overseeded areas burnt the previous spring, continuing their efforts to improve diversity of the native wildflowers in those sections.
Planting native trees and shrubs / fruit trees
Friends of Greenview purchased and planted several native trees and shrubs in the nature area this spring. Four serviceberries were added to the Pollinator Demonstration Garden, and redbud trees along with several specimens of Northern spicebush were planted in the area near the pond. Luke, our intern, helped with the planting.
Additionally, Friends planted new apple trees in the mini-orchard adjacent to the Edible Demonstration Garden, featuring varieties such as Wickson Crab, Enterprise, and Dolgo Crab.
Removal of buckthorn around the pond / volunteer work hour / March 2024
Friends of Greenview continues to clear invasive buckthorn. We used donations we received to hire environmental consultant to cut back invasive buckthorn in the area east of the Greenview pond.
FOG also organized a volunteer work hour on March 16 to help drag buckthorn limbs to the curb for disposal. We thank our enthusiastic volunteers who helped with this project.
Ann Arbor Farm & Garden Awards Grant to FOG / March 2024
This March Friends of Greenview and Pioneer Nature Area received a grant from Ann Arbor Farm and Garden. This funding will help us conduct a controlled burn in Central Meadow, hire goats to manage buckthorn, and purchase native plants and seeds for the Pollinator Garden. Thank you, Ann Arbor Farm and Garden, for your generous support! You can read more on A2 G& G website: https://www.annarborfarmandgarden.org
Looking Back at 2023/2022
Click here to learn more about Friends of Greenview and Pioneer Nature Area accomplishments in 2023.
You can learn here about about our accomplishments in 2022.