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To promote the study, appreciation, and conservation of Ohio's native plants and plant communities.

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 ✿  Monarch Migration News: 8 September 2021  ✿
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  Society Notes Post:

Northeast Ohio Pollinator Society: Webinar Series Society member and Northeast Ohio Pollinator Society (NEOPS) Vice President Rees Davis shared information on NEOPS' 2025 winter webinar series. The free webinar series runs from January to March and each webinar focuses on a pollinator related topic.
Registration is required. Program and registration information can be found in the News of Interest section below.

Exploring, observing and learning about our natural world is fun!

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Upcoming 2025 Monthly Programs at a Glance

News of Interest: NPSNEO FYI Board

News of Interest

Click tabs for shared information and/or upcoming programs and events organizations have planned.
NPSNEO Annual Grant Awardees
2024:
  • Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District
  • Medina County Parks
  • Cleveland Metroparks, North Chagrin Reservation
  • Aruni Kadawatha, Ph.D. candidate
    Case Western Reserve University
    Department of Biology
  • 2023:
  • WJR Rittman Nature Preserve
    Rittman, Ohio 44270
  • Stephanie Wilhelm, M.Sc student
    University of Akron
    Department of Biology
  • Food Strong
    Cleveland, Ohio 44113
  • NPSNEO Annual Grant Program
    2025 Winter Webinar Series: Program Dates and Descriptions
    08 Jan 2025Making the Most of Your Tree With a Soft Landing Garden

    Presenter:  Dave Tomashefski
    Start time: 7:00 pm
    Registration is required

    Planting a soft landings garden beneath a tree is one of the best ways to support biodiversity in your yard. Join Dave Tomashefski of Meadow City Native Plant Nursery to learn how soft landings gardens support butterflies and moths in completing their lifecycles (and so much more!) This workshop is a great opportunity to maximize the benefits of tree cover in your growing space.

    As Meadow City's education specialist, Dave Tomashefski is responsible for the nursery’s educational programs and materials. ... Prior to co-founding Meadow City in Cleveland, Dave worked at the Soil, Water and Environmental Lab at Ohio State, where he also earned his master's degree.

    • Click here  for registration and additional Northeast Ohio Pollinator Society (NEOPS) information.
    • Click here  to view and/or download a PDF document containing additional bio and program information.
    22 Jan 2025Wild Bees in Your Ohio Backyard

    Presenter:  Denise Ellsworth
    Start time: 7:00 pm
    Registration is required

    Many gardeners know a honeybee when they see one, but how about some of the other 400+ species of bees that call Ohio home? This program will focus on some of the most common bees, including their fascinating biology and life histories. We’ll also discuss plant choices and landscape practices to support our native pollinators. ... And how important are these native bees to pollination and biodiversity?

    Denise directs pollinator education programming through the Ohio State University Department of Entomology a position she has held since 2012. In her Extension and outreach work, Denise supports and teaches beekeepers, farmers, gardeners, and others across the state through a variety of workshops, webinars, written materials, and electronic resources. Before coming to Entomology, Denise served for 18 years as agriculture and natural resources county extension educator in the Akron/Canton area with a focus on horticulture, integrated pest management and environmental education. ...

    • Click here  for registration and additional Northeast Ohio Pollinator Society (NEOPS) information.
    • Click here  to view and/or download a PDF document containing additional bio and program information.
    05 Feb 2025Creating and Managing a Prairie Meadow

    Presenter:  John Blakeman
    Start time: 7:00 pm
    Registration is required

    John Blakeman, experienced Ohio prairie biologist, will explain, with both graphics and explanations, how authentic Ohio tallgrass prairies can be planned, prepared for, planted, and managed so as to provide beautiful natural habitats that support pollinating insects, capture and retain nutrients in runoff flows to minimize harmful algal blooms, and enhance soil health. John has been planting and managing Ohio prairie planting since 1973 and designs native plant landscapes that feature prairie meadows and islands of prairie that support pollinating insects.

    John Blakeman is a retired biology instructor with 30 years of science teaching experience at Perkins Schools near Sandusky and is an experienced Ohio prairie researcher. ... He helped form the Ohio Prairie Association and served as its president. He has presented papers at both state and national prairie conferences and is regarded as an expert in the history of Ohio’s tallgrass prairies. ...

    • Click here  for registration and additional Northeast Ohio Pollinator Society (NEOPS) information.
    • Click here  to view and/or download a PDF document containing additional bio and program information.
    19 Feb 2025Matrix Design for Biodiverse Gardens

    Presenter:  Michael Keeler
    Start time: 7:00 pm
    Registration is required

    Learn about matrix gardens and how to create your own! Matrix gardens are modeled on natural plant communities and relationships and provide a framework that simplifies plant selection, layout, and installation.

    Michael Keeler is the founder and principal of Ohio Native Concepts. Michael brings a background in natural resources management and a passion for nature and community to his work creating impactful landscapes for residential and institutional clients across Central Ohio. His design approach focuses on creating spaces that connect humans to nature and improve ecological function and biodiversity. ...

    • Click here  for registration and additional Northeast Ohio Pollinator Society (NEOPS) information.
    • Click here  to view and/or download a PDF document containing additional bio and program information.
    05 Mar 2025Attracting Wildlife to Your Property

    Presenter:  Brian Hackett
    Start time: 7:00 pm
    Registration is required

    This presentation outlines some of the fundamental ways of bringing more nature into your yard, with a primary focus on gardening and landscaping with native plants. ... [Brian] will also talk about why it is important and beneficial for you as a landowner to build habitat on your land.

    Brian Hackett is the Wildlife Specialist at Knox Soil & Water Conservation District. ... [P]rior to working in Knox County [he] was a District Technician at Madison Soil & Water Conservation District. In 2013 [Brian] graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management and Animal Science. ...

    • Click here  for registration and additional Northeast Ohio Pollinator Society (NEOPS) information.
    • Click here  to view and/or download a PDF document containing additional bio and program information.
    NPSNEO Spring 2023 Wildflower Walk and Program Highlights Field Notes

    Spring 2023 Wildflower Walk and Program Summaries

    Spring 2023 Program and Wildflower Walk Summary Highlights

    Click the tabs for Spring 2023 program and wildflower walk summary highlights.

    Spring 2023 Garlic Mustard Workshop

    Judy Barnhart wrote a summary of the Garlic Mustard Workshop that was held on Earth Day, April 22nd. The summary contains macro photographs of the garlic mustard aphid by Rebecah Troutman. Click on the button for further information and reading.
    22 April 2023
    The Working Woods at Holden, program led by: Rebecah Troutman, Holden Forests and Gardens Natural Areas Biologist
    Garlic Mustard Workshop Summary


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    Spring 2023 April Wildflower Walk: Thompson Ledges Summary

    19 April 2023
    Thompson Ledges, co-leaders: Lisa K. Schlag and Fred Losi
    It was wonderful to enjoy our first wildflower walk of 2023 with such interesting and engaging folks. The last time NPSNEO visited the park was in 2010. We observed patches of the lovely ground hugging trailing arbutus, Epigaea repens scattered throughout the upper ledges. The pink to white flowers were in bloom and their lovely scent was appreciated by many willing to get on bended knee.
    Along with Fred, several participants ventured down to the lower ledges through a narrow passage way between the Sharon Conglomerate boulders to see a variety of spring ephemerals. Thank you! to several walk participants who shared interesting memories of their past adventures and historical details of this geological gem of a park.

    Wayne Mazorow captured the beautiful details and color of trailing arbutus flowers. Thank you! Wayne for sharing your photograph.


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    NPSNEO Spring 2021 Summary Highlights: Wednesday Weather/Construction/Wildflowers, Oh My!

    Spring 2021 Wildflower Walk Summaries and Field Notes

    Spring 2021 Wildflower Walk Summary Highlights

    Click the tabs for summary highlights of the Spring 2021 Wildflower Walk Series and each of the seven wildflower walks written by Judy Barnhart.
    For additional field observations of specific walks, click the field notes tab.

    Spring 2021 Wildflower Walk Series Summary

    The saga of the Native Plant Society spring wildflower walks for 2021 ranged from one weather extreme to another. After cancelling all the walks in 2020 due to Covid-19, we decided to repeat the 2020 schedule this year. The flexibility of the leaders made this possible and we wish to extend our apprciation to each of them. The board decided to have just one board member in attendance to leave room for as many society members and friends as possible. With the state mandate at the time, each walk was limited to a total of ten participants.
    We ended up doing two hikes each in Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Portage counties with one in Lake County. This provided participants a chance to see a variety of habitats. Next year we hope to open the hikes to more people as they are popular.
    A special thank you to each of the hike leaders for being flexible with us. And, a special thank you to treasurer and website admin Lisa Schlag for setting up and coordinating the on-line registration system, a new venture for us. She was up late nights monitoring reservations and cancellations, contacting those on the waiting list, and sending reminder email communications.

    Judy Barnhart
    NPSNEO President


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    Spring 2021 April Wildflower Walk Summaries

    The month of April started off on a warm note. Temperatures soured into the 70's and 80's causing wildflowers to burst forth early. The weather eventually cooled slowing the emerging flowers down.
    14 April 2021
    Euclid Creek Reservation, walk leader: Clair Johnson
    Our first walk at Euclid Creek Reservation with Clair and John was a bit chilly but the wildflowers cooperated with a burst of color.
    Special note from Lisa: "Thank you John for standing in for me due to unexpected transportation challenges!"
    21 April 2021
    Eagle Creek State Nature Preserve, walk leaders: Adam Wohlever and Charles Fletcher
    On the morning of the Eagle Creek walk with preserve manager Adam Wohlever, we awoke to several inches of snow blanketing the ground. The sun came out and melted most of the snow off the hardy native flowers, but kept many participants home.
    28 April 2021
    The Rookery, walk leader: Judy Barnhart
    The following week at The Rookery with me had rain threatening all day long. The rain held off until we were driving out of the park after seeing several anemones on display.


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    Spring 2021 May Wildflower Walk Summaries

    5 May 2021
    Indian Point Park, walk leader: Vicki Solomon
    The Virginia bluebells put on a show at Indian Point Park. Lake Metroparks Naturalist Vicki Solomons' enthusiasm delighted all in attendance.
    12 May 2021
    Tinker's Creek at Bedford Reservation, walk leader: Fred Losi
    Detours and construction caused frustration on Fred's walk at Bedford Reservation as several participants had trouble finding the hike location.
    19 May 2021
    Morgan Park, walk leader: Jennifer White
    The weather did a turn-about at Morgan Park in Portage County. After a week of no rain and temperatures in the 80's, the meadow was a little warm but made the normally wet woodland trails fairly dry. Dry enough so one guest in a motorized cart was able to follow along most of the way. Special thank-yous to Tim and John for lifting the cart over wet areas and board walks. Everyone made it back safely to their cars though a bit tired.
    26 May 2021
    Lucia Nash Preserve, walk leader: Linda Gilbert
    Afternoon rain threatened our final walk at the Nature Conservancy's Lucia Nash Preserve with Naturalist Linda Gilbert. By walk time the rain had ended, providing a little much needed moisture for the wetland habitats. A wildflower walk turned into a bird walk with 31 species entered on eBird including serenading tundra swans calling in the wetlands. We finished admiring a pair of trumpeter swans from the Snow Lake deck.


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    Additional Field Notes: Spring Wildflower Walks

    14 April 2021
    Euclid Creek Reservation, contributed by Clair Johnson
    sweet white violet, Violoa blanda, photograph

    On a pre-walk scouting of the Squirrel Trail, rue anemones, early meadow rues, bloodroots, blue cohoshes, trout lilies, spring beauties, cut-leaved toothworts, a few ferns and sedges scattered about, and blooming colt's foot were observed. This photograph of a cut-leaved toothwort, Cardamine concatenata, in bud was taken during an earlier pre-walk scouting by Lisa K. Schlag.
    On the wildflower walk, nice stands of spring beauties were still present as well as pussytoes. Trilliums were observed during another pre-walk scouting and one was spotted along a slope by a walk attendee. A tiny buttercup close to the shelter was identified by Anna using the iNaturalist app.

    21 April 2021
    Eagle Creek State Nature Preserve, contributed by Charles Fletcher
    sweet white violet, Violoa blanda, photograph

    There are a half dozen violet species here, but on this day sweet white violet, Viola blanda, ruled the day!
    This photograph of sweet white violet was taken by Charles Fletcher.
    It snowed the other day, but melted out just in time for the walk. Although that resulted in some no-shows, the flowers weren't among them. Trilliums, bluebells, phlox, squirrel corn, Jacob's ladder, marigolds, the list goes on! And, that was just at the entrance! The clubmoss yielded four species of clubmoss, a variety of trees, and still more flowers. Adam's exhaustive knowledge of the preserve and its history added atmosphere to nature.

    28 April 2021
    The Rookery, contributed by Judy Barnhart
    native honeysuckle, Lonicera dioica, photograph

    Wild honeysuckle, Lonicera dioica, was observed along the Interurban Trail.
    This photograph of the flowers, buds, and leaves of the native honeysuckle was taken by Judy Barnhart.

    12 May 2021
    Tinker's Creek ~ Bedford Reservation, contributed by Fred Losi
    iNaturalist plant observation list
    eBird observation list
    Last, but not least: Despite being greatly past bloom, harbinger of spring, Erigenia bulbosa, was an appreciated discovery.


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    field notes: Lucia Nash Preserve, 14 August 2021

    After a week of rain, the wetlands of the Snow Lake lived up to their name, filling right up to the edge of the depression along the trail’s edge. Acting like sponges they absorbed the numerous heavy rains from the week, preventing flooding as seen in many northeast Ohio developed properties. Known by some as the Cuyahoga wetlands, 1,000 acres of wetland communities, including shrub swamps, sedge meadows, bog forest, bogs, fens and vernal pools, are protected by several conservation agencies including: The Nature Conservancy, Geauga Park District, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Ohio State Parks. The adjacent City of Akron’s 18,000 acres of wetland along the Cuyahoga River protect their water supply....   Narrative continues


    Field Journal Notes
    walking fern fronds
    4-H Camp Whitewood in Ashtabula County
    Walking Fern Excursion: 17 August 2019
    narrative by Judy Barnhart
    npsneo
    Field Journal Notes
    Field Journal Notes
    Field Journal Notes
    Payge, Nicolai & Angel
    Great Job!!
    Wildflower Walk program infographic Native Plant Project: 21 June 2018
    Perry Middle School Environmental Club
    narrative by Payge Silvis
     

    monarch migration News: 8 September 2021 
        Updates: Monarchs on the Move
     
    Field Journal Notes
    Wildflower Walk program infographic Padanaram Woods: 26 May 2018
    narrative by Judy Bradt-Barnhart
    Field Journal Notes
    Wildflower Walk program infographic
    gentian award graphic

    Mentor Marsh nature center sign

    Upcoming Programs


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      Bringing Awareness:
     
      ✿ WEBSITE PAGES for your reading enjoyment:
           Virtual Archives 2000 - 2009
           Virtual Archives 1990 - 1999
           Virtual Archives 1983 - 1989

           Field Notes post
           Rooted in Geology:
           Unlikely Ties between Geology and Wildflowers
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      ✿ Monarch Migration News: 8 September 2021 ✿
          Updates: Monarchs on the Move

     ONAPA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 
    help protect Ohio's Natural Legacy

    Restoring the American Chestnut
    tamarack or American larch, Larix laricina: photo credit: Lisa K. Schlag
    Herbarium voucher of American chestnut, Castanea dentata, collected by A.W. Cusick, 1978. Ohio State University Herbarium Online, Museum of Biological Diversity Herbarium.
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    Working to Restore the American Chestnut

    Sara Fern Fitzsimmons, TACF Director of Restoration, 7/27/2018

    "The demise of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) has been described as one of the great ecological disasters of current time. Through the first-half of the 20th century, the species was virtually eliminated from the landscape by an Asiatic blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) introduced on Japanese chestnut materials imported to the US in the late 1800s. . . ."   Read More