Calendar of Events and Programs

Program Description:

Why is it, that what grows in your neighbors? yard may not work in your own yard? Soil is a complex community/habitat that is still not entirely understood even by soil scientists. However, learning the basic principles of soil composition, soil formation, soil types, soil health, and soil-plant interactions can provide practical knowledge as well as a deep appreciation for the world under our feet. Join us for a closer look at soils. Soil fertility and its relationship to native prairie plants will be addressed as differing soils in our backyards, in Ohio, in Midwestern prairies and around the world will be compared.

Presenter: Carol Loopstra

Carol Loopstra works with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District as an environmental educator where she assists with bringing educational programs on soil and water conservation to students, teachers, and the general public of Franklin County .
Carol holds a MS degree in agronomy from the University of Maryland. She has four years of previous experience as a soil conservation planner with Charles Soil Conservation District in southern Maryland where she also became involved with instructing high school students in their Envirothon program. Carol has taught the basics of soils to a range of audiences from young children to adults. Prior to coming to Ohio, she lived in Northern Iraq where she taught soils to Iraqi students and environmental professionals. Carol enjoys giving others a glimpse into the complexities and wonders of soil.?

Program Description:

Something is eating our forests, and it?s not what you think! Learn about the exciting new research being done on invasive earthworms and the impact they are having on our natural areas. Holden?s staff strives to develop and share a deeper understanding of horticulture, conservation, and environmental science. There are a wide variety of opportunities to learn more about plants, soils, ecosystems, sustainable gardening practices and the impact plants have on people?s lives and well-being.

Presenter:?Lisa Ruschman

Lisa is an active naturalist and Home Certified Volunteer Naturalist (OCVN) member in Lake County, Ohio.? She has been involved for several years at Holden Arboretum with an invasive earthworm impact study, leading natural area hikes and other programs that inspire and teach others about our natural world.

Program Description:

Sustainability and green initiatives have changed how humans interact with the landscape. Explore how these techniques and fads have created a new relationship with the environment. From plants to maintenance, to creative themes, revolution begins in your backyard.

Presenter: Peter Lowe

Peter is the Native Landscape Manager at The Dawes Arboretum. Peter holds a degree in Agriculture from The Ohio State University. He currently works with native plants as well as helping to develop the Ohio Native Plant Network and Ohio Sustainable Landscape initiatives. Peter is the current Chair of the Horticulture, Greenhouse and Facilities section of the American Public Garden Association.

Join us to look at the beautiful spring wildflowers at Battelle-Darby Metro Park. Naturalist Tim Taylor will lead a walk.

Registration required?for this program as there is a limit of 30 persons per the request of the tour leader. If you are not registered, you will not be able to join the walk. To register, please call Roseann Stoehr?at 614-259-3785.

For car pool information, contact Barbara Altenburg at [email protected] or 614-638-0442

Please join us for a panel discussion with three?of our most knowledgeable and long-time members who are experienced in gardening with native plants. They will address such topics as native plant maintenance and propagation plus pollinators. Come with your questions and we are sure they will have answers.

Our panelists are Dave Marsolo?(above left), Sam Pathy?(below left)?and Craig Preston (right). Dave's yard has been?on tour and he gave a presentation to membership within the past couple years. The Preston's yard is described within the Show Me Help?Me section of our website. Craig was one of our members who was instrumental in getting the Whetstone Prairie developed?and has long since maintained it.

Sam and his?wife started a native garden in their?suburban backyard in 1998. It has grown in size and scope ever since and now includes over 80 different native plants, shrubs, and trees. The?garden's primary purpose is to provide food and shelter for insects, birds, and mammals. Sam?also facilitated us being able to meet at the Whetstone Library Community Room as he is a librarian there. Some of you will also be interested to know that Sam?is a baseball historian and recently published?a book on Wrigley Field.

This discussion?will provide useful information for both new and experienced gardeners working to increase?biodiversity in their?yards.

Join us for our 3rd annual native plant sale. We will again be located?behind the recreation center to the north side of the parking lot. Last year plants were almost sold out so come early!

Again, we will have plants from members' gardens, rescue plants, and plants from Gale Martin's Natives in Harmony nursery. She generously gives Wild Ones Columbus $1 for every plant she sells. Through Gale, it is also possible to special order plants. Her plants are healthy and reasonably priced. To special order, contact her at 419-688-9800.

Program Description:

What homeowners can do to attract wildlife with native plants using natural versus artificial feeding stations. Discussion will include coping with wildlife.

Presenter: Karen Norris

Karen is a Wildlife Communications Specialist with DNR Ohio Division of Wildlife.? She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Management from The Ohio State University.? Karen started her association with the Division in 1997 as a Natural Resource Specialist/ volunteer.? Since being permanently hired in 2001, she has also served as a natural resource worker and a wildlife area technician at the Delaware and Deer Creek Wildlife Areas.

Location:

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources? 981-acre Blackhand Gorge Nature Preserve is home to the famous Blackhand sandstone formation. This narrow, east-west gorge cut by the Licking River is named for a dark, hand-shaped Indian petroglyph that was carved on the sandstone cliff. Although the petroglyph was destroyed in 1828 by canal builders, sections of the canal towpaths and canal locks are still visible from the trails along the river. The trail is 4.26 miles.

In addition to its cultural features, the preserve?s natural highlights include oak-hickory woods with Virginia pine and, on northern exposures, cooler-climate species like eastern hemlock and yellow birch.

Tour Guide: Rick Gardner
Rick works for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.? He has? been studying Ohio's flora for nearly 20 years.? He collaborated on a 5-year study of the Edge of Appalachia Preserve's flora.? A favorite guide, Rick has many significant rare plant finds to his credit.

The group will meet Rick in the east parking lot.
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For car pool info contact Barbara Altenburg [email protected]? 614-638-0442
 

Sarah Dalton from Wild Ones Columbus will lead a fun and educational event for the entire family. She will teach all how to raise and release Monarch butterflies.

Join us to hear David Reutter, Urban Conservationist from Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District.

The?topic, Ecosystem Services of Urban Forests should be interesting to us all.?Urban forests are valuable assets providing many different environmental services. Yet little recognition of the value and significance of those services are understood. Native trees benefit our lives in ways we do not appreciate because these services are provided free and in seemingly endless abundance. Understanding some of these benefits and using them advantageously can improve our lives as well as the environment.

David provides assistance to Federal, State, and local agencies within the District; encouraging soil and water conservation and protection through the review of regulations and development procedures including review of zoning requests, subdivision plans, lot splits, storm water management, sediment and erosion control plans and other initiatives, to protect and promote natural resources and green infrastructure.

Prior to joining the District, David was in the private sector focused on ecological restoration, wetland mitigation and permitting throughout the US and Caribbean.

Program Description:

Sarah will acquaint you with Ohio native pollinators, their role in your garden ecosystem, and ways you can help them flourish without getting stung! Hint: not all of them are bees!

Presenter: Sarah Dalton

Sarah recently retired from Franklin County Metro Parks after a 27-year career as Senior Naturalist at Blendon Woods Metro Park. She became interested in monarchs after raising her first caterpillar at age10 and then expanded on that interest during her career. Monarch Day became Metro Parks? second longest running program and brought the joy of monarchs to thousands of park visitors and teachers? classrooms. She currently serves as the Citizen Science Committee Chairperson (actually the whole committee!) for the Wild Ones Columbus Chapter. She also hosts a Facebook group Monarch Maniacs of Ohio to foster local efforts to conserve the monarch butterfly and its habitat.

Program Description: The increasing interest in growing food by way of edible landscaping has led to new ideas about what to put in the traditional flower garden. Edible landscaping offers an alternative to conventional landscaping and can be just as attractive while also producing food. Many native species have been used in some way as food in the past. This program is intended to guide you in some things you might plant around your home, which are available in the native nursery trade. The program will also include edible weeds which are likely to sprout up in urban areas and disturbed rural sites. Gale will also recommend integrating into the edible landscape, plants that provide food and/or habitat to birds, bees, butterflies, and other creatures. She believes that if the beneficial insects and native species are well-fed, your yield will be more robust, and you?ll also have more choices for harvest. Plus, the ripple effect of a well-balanced garden that feeds more than just you is a healthier ecosystem and healthier planet.

Presenter: Gale E. Martin, owner of Natives in Harmony Nursery near Marengo Ohio, is also a trustee on the Ohio Prairie Association Board of Trustees. The Ohio Prairie Association encourages restoration, establishment and conservation of native prairies and prairie gardens within Ohio.?Gale believes that the preservation of local-genotypes is of the utmost importance. Gale wants to convert others to natives by offering high quality, genetically appropriate native forbs and grasses as well as providing the expertise to use and care for them. Gale is also currently the director of the Marion County Historical Society, a position she has held for over 11 years. Before accepting the position with MCHS, Gale was the education specialist for the Morrow County Soil and Water Conservation District and a part-time naturalist at the Mount Gilead State Park where she still helps out from time to time.

Plan to?join us at the?annual potluck, seed exchange and meeting of members. Bring a dish (full of food of course!) to share and any seeds you have to exchange. Please mark the seeds with the common and Latin name. This is a wonderful way for new members to develop their gardens and try their hand at starting plants from seed. We always have a very nice time visiting with one another and getting an annual report from our president. We will have election of new officers at this meeting as well. Hope we have a good turnout.

IMPORTANT: This is not our usual location.?