Calendar of Events and Programs

Date | Time: Saturday, January 8th | 10am Description: Curious about salamanders? Think only birds migrate? Expert naturalist Doug Berube will be presenting virtually on native salamanders, their importance, ecosystems, and how we can help them through planting native plants and creating lost habitats. Salamanders are amphibians and they are a voiceless shy neighbor. Salamanders are cold-blooded with soft, glandular, moist skin that is capable of absorbing oxygen. Salamanders drink water through their skin. This leaves them vulnerable to habitat disturbances and destruction. There is quite a story to tell; salamanders are an indicator species that can measure environmental conditions of existing habitats and ecosystems. Speaker Bio: Doug is a seasonal field biologist and researcher at The Dawes Arboretum and an active citizen scientist at various metro parks and preserves year round. He is also a nature photographer and loves using his photography to connect people with nature, especially flora and fauna that might often be overlooked. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85324282211?pwd=d0dQRzdWVVdNWGRMVzFyQjlGM1FIdz09   Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/5433254636691541/?active_tab=about

* If you missed our virtual Winter Tree ID course and would like to learn more about tree ID, or you attended and are looking for the resources suggested, please see below: Recorded webinar: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ro8KuVpIiuI Tree ID App: http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/ search VTree in Apple or Google app stores to download this app Woodland Owners and events: u.osu.edu/seohiowoods or search "Southeast Ohio Woods" for the Facebook page Tree ID videos by species: http://go.osu.edu/treeid Link for ID books & paper materials mentioned during presentation: https://u.osu.edu/.../virtual-tree-identification.../ Link to PowerPoints with helpful notes: https://u.osu.edu/.../winter-tree-identification-virtual.../   Learn to identify trees without leaves! Join us as we host David Apsley for this fun event! Presenter: David Apsley Dave has 33 years of professional experience in forestry and natural resources education, management and research. He focuses most of his energy on building partnerships to improve woodland management on family forests. Dave coordinates A Day in the Woods, a woodland owner outreach effort focused on Ohio's Appalachian woodland owners (http://u.osu.edu/seohiowoods). He is currently serving as the Outreach Coordinator for the Ohio Interagency  

Description: Learn to save your own native seeds in your prairie this year! Join us as we learn from Gale Martin of Natives in Harmony! Location: Innis House, Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S Hempstead Rd, Westerville, OH 43081 Presenter: Gale E. Martin, owner of Natives in Harmony Nursery, believes that the preservation of local genotypes is of the utmost importance and 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. Education is a big part of Gale's mission, and she works hard to educate and support her customers and the public at large in their land-use decisions. She is passionate about making Ohio genotypes available for anyone interested in using native plants to create habitat for native pollinators, birds, and other wildlife species. Gale has served on the boards of conservation and education non-profits such as the Ohio Prairie Association, Appalachia Ohio Alliance, the Headwaters Outdoor Education Center, and the Olentangy Watershed Alliance. Gale retired in 2017 from the Executive Director's position at the Marion County Historical Society, a position she held for 13 years. before accepting the position with MCHS, Gale was the education specialist for the Morrow County Soil and Water Conservation District and spent time as a naturalist at the Mount Gilead State Park.

Description: Join us for a chapter volunteer event at The Dawes Arboretum! We are excited to celebrate Ohio Native Plant Month and Earth Month by restoring a woodland with spring ephemerals. We will be working in The Dawes Arboretum's Woodland Garden to help plant spring ephemerals, rescue wildflowers from a newly designed trail and remove invasive species. Will also have a spring wildflower hike to give our volunteers the opportunity to learn about our native spring ephemerals. Admission to the arboretum is waived, but registration is required. Join us by signing up at the registration link below.   Location: The Dawes Arboretum | 7770 Jacksontown Rd, Newark, OH 43056   Registration link: https://dawesarb.org/events/woodland-wildflower-restoration-tour/  

Description: Stock up on native Ohio plants for your yard at our annual native plant sale! Plants are supplied by Wild Ones Columbus members, and vendors Gale Martin (Natives in Harmony) and Patti Shipley (Leaves for Wildlife). Location: Overbrook Presbyterian Church, 4131 N High Street, Columbus, OH 43214

Description: Come explore a local Metro Park with us and see what birds we can find! Experienced birder James Muller will be leading this walk. Location: Battelle Darby Metro Park, Cedar Ridge Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Dr, Galloway, OH 43119 Trip leader bio: James Muller started birding when he was 12 years old, and has seen over 630 species across the United States. He has led tours for the Black Swamp Bird Observatory and for Columbus Audubon. James is also an eBird reviewer, the creator of the Birding Central Ohio Facebook group (2300 members), and an advisor for the Ohio Young Birders Club.

Description: Join us for a walk through Hoover Meadows to look for native Ohio butterflies. The event is free for all and a perfect activity for children and adults of all ages. We recommend bringing a personal water bottle and snacks as needed, as there are no on-site concessions. Location: Hoover Meadows, 3715 Sunbury Road, Galena, OH 43021 Tour Guide: Don Reuter, Wild Ones Columbus Ways & Means Chair and Native Plant Sale Coordinator | Don is a member of the Columbus Wild Ones and serves on the board of our local chapter. If you've attended one of our plant sales you have surely seen Don, as he organizes this wonderful event for us each year. Don is passionate about native ecosystems and all the critters that call them home. We are so excited for him to share his knowledge and hope you will join us!

Description: Join us on a walk at Inniswood Metro Gardens to celebrate the end of summer and beginning of the fall season! We will meet at the entrance of the garden before heading out on one of the trails. This is a free event, open to all ages. Location: Inniswood Metro Gardens | 940 S Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH 43081

Join us for a tour and maintenance work day of the OSU 4-H Center native plant garden established by Wild Ones Columbus in 2018. Please bring gloves, your preferred gardening supplies, and plenty of water. Location: Ohio 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, OH 43210 (across the street from the Schottenstein Center) *Rain date will be Sunday, October 2nd at 3pm

* THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1ST *

Come collect native prairie plant seeds for your garden! We will be joining the ONAPA event and collecting from Guy Denny's amazing reconstructed tallgrass prairie that hosts a diversity of native prairie grasses and forbs. Guy Denny will give a short presentation at 10am, and prairie experts will be around to help identify species and answer any other questions. Some supplies may be provided, but pruners, storage envelopes/containers, markers and tape for labeling are recommended.

Hear from bat experts Richard Shears (Ohio Bat Working Group) and Sarah Stankavich (Bat Conservation International) about the importance of bats in our ecosystems, and how to create habitat for them in your own yard.

This is a free, family-friendly event open to the public.