Author Archives: vickstersvine

Waiting, waiting, waiting….

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It won’t be long now before the Decorah, Iowa bald eagles’ eggs hatch. The anticipated first hatch date is April 1.  I’ve noticed a big change in the parent’s behavior – they are much more alert and on-guard while sitting on the nest. AND there is a dead body in the nest. Probably a rabbit, I would guess. Yum, just like mom used to make.

Regal Cindy: Roger Garber is a friend of a friend who happens to be a great photographer here in the Dayton, OH area. This photo of  “Cindy” is one of his. She is one of the Dayton area nesting eagles and was photographed near the Mad River well field/Eastwood Lake. His photos are often seen on TV channel 7.

Baby Hummers: You REALLY need to add one more nest cam to your day. This one is an Anna’s Hummingbird nest in CA. The nest was built in a rose bush and is no larger than a golf ball. The 2 babies are about 2 weeks old and are already trying to stretch their wings. The parents patiently feed them a mixture of nectar and insects about every 15-30 minutes. At this rate, I’ll never get anything done around the house!

Great sales opps around the state

Here are a couple more places to visit to get your plant fix:  Saturday, May 6-7: Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Center (OSU, Columbus, OH) will hold their annual plant sale, auction and Garden Fair featuring over 10,000 plants. Saturday, May 21: Dawes Arboretum (Newark OH) hold its annual spring plant sale and Garden Fair.

Governor's Residence, Columbus OH

Governor’s Residence looking for volunteers

Did you know you can help maintain the Heritage Garden at the Governor’s Residence? You and your friends can provide hands-on help and have fun in the Heritage Garden through planting, thinning, transplanting, weeding.

When? The 2nd Wednesdays of the month – 9 am to 12 noon – May through October (May 11, June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14 and October 12) and the  4th Wednesdays of the month – 9 am to 1 pm (speaker at noon) – May through October (May 25, June 22, July 27, August 24, September 28 and October 26. (There will be a special celebration lunch on September 28.) An Orientation (Must be registered by April 1) will be held on April 27th from 1-3 pm. If you attend you will receive a t-shirt, see the new volunteer meeting space and get a special tour of the property.

Where? Ohio Governor’s Residence: 358 N. Parkview Ave, Columbus OH 43209, (614) 644-7644)

Wear: Outdoor work clothes and dress for the weather

Bring: Tools for weeding and transplanting, kneeling pad, gloves, plastic bags for weeds, shovel, trowel, etc. brown bag lunch, and hear a speaker on the 4th  Wednesdays of the month. It’s great to bring a friend or two – the more, the merrier. There are plenty of things to do and each week is different.

Interested? Contact Hope Taft at Ohiohoper@yahoo.com. A security check is required.

Busy as a bee

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Bee on a pussy willow blossom (Salix sp.)

The warm weather is bringing more out than the bees! Note the pollen sacs on this hard worker in the photo…. Everyone seems to want to clean up their beds. Including me. While in the garden, I managed to embed a big sliver of a plant stem so deep in my knuckle that it required visit to the doctor. One tetanus shot, a scalpel and a suture to close the incision and I was good to go. That’s when I wish my imaginary gardener, Thor, wasn’t so imaginary!

Baker’s Acres Greenhouse opens!

Saturday, March 26 is Opening Day at Baker’s Acres. Crazy people like me can and will drive 2 hours to visit this greenhouse in search for unusual annuals and perennials. Located east of Columbus, yet west of Granville, you will not be disappointed. Consider this: Over 100 varieties of coleus, give or take. See what I mean?

Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark prepares for Patrick Dougherty Exhibit

Willow saplings for the Patrick Dougherty installation

This spring, internationally renowned artist Patrick Dougherty will create and install one of his unique outdoor sculptures at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark. The massive structures are made entirely of woven saplings and resemble nests, lairs, and mythic shelters. While visiting the Englewood MetroPark I came across one of the semi-trailers that is already being loaded with young willow trees to be used in the exhibit. He will be in Dayton from April 4-22 and with the help of many volunteers, create an original woven-branch sculpture that will remain in place for about two years. Sponsored, in part, by the Wegerzyn Gardens Foundation.

Bald Eagle Cams

I can’t believe how easily I got hooked on watching, or at least checking in on, the Decorah (Iowa) Bald Eagle nest cam. I feel like I’m right in the nest with them. The best part, other than the view, is that the cam streams audio as well so that you can hear what is going on. There are three eggs in the nest and the estimated first hatch date is around April 1.

This isn’t the only bald eagle nest cam around. Here is a link to one at the Norfolk (VA) Botanical Garden. It does not have audio but the three chicks have already hatched and you can watch the parents feeding them. You can also participate in a moderated discussion board on the eagles.

Locally, we have eagles named Jim and Cindy on a nest at Eastwood Lake. Here is that link.  On Tuesday I saw another local nest in the Englewood MetroParks area. If you want to check it out, you have to park in a tiny improvised specially-marked parking spot off of River Road in Englewood and then walk about 1/2 mile to an observation point. Once there, you are still about a 1/4 mile from the nest. Even from that distance, it is a neat thing to see.

Calendar updates

Be sure to check the Calendar Events tab often as I update items there that may not be featured in the regular posts. What’s new? Aullwood Audubon Center’s Native Plant Sale and more.

Peeent!

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Spring is here!

American Woodcock

Some may think that spring arrives with the sighting of the first robin, crocus, witch hazel, skunk cabbage….the list goes on. For others, however, it is hearing the quirky mating song of the American Woodcock (take a listen here). Seldom seen, this odd bird is a member of the sandpiper family that has evolved to live in moist woodlands and eat earthworms. It arrives in Ohio from its wintering grounds as early as February. During courtship at dusk, it makes a buzzing bzzzzzeeeeep sound (some say it sounds like: peeeent) that is not unlike a nighthawk’s call. The males put on a spectacular arial display climbing high in the sky, only to plummet down to earth twittering all the way. Though I did not see them on my outing, I did hear both the buzzing calls and the twittering descent here in Centerville OH. I suppose spring is officially here!

Sales alerts

Knollwood Garden Center – If you missed their pansy sale last week, do not fret. There is still a great selection of pansy bowls on sale for $9.99 through Sunday.

Grandma’s Gardens – The Spring Preview is underway with 20% off everything through Sunday.

Siebenthaler’s – The Beavercreek location only is offering a sale on ceramic pottery at 40-75% off through Sunday.

Educational Opportunities

Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder” will speak Sunday, March 27 – 7:00 p.m. at the James and Caroline Duff Banquet Center in the Cintas Center – Xavier University, Cincinnati OH.

His book stimulated an international conversation about the future relationship between children and nature. He serves as chair of the Children and Nature Network, which encourages and supports people and organizations working to reconnect children with nature. The event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, e-mail frickman@xavier.edu or visit www.xavier.edu/ers/lecture

Gardening Symposium

The Ohio State University Extension Gardening Symposium Series will be held Thursday, March 31 from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm at Polen Farm, 5099 Bigger Rd., Kettering, OH. The day will offer informative speakers & choice of hands-on workshop with one-on-one instruction, materials provided. Beverage and box lunch provided included in the $40 registration fee. Register before March 22, 2011.  Space is limited.  Visit http://montgomery.osu.edu/topics/horticulture/hort-downloads/2011%20Spri… for more details and to register.


Going wild in Ohio

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Man! What a great, WILD week. It all started last Saturday at the 8th annual Adams County Amish Bird Symposium and finished at another wild adventure this past Wednesday at the Ohio Wildlife Diversity Conference in Columbus. Do yourself a favor and make time to attend some of the amazing educational opportunities offered around our great state.

Adams County (OH) Amish Bird Symposium

As I’ve joked before: the birds are not Amish. However many in the Amish community near West Union are serious bird watchers. If you are a bird watcher, you will want to mark your calendar for October 14 – the day the movie “The Big Year” (with Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson) will open. One of the people who the book of the same title is based on is Greg Miller. He was our first speaker and shared some of his experiences from his “Big Year” – when birders attempt to spot the largest number of observed species of birds in one year: hence the name, The Big Year. It sounds like a hoot and may be something akin to “City Slickers” but based in the birding world.

Among the other speakers, some highlights include Jim Berry, Director of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and author Scott Weidensaul’s program, “Living on the Wind: The Miracle of Bird Migration.” Migration is an amazing miracle indeed. Of course, the wonderful Amish-made doughnuts and lunch are a bonus.

Ohio Wildlife Diversity Conference

This was my first time attending this amazing conference at the expansive Aladin Shriner’s Complex in Columbus – with around 1000 of my wildlife-minded friends! Oh, my!  We heard from experts on many subjects including: Sandhill Cranes, Spiny and Smooth Softshell Turtles, Steelhead Trout, Masssauga Rattlesnakes, Freshwater Mussels and – wait for it – Eastern Hellbenders. What is a Hellbender? It is the rare stream-dwelling salamander that can grow to reach 29 inches. A creepy name to be sure but one of the indicator species of clean and healthy streams. Though I don’t have a picture of a Hellbender you’ll have to make-do with the timber rattlesnake who was on display. Doug Wynn, the herpetologist who is handling the snake above, was the surprised recipient of the 2011 Wildlife Diversity Conservation Award.

Bald Eagle nest cam 24/7

Here’s a cool link to a live webcam of a Bald Eagle nest in Decorah, Iowa. There are three eggs in the nest that measures 5-6′ across by 5-6′ deep. It is estimated that the nest weighs over a ton. It’s mesmerizing.

Support Wildlife Conservation in Ohio.

Get your 2011 Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp today at: wildohiostamp.com.

Get a jump on spring

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Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “April showers bring May flowers.”  Well, I’m starting to think that March showers weren’t all for naught – because they’re bringingout the SALES. Yippee and yahoo! If you aren’t on any of these garden centers’ email lists, you should be. You would be getting advance notice of their sales and perhaps special offers.

Knollwood Garden Center – Beavercreek OH

Knollwood Garden Center’s Spring Pansy Sale starts today and runs through Sunday, March 13. Choose from nearly 30 different varieties! Pansy flats are $14.99 and all other pansies are 20% off.

Grandma’s Gardens – Waynesville (south of Centerville) OH

Grandma’s Gardens’ Spring Preview runs March 11-20. Everything is 20% off, throughout the garden center, greenhouses and gift parlor.  On the 3 Preview Open House dates of March 11-13, they will offer food samples from 11 am to 3 pm, have a video preview of hot new plants in slide show format, offer a free gift with purchase and even give out some door prizes.

Meadowview Growers – New Carlisle OH

Meadowview Growers’ Perennial Madness Collections will be available starting Saturday, March 12. Fourteen different pre-sorted and pre-assembled perennial collections (25 starter-size plant – 5 each of 5 different varieties) are offered at a considerable savings. Their annual hanging basket extravaganza will be Saturday, April 9.

Native Plant Conference

The Midwest Native Plant Society is looking for volunteers to help with the July 8-9, 2011 conference. Email Chris at iluvdirt@fuse (dot) net or visit http://www.midwestnativeplants.org for more information.

There is still time

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If you are getting a little stir crazy with all of this rain, why not head downtown to the Dayton Convention Center and take in some of the sights at the Dayton Home and Garden Show running through Sunday afternoon. One of the highlights to see is the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) competition. The displays are reminiscent of what one might see at the Philadelphia Flower Show.

Landscape vendors have some beautiful displays. One of my favorites was designed by our friends at Knollwood Garden Center in Beavercreek. This cute Fairy Garden is located out in the convention center lobby.

The thing you don’t want to miss out on – and really makes the event a fantastic value – is the wonderful selection of speakers; 56 programs over the 3-day event. Exhibitors span the gamut of interests from home improvement to personal improvement. It was great way to spend a day out of the rain. Look for discount admission coupons HERE.

Better build me an ark!

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I don’t know what it is about nighttime storms. I cannot sleep when it is windy and last night was horrible. Add in the heavy rains and hail hitting the side of the house and bathroom skylight… let’s just say I will be looking forward to taking a nap this afternoon. At the back of my backyard is an old fence row and it pretty much looks like a vernal pool right now. ANYTHING I do outside today will require my fancy-smancy garden boots. Or my hip-waders. Or a canoe.

 

Dayton Home and Garden Show presentations

Here is a reminder that if you haven’t done so already take a moment to check out the Garden Academy’s and How-To Stage’s course schedule for this coming weekend’s Dayton Home and Garden Show at the Dayton Convention Center. There will be 56 presentations on the two stages. All programs are free and included with your entrance fee.

 

Vote for Chadwick Arboretum’s Green Roof

There is still time to vote for the Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens’ Green Roof project. Rainbird, the irrigation company, is promoting an inter-active grant award program called The Intelligent Use of Water Awards. Check it out at the link below. The project with the most votes wins $10,000. You can vote once a day until March 22, 2011 so spread the word and help a worthy project.

http://www.iuowawards.com/Projects.aspx?ProjectKey=fcaf0ca0-de7b-441b-9bd1-a3a2a32f26d4#project|fcaf0ca0-de7b-441b-9bd1-a3a2a32f26d4

Blooming in the Rain

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While the skunk cabbages might be blooming out in the wetlands of Ohio, they aren’t exactly a poster child for ‘early spring beauty’. This week I’m going to nominate the witch-hazel for the ‘early AND cute’ award.  While visiting Five Rivers MetroParks’ Wegerzyn Gardens today, I spotted a spectacular witch-hazel specimen in full regalia. Yes, today. In February. From a distance, you might think this yellow shrub was a forsythia, but no – it is too early for those. The witch-hazels (Hamamelis) all belong to the Hamamelidaceae family and are primarily understory plants. I think I NEED one.

 

Aullwood Holds Waffle House Spirit Fundraiser (Wednesday, February 23)

You can help the Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm and fill your tummy at the same time. Just head to either the Englewood Waffle House (9295 N. Main, Englewood) or the Beavercreek Waffle House (across from the Greene, 4382 Indian Ripple, Beavercreek) between the hours of 2-9pm. Tell them you are are there supporting Aullwood and Waffle House will donate 25% of your order to Aullwood. Ohio’s former first lady Hope Taft will be at the Beavercreek Waffle House around 5:30pm that day. I’m dreaming of my loaded hashbrowns right now!

 

Knollwood Garden Center Announces Spring Seminar Schedule

Knollwood Garden Center in Beavercreek (OH) will hold Saturday seminars beginning March 12 and running into April. Featured programs will spotlight many different topics including herbs, fruits, fairy gardens, and even an opportunity to tour their growing range. Check it all out at their website.

 

Great Lakes Hosta College – March 12 (Piqua, OH)

The Great Lakes Region of the American Hosta Society has opened registration for the 2011 Hosta College on March 12. The event features 6-12 different programs each of the 6 periods of the day. The school is held at the Upper Valley JVS Center in Piqua and the $40 registration price includes lunch. Some classes have additional class fees. Hosta Society members can register on-line now. On-line class registration opens to the public February 26 at 12:01 am.

Is it spring yet?

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Not quite yet. Some might say, “But I’ve seen Robins! Aren’t they the harbringers (…where did that word come from?) of spring?” Well, maybe some time in the past but certainly not these days. American Robins are pretty much year-round residents in Ohio now.

“It smells like spring.”  Well, a 60 degree day should smell great, but what I’ve also caught a wiff of was the striped skunk. They are one of the earliest mating mammals in Ohio mating February-April. However, they aren’t the only creatures who have love on their mind. A pair of coyotes was seen mating in a residential backyard in Centerville last week. And the Great Horned Owls laid their eggs back in January. Love is in the air to be sure!

Not to be outdone by the animal kingdom, one of the earliest plants blooming in Ohio is the Skunk Cabbage. Looking neither like a skunk or a cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus is a member of the Arum plant family. Sending up a brownish-purple and green spathe-like blooms that smell like, well, something not very nice. Just take a look at the species name: where do you think we get the word foetid from? Stinky!

Tom Shisler, friend of OAGC and site manager of the Wahkeena Nature Preserve south of Lancaster OH, sent this photo today of the skunkies in bloom. In late spring bright green, huge, cabbage-like leaves will spring up next to these odd blooms. If you are out and about in the wetlands or marshy areas you just might spot one of these true signs of spring. Remember: OAGC members get free entrance in to Wahkeena. Be sure to contact Tom to schedule your garden club field trip to visit this valuable natural resource site.

Midwest Native Plant Conference (Bergamo Center, Beavercreek OH) July 8-10, 2011

The Dayton area is very fortunate to again host the Midwest Native Plant Society’s Conference. The society, whose interest is in fostering and educating those interested in native plants and their habitats, has scheduled learned speakers from around the county. Registration opens March 1. Sponsored in part by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Wild Ones©.

I need more hours in the day….

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If you thought March 5th couldn’t offer anything more to  the gardeners in the Miami Valley, well, guess again. Here are two more opportunities coming your way.

 

How much to do you love trees? Tree Corps. Volunteer Training – Cox Arboretum (Dayton) – March 5

MetroParks is targeting current and new volunteers who’ve expressed a deep interest in getting involved with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) reforestation efforts. This new task force of volunteers, named the Tree Corp., will be called upon to collect native hardwood seeds each fall, care for tree seedlings, help transplant seedlings in areas deforested by EAB, lead work crews of other volunteers, or speak to groups of neighbors, service clubs or garden clubs about EAB. Some of you may already be involved in the Forest Foster Family program (caring for seedlings at your home), which is a small component of the Tree Corp. mission.

To kick-off the spring season, you are invited to attend the Tree Corp. Volunteer Expo: a chance to learn more about the EAB threat and get an inside look into MetroParks strategic plan to manage the effects of EAB on our woodlands.  The second part of the morning offers you four Try-It sessions to practice hands-on skills in the areas where MetroParks volunteer needs are the greatest: seedling propagation, seed identification and collection, transplanting out, and promoting community awareness of the issue.  Some of these sessions will be held outdoors, so please dress for the weather.

Tree Corp. Volunteer Expo
Saturday March 5, 2011
9 am- 12:30 pm
Cox Arboretum MetroPark, 5/3 Conference Room

Please understand that by joining us for the March 5 volunteer expo, you are not committing to any specific volunteer group or task.  This event is just an opportunity for you to learn more about the effects of EAB within MetroParks and the volunteer needs that we’ll be trying to fill in the upcoming months.

To attend the Tree Corp. Volunteer Expo, please R.S.V.P. to Kevin Kepler no later than February 25: call 275-7275 2222 or email kkepler@metroparks.org. Space is limited, so sign up early!  With your help, we can restore our woodlands and leave a healthy forest for future generations!

 

Seed Starting Seminar – Meadow View Growers (New Carlisle) – March 5

Meadow View Growers (755 N. Lakeview Rd. aka Rt. 235, New Carlisle) is holding a seed starting seminar, “You Can Grow It”  at 2 pm, Saturday, March 5. Their experts will walk you step-by-step through the process of growing beautiful plants from seeds and cuttings at home. Fee is $5 which includes handouts. Email Abby@meadowview.com to register. Space is limited.