Cincinnati Wildflower Preservation Society

(Ohio Native Plant Society, Southwest Ohio Chapter)  

Updated Wed July 9, 2014 at 11 pm

Our hikes and lectures are free and open to the public, (but we depend on our memberships to cover our expenses.) Come learn about Cincinnati Native Plants. The Cincinnati Wild Flower Preservation Society welcomes you to our great (and free) events. All are welcome.  

-------------- July 2014----------------- 
What you missed- On Saturday July 12, 2014 the Society enjoyed an excellent hike led by Dr. Don Geiger to Siebenthaler Fen and Koogler Wetland, east of Dayton Ohio.  We saw a great variety of wetland plants including germander and the bright pink queen-of-the-prairie.  About 24 in attendance and 78 degrees at 10 am. Group photo (with Vic Soukup in blue shirt on the left and Don Geiger in white tee shirt in the middle. 

Saturday, July 26, 10 am: Lynx and Chaparral Prairies, Adams County, Ohio

Randy Johnson will lead this hike. Lynx Prairie is an Edge of Appalachia preserve thatis managed by the Nature Conservancy and the Cincinnati Museum Center. The hike is rather easy on flat terrain and will go through a number of remnant prairies and border woodlands.

Hopefully we will find a number of blazing stars (bring your book to differentiate), crested coralroot, blue hearts, Carolina wild petunia,and other prairie plants.

We will eat lunch at the new parking lot (on Cline Road) of Lynx Prairie (bring a bag lunch) and then go to Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve for an afternoon hike. In the past, we have seen a couple of lady’s tresses and many prairie plants in this prairie.

Let Randy know if you will be attending at 513-751-2503 or . 

Directions: From Cincinnati to Lynx Prairie

Take I-275 (exit #63)  to OH 32 and go east for about 41 miles.

Turn right (south) on OH 247 to West Union.

Turn left (east) on OH 125 (Main Street) and travel about 7 miles toward Lynx.

Turn right (south) onto Tulip Road.

There is a brand new entrance to Lynx Prairie.

Drive past the first left (the old entrance to East Liberty Church and Cemetery) and take the second left onto Cline Road.

Drive to the end of Cline Road, where you will find a new parking lot for Lynx preserve.

The address on google maps is 2999 Cline Rd,Lynx, OH 45650. For a google map from I-275 to Lynx Prairie click here . Driving time from Downtown Cincy is about 1 hr and 40 minutes (or 1 hr and 10 min from I-275)

There are new trail maps for Lynx and other Museum Center trails at http://www.cincymuseum.org/nature

Directions:From Lynx Prairie to Chaparral Prairie:

To get to Chaparral Prairie, retrace yoursteps to OH 247.

Turn right (north) on OH 247and drive 0.7 miles to Chaparral Road.

Turn left onto Chaparral Rd. and drive 2.7miles.

Turn right onto Hawk Hill Road and drive 0.2 miles. Entrance to the prairie is on the left.

The address is 209 Hawk Hill Rd ,W Union, OH 45693  . For a google map click here

------------------ August 2014-----------------

**Friday-Sunday, August 1-3: 6th Annual Midwest Native Plant Conference, Bergamo Center, Dayton, Ohio

This event, hosted by the Midwest Native Plant Society, has many excellent speakers as well as a variety of fieldtrips. There will be a native plant sale on Saturday that will be open to thepublic. The full weekend is $150, which includes all meals, speakers, and fieldtrips. For more info, visit www.midwestnativeplants.org.

Saturday, August 9, 10 am: The Dawes Arboretum, Licking County, Ohio

At1,800+ acres, the Dawes Arboretum is one of the country's largest gardens open to the public. Join botanist David Brandenburg for a Dawes tour that will highlight both the Main Grounds, featuring uncommon & fascinating woody species from temperate North America, Europe, and Asia, as well as the Dutch Fork area, a 70-acre mitigation native wetlands/grasslands ecosystem.

Participants are asked to wear attire appropriate for a field trip (long pants and boots). Pack a lunch and extra water.

This is much more than just a sightseeing trip! If you own a hand lens, kindly bring it along; if not, David will let attendees borrow one for the day. We will stop frequently to explore the botanical intricacies of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants. Birders are welcome to carry binoculars if they wish. Let Christine know if you will be attending at 513-850-9585 or .

Directions: From Cincinnati, takeI-71 North towards Columbus. Take exit 101 to merge onto I-270 East. Take exit43B to merge onto I-70 East toward Wheeling. Travel for about 24 miles on I-70.Take exit 132 for OH 13 toward Newark. Turn left onto OH 13 North and travel for 2.7 miles. Turn left into Dawes and meet in the gift store. The address for Dawes is 7770 Jacksontown Rd., Newark, OH 43056. 

Saturday, August 16, 10 am: Whipple State Nature Preserve, Adams County, Ohio

Rick Gardner, Ohio Chief Botanist, will lead us through the latest addition to the 448-acre Whipple State Nature Preserve near the Ohio River in Adams County. The area has cedar glades, 40-ft. dolomite cliffs, and springs. Noteworthy plants include: slender blazing star, American aloe, crossvine, southern blackhaw, and tall larkspur.There are no trails and some steep inclines. Recommend hiking boots, hiking poles and tick repellant.

Let Christineknow if you will be attending at 513-850-9585 or .

Directions: From Cincinnati, take I-275 to exit 63B to merge onto OH 32 East. Travelfor 41 miles on OH 32. Turn right onto OH 247 South and travel for 9.7 miles.Turn right onto W. Main St (which is also OH 41 and OH 125) and travel for 0.1 miles. Turn left onto S. Manchester St./OH 41 South and drive 1.1 miles to Wal-Mart, on the right, where we will meet in the parking lot and then carpool from there. The address for Walmart is 11217 OH 41, West Union, OH 45693.

------------------ September 2014-----------------

Friday, September 12, 7:30 pm: Member Photo Sharing Program, Avon Woods Nature Center

Please bring your photos (on thumb drive or CD) and slides, to share with friends. Wewill have a digital projector and computer, and cookies and coffee, too. Come early, at 6:30 pm, and bring a picnic dinner, if you like. Call Bob Bergstein at 513-477-4438 for computer information.

Directions: Avon Woods Nature Center is a Cincinnati City Park at 4235 Paddock Road, Cincinnati 45229. From the Norwood Lateral (SR 562), drive 0.9 mile south on Paddock to the Avon Woods Park driveway. Turn sharp right onto the drive next to the park sign (on the westside of Paddock) and go to the lodge at the end of the long dark drive.

If you are not yet a member, you are welcome to attend events.  All of our events are free and open to the public.  Of course if you enjoy our events, as we think you will,  it is nice to join to help support the Society. Our hikes and lectures are excellent, in a wonderful casual atmosphere.  You will have the opportunity to talk with our speakers after the meetings. Our hike leaders are knowledgeable and will be glad to point out the plants that we are seeing