Cincinnati Nature Center Blog
Blog Entries - tag: 'Knowing nature in your yard'
A Sunny Garden Flower Gone Awry
Posted on: February 24, 2021
by Danie Frevola, Conservation Apprentice
Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus) is a stunning wetland plant with tall and showy yellow flowers (Fig 1.). While it is an attractive landscaping plant, it also peaks gardener’s interest because it can grow in a
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Happy National Invasive Species Week!
Posted on: February 22, 2021
by Danie Frevola, Conservation Apprentice
Happy National Invasive Species Awareness week! Anyone that has had a conversation with me has heard ‘invasive species’ countless times, and it's likely that you have come across the term quite a few
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Shaun’s Yard
Posted on: May 7, 2020
A Practical Application of National Wildlife Federation’s Habitat Checklist
by Jason Neumann, Public Programs Manager
Suburban Blue Ash, early April. I had pulled out my lawnmower for the first grass cutting of 2020. Dressed to work in my old
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Turn Your Property into Better Habitat
Posted on: May 5, 2020
By Jeff Sperry, Director of Development and Marketing
I hate mowing the lawn. It’s noisy, messy, and smelly. Lawnmower motors are very loud; grass clippings get all over the place; and the fumes from the motor are noxious. My goal has been to
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Want Biodiversity? Feed the Soil
Posted on: April 27, 2020
by Jason Neumann, Public Programs Manager
It’s time to vent. After nearly 25 years on staff at Cincinnati Nature Center, there are a couple of things I want to clear up. For the record, I’m fully on board with the Nature Center’s
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The Bird that Carries the Sky on Its Back and the Earth on Its Breast (John Burroughs)
Posted on: April 22, 2020
by Tim Nabors, Naturalist
Of all the birds that can be found at the Cincinnati Nature Center, my favorite is the Eastern Bluebird and I believe many would agree with me. Something about seeing a bright flash of blue flittering about the fields and forest
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Go Spots!
Posted on: April 21, 2020
By Olivia Espinoza, Natural Areas Manager
I’m certain that one of the staples of a childhood is the discovery of a tadpole in a ditch, puddle, or pond. I grew up with a lake in my backyard and would spend the summers with my head peering over the water
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The Myth of Groundcover
Posted on: April 16, 2020
by Jason Neumann
I didn’t plant it, but there it is at the bottom of my wood privacy fence: wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei). As a naturalist, I know that this unwanted botanical surprise is courtesy of neighborhood birds that relieved themselves
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What’s (Probably) Growing in Your Yard: Our Bioblitz Round-Up
Posted on: April 15, 2020
By Connie O’Connor and Jason Neumann
We had a great time with our first-ever bioblitz—our Lawn Plant Identification Challenge! We totaled 349 observations of 175 different species in and around lawns in our region!
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Rethinking Your Lawn: A Guide to Living with Imperfection
Posted on: April 13, 2020
By Jeff Sperry, Director of Development and Marketing
There’s a reason the lawn treatment companies put little signs up saying “Stay Off the Grass for 24 Hours” when they finish a treatment. The chemicals they just sprayed all over
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The Story of My Land—Keeping a Phenology Journal
Posted on: April 9, 2020
By Connie O’Connor
“Every place, like every person, is elevated by the love and respect shown toward it, and by the way its bounty is received.” -- Richard Nelson
I bought my first home, hidden away on 3.6 acres of woodland,
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Knowledge & Confidence in the Palm of Your Hand
Posted on: April 3, 2020
By Connie O’Connor
Here’s a confession: I sometimes dread “what’s this” questions when leading a hike. When I teach Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist students, they express similar concerns. We can’t know everything, but
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