Field observations recorded July 22, 2026. Habitats Explored: Restored Prairie · Wet Woodland · Sandy Pine Forest · Deciduous Woodland · Ponds and Reservoir In Search of Blazing Stars I headed to the Beach Ridge Area of Oak Openings Preserve with one particular goal in mind. Blazing stars. I had seen the Blazing Star Loop
Beach Ridge: Adventure Along an Ancient Shoreline Read Post »
Field Notes is an ongoing Backyard Habitats series exploring the natural areas of Northwest Ohio through observation. I visit preserves, parks, and other natural spaces throughout the region and slow down long enough to pay attention—to the plants and wildlife, the soil and water, the transitions between habitats, and the relationships that connect them. Field
Northwest Ohio Field Notes | Exploring Local Landscapes Read Post »
Field observations recorded July 14, 2026. Habitats Explored: Oak Savanna · Dry Sand Prairie/Openings · Oak Woodland Following the Sand Through an Oak Savanna After leaving Salamander Flats, I wasn’t quite ready to head home. The preserve had left me thinking about hidden water and how subtle changes in elevation could shape an entire ecosystem.
Exploring the Oak Savanna at Kitty Todd Nature Preserve Read Post »
Field observations recorded July 14, 2026. Habitats Explored: Wet Prairie • Dry Sand Prairie • Oak Woodland • Oak Savanna Learning to Read a Landscape When I first pulled into Salamander Flats, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The name immediately made me picture water—perhaps a marsh, a vernal pool, or at least a
Exploring Salamander Flats at Kitty Todd Nature Preserve Read Post »
Field observations recorded June 20, 2026. Habitats Explored: Oak Savanna • Oak Woodland • Seasonal Wetlands • Sand Dunes • Prairie • Pond Some places don’t reveal themselves all at once Some parks greet you with sweeping overlooks, rushing water, or an abundance of wildlife. Lou Campbell State Nature Preserve takes a different approach. It
Exploring Lou Campbell State Nature Preserve: Patience Among the Oaks Read Post »
Field observations recorded June 18, 2026. Habitats Explored: Floodplain Forest • Oak Woodland • Oak Savanna • Riparian Creek Corridor • Seasonal Wetlands • Successional Thickets • Lowland Oxbow Depressions First Impressions There are places that feel preserved, as if time has slowed down long enough for nature to remain untouched. Swan Creek Metropark feels
Exploring Swan Creek: A Landscape Still Being Carved Read Post »
Field observations recorded June 17, 2026. Habitats Explored: River Gorge • Limestone Riparian Bluff • Floodplain Forest • Upland Hardwood Forest • River Edge Flats • Wet Meadow Patches • Historic Canal Corridor Habitat The First Thing I Noticed Was the Smell The first thing I noticed wasn’t a bird or a wildflower. It was
Exploring the Hidden Habitats of Side Cut Metropark Along the Maumee River Read Post »
