There are certain plants in my garden that seem to become gathering places. Earlier in the summer, Virginia mountain mint is one of them. When it is in full bloom, I can stand beside it and watch an almost constant stream of bees, wasps, flies, beetles and other insects moving across the flowers. As the […]
Late Boneset (Eupatorium serotinum): A Late-Season Pollinator Magnet Read Post »
Welcome, Walk Sacred Attendees! If you received a Backyard Habitats Native Seed Mix, welcome! These seeds were collected from plants grown right here in my own backyard habitat. Your packet contains a mixture of native wildflowers selected to provide food and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife while adding beautiful native plants to your garden.
Native Seed Mix: Planting & Growing Guide Read Post »
When we first start gardening, we tend to think about plants individually. We might choose a coneflower because we like the flower, plant milkweed because we want to help monarchs, or find a grass we like and try to figure out where we can fit it. There is nothing wrong with any of that. It
Plant Communities | How Plants Grow Together in Nature 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 »
As my garden moves into midsummer, certain plants naturally begin to stand out. This year, one of those plants has been Culver’s root. I planted it last year, knowing it would likely spend its first season establishing roots before putting on much of a show. This summer, that patience has been rewarded. Growing in full
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 »
