Enjoying Native Plants

Getting Started

Where to start?  Take a hike!  The Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio offers hikes and workshops throughout the year highlighting various plants and their habitats.  Join us for one of these informal programs to explore the flora of our region.

These programs offer special opportunities to see private preserves and restricted areas not accessible by the general public.

Local, state, and national parks, as well as other organizations, also offer plant hikes throughout the year highlighting spring wildflowers, trees, ferns or other native plant species.  For events of other environmental organizations, check out our Schedule of Events page.

Don’t attempt too much at once.  Try to learn a few woodland wildflowers while they are visible in the spring.  In summer, learn to recognize the leaves of some of our area’s more common tree species.  Concentrating on the flora of one habitat type at a time is a lot easier than tackling everything at once.

Botanizing can be an enjoyable year-round hobby.  From the vibrant wildflowers of spring and the lush greens of summer to the colorful hues of autumn and the stately tree silhouettes of winter, enjoy the natural world around us.

Getting More Involved

Participate in a Research project

Here are just a couple of enjoyable projects to which anyone can contribute.

Project Budburst

Project Budburst enlists citizens to make careful observations, such as first leaf, first flower, and first fruit ripening of a diversity of trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses in their local area.  Join thousands of others from across the country in gathering valuable environmental and climate change information.

Ohio Big Trees Program

Ohioans can help find more champion-sized trees in back yards, community parks and cemeteries across the state.  Big Trees are generally found in yards, parks, arboretums and cemeteries, where their size stands out.  They are less frequently found in dense forests where trees have much more competition for resources needed to grow.  The ODNR Division of Forestry is continuing efforts to locate and catalogue Ohio’s Big Trees.  They are actively seeking your help with the project.

Global Garlic Mustard Field Survey

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to draw your attention to the world's largest collaborative
project on invasive species; it may be of particular interest to
educators, conservation groups, and resource managers.

Do you want to be part of the world's largest scientific research
project on invasive species? The 'Global Garlic Mustard Field Survey' is
an international collaboration aimed at obtaining much-needed data on
the abundance and distribution of Garlic Mustard (/Alliaria petiolata/)
across its native and introduced ranges. In our first field season last
year, we received measurements and seed samples from 65 populations,
with a majority from Europe -- already one of the largest systematic
field surveys of an invasive species. Our goal for this summer is 150 or
more, with a stronger emphasis on the southern and mid-west to western
United States.

This year we are hoping to increase participation among educators, as
well as land managers and 'citizen-scientists' who may not have much
formal science training. The survey involves a simple protocol that can
be followed directly or incorporated into field courses and nature
surveys. A population takes two people about 2-4 hours to measure. We
are also planning to develop internet-based teaching modules and tools
to aid with monitoring and managing this invasive plant. The sampling
protocol, along with contact information is available at the Global
Garlic Mustard Field Survey website: www.GarlicMustard.org
<http://www.garlicmustard.org/> (note that you do not need to log in to
the site to participate).

Ideal sampling time is 2-4 weeks after flowering finishes and ranges
from early June in southern states (e.g. OK, AR, AL, GA, SC) and lower
altitudes to mid to late July in northern states (e.g. OR, WA, ID, ND,
MN, WI, MI, VT, ME), higher altitudes and Canada.

Please contact me if you would like to participate.

North American Coordinator
Dr. Robert Colautti
Biology Department
Duke University
rob.colautti@duke.edu <mailto:rob.colautti@duke.edu>

Attend the annual Ohio Botanical Symposium

Held in Columbus in early spring, the symposium brings botanists, naturalists, and nature enthusiasts together to network and provide professional enrichment.  Hear experts on a variety of topics relating to Ohio’s flora and natural communities, the latest in rare plant finds, habitat restoration, and the latest on threats to plant communities.  Visit the many vendors and exhibitors including non-profit environmental and conservation groups, park districts, federal and state agencies, and universities.

The Native Plant Society

of Northeastern Ohio

Conservation Opportunities

The Mission of the Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio is to promote the study, appreciation, and conservation of the native plants and plant communities of Ohio. In line with that mission and the general goals of the society, here are some ways you can make a difference: 

Become familiar with the rare and endangered plants, the fragile environments, and the unique biotic communities in our areas so that they may be given maximum protection.

Be alert to threats to native plants; work with persons who make land use decisions for voluntary protection where possible and for legislative protection where needed. Attend public meetings and hearings on issues that will have an impact on plant resources in order to assess the situation and make recommendations to our chapter and to public officials.   

Obtain the plant policy statements of the public land agencies in our area (federal, state, county, and city) that control or regulate park lands, open space, watersheds, and roads, and share the information with our members. Suggest to agencies where their policies should be changed to better conserve natural resources. 

Become aware of and work with local individuals and departments that regulate or specify residential and commercial uses of plant materials, water use standards, and vegetation management programs. 

Comment and advise on how local restrictions or ordinances affect use or protection of native vegetation. 

Work to encourage the development and dissemination of lists of commercial sources of native plants and seeds. [Note:  On our website there is a section under Landscaping, titled Buying Native Plants, which lists some resources to find where they are sold.]

Take and make opportunities to educate our members and the public of the importance of preserving our native plants in their natural habitats. 

Initiate and support programs to eradicate particularly aggressive and noxious exotic plants. Promote the use of native plants.

Circulate our guidelines and policies to groups in our area to which they pertain.  

Consider opportunities to salvage plants that will be lost by development, being aware that such salvage activities are often of limited success or value. 

This list of activities is adapted from the Guidelines for Chapters to Reduce Impacts to Native Plants of the California Native Plant Society, adopted in September 1993:  Conservation - California Native Plant Society.

Web Master:   Ami Horowitz