Nature

It's in our Nature

information centered around oBserVinG and LearninG aBout aLL aspects of nature Schoepfle

Garden:

a Garden Getaway

There is lots to do at Schoepfle garden throughout the summer months. We offer rides on the historic carousel, garden tours by tram, shaded trails for hiking along the Vermilion River, and a number of programs for all ages. Visitors can find a number of blooms throughout the garden including daylilies, canna, roses, and hostas. Come find a number of annuals and perennials as well as butterflies and hummingbirds. Enjoy a guided tour of the garden or visit Otto Schoepfle’s home to learn about his life and view his house full of antiques. Check our website for scheduled programs. Carousel Rides are offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays 1-4 pm, through September. In the summer (July-August) rides are also offered on Fridays 10 am–1 pm. Garden Tram Tours are available on Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10 am–1 pm, first-come first-served.

Upcoming programs also include:

BeaCh Tea ParTy PICnIC Sat., July 17 | 11 am

Join us for a beach themed tea party picnic. Moana and Ariel will visit and share songs and fun! Each child will receive a takeaway pack that includes crafts, coloring, and snacks. Pre-register and pay $3 per child, $2 per adult. Registration closes July 14. ChIdlren’s garden BIrThday Bash Sat., Aug. 28 | 1-3 pm Join us as we celebrate the 14th birthday of the Children’s Garden. Our birthday bash activities will be in the Children’s Garden, and the event is FREE!

Visit loraincountymetroparks.com/programs to register for programs and for the latest list of what’s happening.

Dragons & Damsels

Known and admired for their beauty, acrobatic behavior, and whimsical nature, dragonflies and damselflies are commonly associated with the symbolic meaning of change and transformation. Worldwide, there are more than 5,000 species of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), with 450 species found in North America and 164 currently recorded in Ohio. Dragonflies are the strongest flyers of the insect world, flying in all directions and hovering in midair like a helicopter! This is due to the impressive construction of their two sets of wings, enabling each wing to move independently of the other. In contrast, damselflies are not as aerial adept due to having weak wing muscles and beating their wings at different times. The immature stages of each of these species are aquatic and found near lakes, rivers, ponds, swamps, and canals. Their presence is an important indicator of water quality. Damselflies are slender, have widely separated compound eyes, and rest their four wings together over their abdomen when sitting. In contrast, dragonflies are larger, have eyes that touch near the top of their head, and usually hold their wings straight out while sitting. Depending on the species, Odonates’ coloration can vary in blues, greens, browns, yellows, and even reds. With their prehistoric appearance, it is not surprising to hear that they have been around for Pictured: Common green darner about 300 million years. Although many Odonates are common, a number are listed as threatened or endangered. While hiking along or resting on one of the benches near our ponds and rivers, keep an eye out for these and other common Ohio species: common green darner, Eastern pondhawk, widow skimmer, blue dasher, common whitetail, Eastern forktail, ebony jewelwing, and the familiar bluet. 9

Local Wildflower Guide

your Guide to natiVe summer WiLdLfoWers

Summer WildfloWerS

JeweLweed

spOtted JeweLweed; impatiens capensis paLe JeweLweed; impatiens pallida BLooMing PerioD: May – October HaBitat: Moist woods and along creek beds DesCriPtion: The two common species of Jewelweed you will see in Lorain County Metro Parks are the Pale Jewelweed (yellow) and Common or Spotted Touch-Me-Not (yellow, orange, and red) seen together in this photo. This plant’s leaves and the juice from the stem can be used to treat poison ivy, poison oak, and other plantinduced rashes. Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies pollinate the flowers. Its method of seed dispersal is unique. Often referred to as “touch-me-nots,” when you touch the plant’s swollen fruit, they pop like fireworks. Multiple seeds proceed to “explode” into the air, sometimes up to 4 feet away from the plant!

CardinaL FLOwer; Lobelia cardinalis

BLooMing PerioD: July – September HaBitat: Along stream sides, marsh areas, and woodland clearings DesCriPtion: This dazzling, bright red, native perennial is a beautiful sight to see! The common name alludes to the bright red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals. Cardinal flower grows anywhere from 1–6 feet tall, and its flowers are tubular, making it difficult for insects to navigate. However, it is a magnet for hummingbirds who feed on the nectar, which helps pollinate the plant. Lobelias produce a secondary compound known as “lobeline,” which deters herbivores from eating them.

purpLe COneFLOwer; echinacea purpurea

BLooMing PerioD: July – September HaBitat: Tall grass prairies and open wooded areas DesCriPtion: Purple coneflower is a good example of a native prairie plant found in Ohio during the summer. It is easy to grow and has a long taproot that breaks up clay soil and stores water. It can only be found wild in North America. The genius Echinacea comes from the Greek ‘echinos,” meaning hedgehog, referencing the spiky, round seed head, which resembles a hedgehog. This plant is perfect for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and other insects. Insect presence on the flower will also draw hummingbirds that feed on them. In the fall, the seed-heads provide food for songbirds like goldfinches.

COmmOn miLkweed; Asclepias syriaca

BLooMing PerioD: June – August HaBitat: Meadows, fencerows, roadsides, railways, fields, and other open habitats DesCriPtion: A robust perennial, common milkweed can be found in every county in Ohio. If cut or crushed, the stems and leaves exude a white milky sap, a common characteristic of species in the Milkweed family, hence the name. It can be distinguished from other milkweed species by its pinkish-purple, ball-shaped flower clusters, and large teardrop-shaped seed pods covered in warty bumps. In the fall, after the seed pod matures, they split open, releasing numerous tufted seeds. Milkweed is vital to the Monarch butterfly because the plant hosts its eggs and caterpillars. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of the plant, and as a result, the toxic milky substance is absorbed, making them and the adult Monarchs distasteful to predators.