A task force of 11 members was created.  10 municipalities were identified to evaluate and update current weed ordinances.  A project information and data collection sheet was created by Ruth Bowell and added to DAWO website.  Research to be completed by February 11.

Native plant landscaper Nadia Malarkey met with group to share her experiences in modifying the Yellow Springs, Ohio weed ordinance.

Committee members met to discuss findings and differences in the ordinances evaluated.  Discussed plan of action for each.

Theresa Culley of the Ohio Invasive Plant Council spoke to the group about the process of determining when a plant is invasive, provided an update on newly designated invasive plants and a brief discussion of the methods and timing of invasive plant control.  Presentation was followed by a brief meeting to discuss the Beavercreek Station demonstration garden and the Midwest Native Plant Conference.

DAWO vice-president and native plant nursery owner, Kara Maynard, discussed the value of adding native plants to one's garden.

DAWO president Karen Veve met with Oregon District garden committee members to help with planning of native plant garden installations in community park.  Provided information about the value of native plants, selection and placement of plants and how/when to plant; provided with list of local native plant nurseries; provided information about how to obtain a county  grant to finance project; promoted Wild Ones and the Ohio Native Plant Month

DAWO members Karen Veve and Kari Carter met with Meg Maloney, City of Dayton sustainability specialist to discuss revising the city's weed ordinance to promote managed natural landscapes.  Meg was provided with sample ordinances as well as materials outlining the value of native plants in the urban landscape.  Our proposal was well received and Dayton is in the process of revising its ordinance.

The city of Beavercreek approached DAWO and asked for our help, due to continued staff shortages and an inability to maintain the garden, with the demonstration garden we installed 3 years ago.  DAWO volunteers met on 3/20, 4/3, 6/10, 6/19, 7/15, 7/19, and 7/20 to weed, remove seedlings and replace plants.  The garden was a featured field trip during the Midwest Native Plant Conference.  On 7/20, the garden was turned over to the Beavercreek Parks and Rec department when a new landscaper was hired.  Maintenance of the garden was discussed with him at that time.

On Jan 5, DAWO members Karen Veve, Charles Greene and Maura Boesch, along with a 14 year old Girl Scout interested in native plants, met with the library staff to discuss installation of a 2000 square foot native plant garden on the library grounds.  Plant selection, library needs and concerns were discussed.  DAWO members to draft a design and present to group. A tentative design was presented on Jan 25.  Karen Veve met with the staff on March 16 and March 28 to review and revise the plan.  Maura Boesch installed the garden on May 2 with the help of the Montgomery County Master Gardeners.

chapter sponsored invasive control removal at local reserve

spring wildflower hike

DAWO partnered with the City of Fairborn and the Ohio Native Plant Month committee to present Earth Day; distributed a DAWO informational flyer and a list of local native plant nurseries; native plant and tree giveaway

Partnered with the City of Yellow Springs, the Ohio Native Plant Month Committee and the Little Miami Watershed Network; distributed DAWO informational flyer, list of local native plant nurseries and plant giveaway

chapter sponsored garlic mustard and honeysuckle removal

spring wildflower hike

Tour of the Heritage Garden at the Governor's Residence led by former Ohio First Lady and DAWO member Hope Taft

partnered with the Tecumseh Land Trust to present Pollinator Expo; provided DAWO informational flyer, list of local native plant nurseries and plant giveaway

partnered with Osborn Historic Garden Club; provided informational DAWO flyer, list of local native plant nurseries and plant giveaway

DAWO member Maura Boesch gave a power point presentation to Rolling Hills Garden Club members regarding value of native plants, types and selection of plants

DAWO cosponsored the conference with the Midwest Native Plant Society; 3 day conference including speakers, field trips and plant sale with multiple native plant providers; DAWO members recruited and supervised volunteers, assisted plant vendors, planned and led field trips

Naturalist Dave Nolin led hike through established prairie

Guided tour of DAWO member's private property recently restored prairie and woodland

5 DAWO members had gardens on the Midwest Native Plant Yard Tour; DAWO informational flyer and Wild Ones garden design booklet distributed to attendees

invasive plant removal at private prairie

Join DAWO for a fall walk at Pearl's Fen.

DAWO Program Planning meeting - all welcome

DAWO and the Miami County Park District are partnering to host a native plant seed starting workshop and seed swap on Thursday, November 17 from 7-9 PM at the new Heritage Hall at Lost Creek Reserve in Troy.

The program will begin with an introduction to seed collecting, cleaning, and storage techniques followed by a discussion of seed preparation and a demo of a few different seed starting methods.
Following the workshop we will have the opportunity to swap native plant seeds. If you only have one seed type to share, or none, please come anyway. DAWO will have several species available for all and many other members are willing to share seed with everyone. This is an opportunity to network with native plant gardeners, learn from each other about seed starting, and build your native planting area to then share seed and knowledge with others in the future.
Before collecting seed, please review our seed collecting ethics on our website here: https://daytonareawildones.org/seed-collecting-ethics/. Bring your labeled seed, envelopes/bags and a marker to take seed home, and note taking materials. Prairie Moon Nursery cultural guides will be provided as a resource.
Seeds will be divided on tables for sun/shade tolerance and habitat. We ask that you create a label for each seed variety ahead of time which includes the scientific and common names, soil moisture and sun exposure requirements, seed preparation, a photo of the mature plant, and other interesting information about the plant. A template for the label and other information about the event can be found on our website here: https://daytonareawildones.org/.../seed-starting.../
Doors will open at 6:30 to help you place your seeds and find a seat. If you have questions about the program, your seed, or want to confirm it's a native species, please send an email to [email protected].