Some Beavercreek residents received a weed citation for their native plant landscape, based on a complaint by an anonymous passerby. We helped form a citizen group of DAWO Beavercreek residents and friends to come up with a native plant-friendly ordinance to present to the city council.

Focusing on smaller, urban and suburban neighborhood yards, presenter Brooke Medlin will show sample garden designs appropriate for HOAs, general zoning regulations, and neighborhoods where a more manicured look is expected. Also included are maintenance tips for plantings to encourage full, healthy native plants that stay upright and bloom often. Attendees can expect to leave with sample garden designs, ideas on how to implement them in their own yards, and recommendations for free resources to continue learning how to create and manage yard-sized healthy ecosystems. Brooke Medlin is a garden consultant, designer, and co-owner of Meadowsweet Ecological Landscapes.

Registration is required.

Many native plants require a little different seed starting technique to successfully germinate into healthy plants. In this hands-on workshop, learn about best practices for collecting seeds, seed storage, and providing optimum seed starting conditions. Bring an empty, clean one-gallon opaque milk jug and take home a mini-greenhouse to start some native plants! This free program is held in partnership with the National Trail Parks and Recreation District and registration is required through them.

Several DAWO members attended the city council's work session to hear the council's discussion about the proposed changes to the city's “Weeds and Grass” ordinance.  As part of our Weed Ordinance Project, we had presented the city with a proposed Managed Natural Landscape ordinance we wrote that is friendly to native plants.  After this work session, three DAWO members were invited to read the first draft of the proposed ordinance and work with the city on revising it.

Join Brooke Medlin, garden consultant, designer, and co-owner of Meadowsweet Ecological Landscapes, for a hands-on workshop in sowing native plant seeds in winter.

During the citizen comment period after this meeting, several members of DAWO and citizens of Beavercreek protested a city weed ordinance that was unfriendly to managed natural landscapes in a number of ways.  Some of our members stood and voiced their comments.

We are lucky to have several nurseries in the Dayton area selling straight native plants, and each has special areas of expertise we can tap.  In this presentation, a panel of six of these nursery owners will answer your questions about native plants for your home landscape. Bring your questions and/or send them ahead of time to daytonareawildones937@gmail.com. 

Greene County Master Gardener Volunteer Terese DeSimio will lead a book discussion on Dr. Douglas Tallamy's Nature's Best Hope.  This groundbreaking book sparked a national movement around restoring local ecological networks, inspiring communities to transform residential landscapes into flourishing biodiverse sanctuaries. 

Dr. Doug Tallamy gave a PowerPoint presentation on why we need to plant native plants to save biodiversity.  DAWO had an information table at the event.

I do not know the total number of attendees at this event. Instead, I posted an estimate of the number of people who came to our table.

Some Beavercreek residents received a weed citation for their native plant landscape, based on a complaint by an anonymous passerby. We helped form a citizen group of DAWO Beavercreek residents and friends to come up with a native plant-friendly ordinance to present to the city council.

All are welcome to join this free virtual panel discussion exploring the vital roles of native, solitary, and honeybees in pollination and biodiversity. Featuring experts Sam Droege (USGS), Dave Hunter (Crown Bees), and Dr. Lora Morandin (Pollinator Partnership), this event will discuss into the challenges pollinators face, the balance between managed and wild bees, and actionable ways to support all pollinators.

Gain insights from over 90 years of combined experience and learn how to advocate for pollinator habitats through planting native species, participating in community science, and adopting responsible management practices.

Presenter Jennifer Windus will talk about the threats posed by invasive plants, the most problematic species in Ohio, control methods, and alternative native species that are appropriate replacements. She will also go over what OIPC is doing to address invasive plants. 

Jennifer is currently the President of the Ohio Invasive Plants Council (OIPC), which she has been involved in since 2005, when it formed.  For 31 years, she worked for three divisions of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, retiring in June 2014.  Most of her work involved land management, invasive plant control, rare plant monitoring on nature preserves and wildlife areas, and prescribed burning.

The city presented the first reading of its revised Weeds and Grass section of the property ordinance.  During the citizen comment period after the reading, several members of DAWO and citizens of Beavercreek commented on what parts of the ordinance were unclear and which parts would pose problems for residents and a healthy ecosystem. 

The meeting was recorded and is available online:  

The city voted on a revised ordinance. We had worked for several months with a group of Beavercreek citizens to try to make the ordinance more native plant friendly.  You can see the revised ordinance starting at page 22 at this link: https://www.beavercreekohio.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03102025-727

The CV-WT Dems invited us to talk to their members about our environmental mission and how they can help increase biodiversity on their own properties. Other presenters talked as well.

The BEHCC invited us to come speak about DAWO and native plants at their meeting. We were the main featured speakers.  A local native plant business owner agreed to come and speak about native garden design.

Snow Trillium Quest

Indian Mound Reserve

2750 U.S. Rt. 42 East

Williamson Lane entrance

Cedarville, Ohio 45314

Directions             

Leaves of three, let them be.  Unless they are the rare Snow Trillium (according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources).  Well, we still want to let them be, but we don’t have to be afraid of looking at them. 

The target of our search is the early blooming, diminutive snow trillium and a few other early ephemerals in Massie Creek Gorge.   The gorge trail is narrow, with rocks and tree roots, and one short but steep slope to climb.   The hike will be approximately 1.25 miles.  Be sure to bring your wildflower field guide and binoculars in case we happen upon some other elusive spring ephemerals!   

There will be two opportunities for group hikes:

Thursday, March 20 at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 23 at 2:00 p.m.

Families and friends are welcome!  Please let us know if you plan to join us.

Indian Mound Reserve is a 169-acre Greene County Parks & Trails property, with Native American earthworks, an 1800’s log cabin, 8 miles of hiking trails along Massie Creek Gorge, and a scenic overlook at Cedar Cliff Falls. The spring wildflower display is incredible here – be sure to visit the changing floral display throughout the season!

There are three entrances to this reserve - use the WILLIAMSON LANE entrance by the LOG CABIN.   We’ll meet in the parking lot on the right and walk the Pollock Works Loop back to where the action should be. 

Optional:  Afterward, we can head to Pearl’s Fen, then walk to Oakes Quarry to view another display of snow trillium on a steep, wooded slope. 

Public gardens hold tremendous power to influence landscaping norms and inspire change. By showcasing the beauty, functionality, and ecological value of native plants, these spaces help foster biodiversity, advocate for sustainable practices, and engage communities in environmental stewardship. 

This webinar will explore how public and demonstration gardens serve as powerful tools for native plant advocacy. Attendees will learn how gardens move beyond aesthetics to spark action—turning appreciation into engagement and inspiring participants to replicate these practices in their own communities.

We will hear insights from Nicole Machuca, Environmental Social Scientist at the Field Museum, on how public gardens influence behaviors, foster stewardship, and connect people to conservation efforts through research and community engagement. The Wild Ones Capital Region NY and the Wild Ones San Diego (CA) Chapters will share their experiences building native plant demonstration gardens and how these spaces drive community engagement, education, and advocacy. And We'll finish with a conversation exploring how public gardens create a lasting impact beyond planting day moderated by Kelly Kapuzzi, Demonstration Garden Char with the Wild Ones Hocking Hills (OH) Chapter.

Snow Trillium Quest

Indian Mound Reserve

2750 U.S. Rt. 42 East

Williamson Lane entrance

Cedarville, Ohio 45314

Directions             

Leaves of three, let them be.  Unless they are the rare Snow Trillium (according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources).  Well, we still want to let them be, but we don’t have to be afraid of looking at them. 

The target of our search next week is the early blooming, diminutive snow trillium and a few other early ephemerals in Massie Creek Gorge.   The gorge trail is narrow, with rocks and tree roots, and one short but steep slope to climb.   The hike will be approximately 1.25 miles.  Be sure to bring your wildflower field guide and binoculars in case we happen upon some other elusive spring ephemerals!   

There will be two opportunities for group hikes:

Thursday, March 20 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 23 at 2:00 p.m.

Families and friends are welcome!  Please let us know if you plan to join us.

Indian Mound Reserve is a 169-acre Greene County Parks & Trails property, with Native American earthworks, an 1800’s log cabin, 8 miles of hiking trails along Massie Creek Gorge, and a scenic overlook at Cedar Cliff Falls. The spring wildflower display is incredible here – be sure to visit the changing floral display throughout the season!

There are three entrances to this reserve - use the WILLIAMSON LANE entrance by the LOG CABIN.   We’ll meet in the parking lot on the right and walk the Pollock Works Loop back to where the action should be. 

Optional:  Afterward, we can head to Pearl’s Fen, then walk to Oakes Quarry to view another display of snow trillium on a steep, wooded slope. 

We invite you to attend this educational opportunity that will inspire the way you look at native plants. The workshop will be held at one of our favorite venues, the Bergamo Center in Beavercreek, Ohio. Registration link below. $95 includes lunch. We offer informative presentations, hands-on learning opportunities and field trips for home gardeners, native plant activists, landscape designers, and anyone interested in learning about the remarkable world of native plants and their interactions with our local wildlife. Our keynote speakers are Donald Pell and Jim McCormac. Breakout sessions by Kara Maynard, Tom Borgman, Jennifer Smith, Carol Mundy, Brian Jorg and Judy Semroc! Outdoor field trips weather permitting led by Kelly Cappuzi and friends!

Rooms are available to rent at the Bergamo Center on Friday night. $72 single, $95 double. Email midwestnativeplants@gmail.com for more information. Go here for detailed information about Speakers and Programs.

Focusing on smaller, urban and suburban neighborhood yards, presenter Brooke Medlin will show sample garden designs appropriate for HOAs, general zoning regulations, and neighborhoods where a more manicured look is expected. Also included are maintenance tips for plantings to encourage full, healthy native plants that stay upright and bloom often. Attendees can expect to leave with sample garden designs, ideas on how to implement them in their own yards, and recommendations for free resources to continue learning how to create and manage yard-sized healthy ecosystems. Brooke Medlin is a garden consultant, designer, and co-owner of Meadowsweet Ecological Landscapes.

Registration is required.

We will start our exploration at this little-known park right beside the Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve. Spring ephemerals we might see include mayapples, toadshade, twinleaf, and dutchman's breeches, just to name a few. For those who want to extend the outing, we will then venture over to the Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve to see what exciting wildflowers are blooming there. 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!