Special to 1812Blockhouse
Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) is partnering with the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative (OPHI) to collect common milkweed seed pods to help foster habitats for Monarch butterflies.
Milkweed seed pods are starting to mature to the point where they can be harvested. Start scouting fields and if pods appear slightly gray and are dried out they are ready to pick. Seeds inside should be brown before harvesting. Last year’s massive statewide seed collection effort was spearheaded by the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative (OPHI), which is working to get the word out about why monarch butterflies are disappearing and help partners create monarch habitat. More…
Special to 1812Blockhouse
Thinking about stocking your pond with fish this fall?
You can now order pond fish from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District until October.
Buyers can choose from among a selection of Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Hybrid Bluegill, Redear Bluegill, Channel Catfish, White Amur and Fathead Minnows. Orders and payment are due by Friday, October 9 and pick-up is Friday, October 16 at 10:30 AM at the Richland County Fairgrounds. More…
2020 has a real chance of actually getting something right in the coming weeks.
Fall is a special time of year in Ohio because of the stunning spectrum of colors that will soon transform trees around the state. Throughout the season, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), in partnership with Ohio. Find It Here., will be providing regular updates on the best locations to enjoy the unique activities and beautiful tones of autumn.
“The Buckeye State’s brilliant colors will be on full display during fall,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. “This season is a great opportunity to get outside, have new experiences, and make memories during the crisp weather and vivid scenery of autumn.”
Forecasting fall color can be difficult as foresters must consider several variables such as sunlight, temperature, wind, and rainfall when estimating the intensity and longevity of leaf color. This year, the ODNR Division of Forestry is expecting peak color to arrive in mid-to-late October. More information on the current forecast is available at ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/see-the-sights/fall-color. More…
Fall, Featured, Nature, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
By 1812Blockhouse
This year we’re continuing our weekly look at unique events and attractions that are within an easy driving distance of Richland County. We call these “Summer Road Trips.” Of course, we regularly feature the many extraordinary places to visit right here in Richland County and encourage our readers to get out and experience what is on offer in our own backyard.
Here’s a question for you. How can you experience nature up close, while at the same time having limited human contact other than those with whom you arrived? For animal lovers during a pandemic, it can be the best of both worlds.
An Ohio staple for generations, the 65 acre African Safari Wildlife Park is open daily in Port Clinton, capacity permitting. Visitors who choose to remain in their cars at the Drive-Thru Safari can still have the opportunity to see a number of animal species that are not native to Ohio. More…
From the great folks at Destination Mansfield – Richland County:
Cool night air and sleeping under the stars. Cooking over an open fire and roasting marshmallows. Connecting with family and disconnecting from the hustle and grind of our daily schedules. Camping helps us get in touch with the land and our inner explorer as we let weather and our whims control our days. It’s a full sensory experience with sounds, sights, and smells all its own. Camping reacquaints us with stars, with slow, with dirt. When we’re camping we hit reset. We rest. We play. We restore.
It’s no secret, we love camping in Richland County. We love sitting by the fire, talking until the embers die out. We love camp coffee and restarting the fire on a cool morning. Everyone does camping a little different so we have several different places we love to camp in Richland County… More…
Camping, Destination Mansfield - Richland County, Featured, Nature
By 1812Blockhouse; Richland County Park District
An annual event that celebrates all things creepy-crawley that also fly will be taking place this weekend with the 7th Annual Richland County Park District Pollinator & Native Plant Festival.
The event actually begins on Wednesday with the visit of Fran LeMasters and her “All a Flutter” live butterfly exhibit, which you can actually physically enter and have the opportunity to interact with native butterfly species. Come inside and visit live butterflies from the caterpillar, larvae, and flying stage, including feeding.
LeMasters will be at the Gorman Nature Center from Tuesday through Sunday, 9 AM to 4 PM (on Thursday, the hours will be somewhat limited due to another event at the Center. More…
By: 1812Blockhouse
Across the planet, Important Bird Areas (“IBAs”) signify places which have been designated as critical for bird conservation.
In each, an internationally accepted set of guidelines has been used in conjunction with a recognized birding program. In this country, that effort is run through the National Audubon Society.
The Ohio Important Bird Areas Program was launched in 1999, and by 2000 work was underway to identify the first such areas. The technical committee established reviewed some 160 nominations to verify that one of the four primary criteria set is present. A total of 66 have been recognized. More…
By: 1812Blockhouse; Richland County Park District
This Saturday, the Richland County Park District will be offering two opportunities to get to know the outdoors.
First, Naturalist Kyle Bailey will be hosting the second Magnificent Moths and Caterpillar program of the season. Learn about the natural history of months through a “moth lighting” — setting out a sheet with lights to attract the flying insects and then inspecting the property for larval caterpillars. The lighting will take place after a talk about moths and mothing. More…
By: 1812Blockhouse
This year we’re continuing our weekly look at unique events and attractions that are within an easy driving distance of Richland County. We call these “Summer Road Trips.” Of course, we regularly feature the many extraordinary places to visit right here in Richland County and encourage our readers to get out and experience what is on offer in our own backyard.
The unique kind of summer Ohio is experiencing has meant that trips and vacations have been kept a bit closer to home, and many are emphasizing outdoor experiences.
One easy to undertake day road trip for the Summer of 2020, particularly for those who enjoy the beauty of butterflies, is the extraordinary Butterfly Ridge in the Hocking Hills. More…
MOSQUITOES
Spring rains combined with warm weather make conditions favorable for mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes can breed in any standing water if it lasts at least seven days.
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
A brand-new post on the Kingwood Capital Campaign Blog of Kingwood Center Gardens, posted on Thursday, not only shares good news but also proudly displays proof of those tidings.
The news is that construction crews have returned to work on the new Garden Gateway. Not only have workers returned, albeit under restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the green stuff has been arriving as well.
This is Kingwood, after all. The beautiful visitors and education center will be set in horticultural beauty and will include a stunning new fountain. More…
Featured, Garden Gateway Project, Kingwood Center Gardens, Nature
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff, Richland SWCD
As we shared back at the beginning of April, that month was a celebration of Ohio’s native plants.
Although many activities and events planned for Ohio’s first Native Plants Month were postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 public health situation, the Ohio Department of National Resources still highlighted the importance of native plants and their variety throughout the month on the agency website and social media channels.
And, of course, many Ohioans still enjoyed these plants first-hand by going outdoors and experiencing them in their natural settings.
Now, as gardening season gets underway, Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) encourages you to “go native” when planning your garden or landscape. More…
Featured, Nature, Richland Soil and Water Conservation DIstrict
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
Note: Published in 2017, this article has been updated for spring 2020. Letterboxing is a wonderful outdoor activity that can be done individually or with friends while exercising social distancing.
Some 160 years ago, visitors to the Dartmoor region of southwest England began to do something rather peculiar. Those hiking on the moors would place a letter or postcard inside a designated box along the trail as a mark that they had visited. Those who would come after them would, in turn, post letters back to those who had left them. Soon, these “letterboxes” were carefully hidden so that they would be difficult to discover. More…
Sources: ODNR, 1812Blockhouse Staff
Thanks to thousands of reports from citizen scientists during February and March, 706 bald eagle nests have been confirmed in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
1812Blockhouse shared a background story about this census back in January, and shared news of the first bald eagle sighting of 2020. That story can be read here.
The bald eagle is one of Ohio’s greatest wildlife success stories. The nest census was the first undertaking to discover all such sites for the first time in eight years. The results show an increase of 151% from the 2012 census, when 281 nests were recorded in Ohio. The high number of nests represents the hard work and dedication put forth for Ohio’s wildlife. More…
Featured, Nature, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife
Richland Countians have more than one way to interact with the area’s native trees and plants this spring.
Even with the current Stay-at-Home Order, Ohioans are still permitted to walk to exercise or get way in parks and recreation areas, provided that social distancing is maintained.
That includes the walking trails at the Gorman Nature Center, the B&O Bike Trail, Mohican State Park, and other locations. In those locations, the beauty of Ohio’s wildflowers and other native species will be clearly evident.
Spring is a time of renewal across Ohio’s beautiful landscapes, and this April marks the state’s first Native Plant Month, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). More…
Featured, Native Plants, Nature, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
