Birdsong Landscapes

05/29/2026

Bobwhite chicks and Turkey poults require healthy prairies!

05/26/2026

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is the ancestor of store-bought strawberries and has terrific flavor. This native perennial makes an excellent edible groundcover that can withstand some foot traffic and dogs. Many people confuse the nonnative lawn w**d False Strawberry (Potentilla indica) with real Wild Strawberry and are disappointed when the false strawberry has no flavor.

Here's how to tell False Strawberry from real Wild Strawberry -

🍓 Real Wild Strawberry has white blooms, nonnative false strawberry has yellow blooms

🍓 False Strawberry holds a single fruit per stem, whereas Wild Strawberry has a cluster of fruits on one stem (like a cluster of grapes)

🍓 Wild Strawberry is often found in natural areas, woodedges, and prairies. False Strawberry is found in nearly every untreated lawn I've seen in Ohio. I rarely find Wild Strawberry in lawns unless it's a rural area.

05/25/2026

Foxglove Beardtongue or Tall White Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) is a prairie species reaching 3-4ft with its blooming stalks. Like most Penstemons in the Midwest, it have nearly evergreen leaves. During the fall the stalks and leaves turn a crimson red. Although it can take full sun it is fine in partial shade. Plant it with Virginia Spiderwort for white and purple blooms.

Calico Penstemon (Penstemon calycosus) is a woodland species that prefers some shade, making it ideal for soft landing plantings underneath large trees. It grows to a similar size and height of Penstemon digitalis and shares many characteristics. The flowers are light pink to magenta. Plant with Golden Alexander for yellow and pink blooms.

Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus) is a low growing plant that only reaches 1-1.5ft tall. It has lovely pinkish-purple flowers with a yellow lip at the opening. This Penstemon is able to live in drier soils where it faces less competition in natural areas, but it can grow well in average garden soils and should be used at the front of beds. Pair it with Downy Woodmint or Tennessee Coneflower in a drier area or a spot that requires low growing plants.

05/11/2026

Native planting along a driveway and roadside in a neighborhood. The plants can't obstruct views and must look fairly neat. Try these species for locations like that.

If you're in southwest Ohio and would like a native garden or habitat please get in touch. Otherwise, feel free to ask questions in the comments. Native plants can work in highly visible areas amongst more traditional landscaping.

05/06/2026

Conserveohio.com

Sign the petition to ban data centers! Our weak leaders have failed us and are selling off our communities to Big Tech. The voice of the people must be heard. Print the petition, get signatures, and let's vote on banning data centers in November.

www.conserveohio.com

04/28/2026

Learn to use the free native plants around you, like Common Blue Violet.

If you want to see less ads and more useful free information, please help me out by liking and sharing this video. Happy spring!

04/26/2026

Native woodland shade garden in Ohio. Learn to use sedges, violets, and other plants as a living green mulch to prevent w**ds.

04/21/2026

🎉 You’re Invited! 🎉

Join Beaver Creek Wetlands Association for our 38th Anniversary Celebration & Annual Meeting!

📅 Saturday, May 9, 2026
📍 DoubleTree Hotel

🕚 11:00 AM – Reception (cash bar)
🕦 11:30 AM – Lunch served
🕛 12:00 PM – Program & Keynote Speaker

Celebrate a fantastic year with us and get a glimpse of the exciting plans ahead. This event is open to the public, so bring a friend!

🌿 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Shauna Weyrauch
Discover the fascinating comeback story of Ohio’s bobcats—once gone, now returning! Dr. Weyrauch will share insights on:
• Why bobcats disappeared and how they’re making a comeback
• Their vital role in ecosystems
• Ongoing efforts to restore and improve their habitat

🎟 Ticket Information:
Reservations required by Monday, April 27, 2026
• Tickets increase to $40

👉 Reserve your spot today: https://beavercreekwetlands.org/anniversary-celebration/

Don’t miss this engaging afternoon of conservation, community, and celebration—we hope to see you there! 🌱

🎉 You’re Invited! 🎉

Join Beaver Creek Wetlands Association for our 38th Anniversary Celebration & Annual Meeting!

📅 Saturday, May 9, 2026
📍 DoubleTree Hotel

🕚 11:00 AM – Reception (cash bar)
🕦 11:30 AM – Lunch served
🕛 12:00 PM – Program & Keynote Speaker

Celebrate a fantastic year with us and get a glimpse of the exciting plans ahead. This event is open to the public, so bring a friend!

🌿 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Shauna Weyrauch
Discover the fascinating comeback story of Ohio’s bobcats—once gone, now returning! Dr. Weyrauch will share insights on:
• Why bobcats disappeared and how they’re making a comeback
• Their vital role in ecosystems
• Ongoing efforts to restore and improve their habitat

🎟 Ticket Information:
Reservations required by Monday, April 27, 2026
• Tickets $40

👉 Reserve your spot today: https://beavercreekwetlands.org/anniversary-celebration/

Don’t miss this engaging afternoon of conservation, community, and celebration—we hope to see you there! 🌱

04/15/2026

It was a great time at a special fen that is maintained and cared for by Beaver Creek Wetlands Association!

04/14/2026

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a remarkable plant. A spring ephemeral that grows in woodlands of the eastern US, Bloodroot is a traditional dyeing plant. The seeds are collected by various ants and deposited in their rubbish areas. Brilliant white flowers fuel early emerging native bees and other pollinators.