We’re giving you tips to improve wildlife viewing at home and at parks.

In 2003, the state of Ohio had an estimated 3.8 billion ash trees existing in our forests, woodlots and in our own backyards. Today, that is not the case. The emerald ash borer (EAB) has swept across our state at record pace and is wiping out ash trees where they stand. EAB was first detected near Toledo […]

The milkweed is blooming, the milkweed is blooming! Why all of the excitement? Common milkweed is a favorite plant for more than 450 species of aphids, bees, wasps, beetles, butterflies, moths and more. Whether these insects are using it as a nursery for their larvae to munch on once hatched or sipping nectar from the […]

When you hear a barred owl calling “whooo, who cooks for you?” in the woods, chances are it’s calling from a nest cavity in the limb of a dying tree. When you see the bright red head of a woodpecker as it streaks through the forest, chances are it’s flying from the home it excavated […]

While visiting the Tech Centre at Glenwood Gardens the other day, something shimmering in the sunshine caught my eye outside the lunch room window. Flying insects were swarming thickly above the boxwood shrubs in the landscape bed next to the building. Upon closer inspection, I saw a spider web thickly covered with insects, which I […]

It is that time of year once again. With warmer temperatures come the beautiful blooms of our region’s spring wildflowers. Whether you are in your favorite park, nature preserve or even your own backyard, there are blooms to discover all around us. Great Parks is fortunate to have healthy populations of native wildflowers in many […]

One of the things that makes Great Parks such an amazing organization to work for is the dedication to its mission statement: To preserve and protect natural resources and to provide outdoor reaction and education in order to enhance the quality of life for present and future generations. Every day I go to work, I […]

As the old saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” If there is one animal that truly puts this saying into action, it’s worms. These little creatures are nature’s version of the Greek myth of King Midas, who was said to be able to turn objects into gold just by touching them. Now, […]