Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association

Thursday, April 16, 2026
Garlic Mustard Control at Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve

10:30 am – 3:30 pm
4409 Christmas Rock Rd SW, Lancaster
Fairfield County

Undoubtedly the most spectacular feature at Christmas Rocks is the scenic vista from the top of the formation known as Jacob’s Ladder. This Black Hand Sandstone formation towers some 250 feet above the valley of Arney Run. The 554-acre preserve also serves as home for several rare species including a population of Bradley’s spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi) and an excellent example of a dry chestnut oak (Quercus prinus) ridge top with associated Appalachian species. This site has also been a favorite of birders due to the diversity of habitat and frequent use of the oak stands by neo-tropical migrants.

We will be pulling and hauling garlic mustard in several areas where spring wildflowers have the best displays.

Directions: We will be meeting at the old Christmas Rocks office at 4409 Christmas Rocks Rd SW, Lancaster, not the public trail head. From Columbus, take Route 33 East towards and around Lancaster. Exit at US-22 and turn left (east towards Lancaster) for 1.4 miles, then turn right onto Stonewall Cemetery Road SW for 1.0 mile. Continue straight onto Snoke Road SW for 0.7 mile, then turn right onto Hamburg Road SW for 0.9 mile. Turn left onto Christmas Rock Road SW for 1.0 mile and the driveway is on the right.

What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, and gloves.

RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE . Online registration is important for our planning.

Photo by Ian Adams

Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Garlic mustard control at Howard Collier State Nature Preserve

10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
1655 W. Township Road 38, Tiffin
Seneca County

This natural area, located on the Sandusky State Scenic River, was originally acquired as a Scenic River area. The large wooded riverine corridor contains large oaks, sycamore, ash, tulip and cottonwoods, as well as a spectacular diversity of spring wildflowers including sharp-lobed hepatica, Dutchman's breeches, squirrel-corn, three trillium species, twinleaf, white and yelllow trout-lily and

marsh marigold. The display of marsh marigolds and skunk cabbage found in the floodplain is particularly striking in early May. We will be pulling garlic mustard and butterweed.

Directions: Located approximately 3 miles northeast of McCutchenville at the southwestern edge of Seneca County. From McCutchenville, proceed 3 miles east on County Rd 58, then .5 mile north on Township Rd 131, and .25 mile east on Township Rd 38.

What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots and gloves.

RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE . Online registration is important for our planning.

Bluish Spring Moth

It's a Spring Blue, but it's a moth

Story and photo by John Watts

Early spring hikes are generally rewarded with one seeing some of the first butterflies of the year and the Spring Azure is among the earliest ones to fly. Another small lepidoptera that is also bluish, is about the same size, and has a similar flight pattern to our early season blue butterflies is actually a day flying moth. While this moth is in flight it shows a light blue color similar but much lighter than our butterflies. It is called the Bluish Spring Moth or Wild Cherry Looper. Closer inspection will show that it is mostly white with a hint of grayish to very light black wash on the wings and some very light blue on the top or dorsal part of the wings. Underneath it is mostly white with black lines and two black spots on the inner forewings.

I have generally encountered this moth along damp, sandy dirt roads or hiking trails feeding in moist areas on the ground. It is a member of the Geometrid family of moths, which is one of our

largest family of moths. The Bluish Spring Moth ranges throughout much of the eastern North American deciduous forest and is scattered westward to the Pacific Northwest. As the secondary name implies, cherries are among its caterpillars’ host plants along with Juneberries, Chokeberries, Hawthorns, Poplars, and Alders.

My first encounter with this species was in the Northwoods of Northern Michigan. As I tried to photograph it with my macro lens I would get close and hit the autofocus button, but it would fly-every time. The moth was detecting noise and vibration of the autofocus at close range. To photograph it I had to use a longer lens that put me outside of its detectable range. Manual focus would likely also work. These moths are already flying in southern Ohio and should be present throughout the month of April into early May. So while out hiking, take a second look at those spring blue butterflies, you might find one that’s a little different.

Bonnett Pond Bog

W. Pearl King Savanna

For February, we were able to accomplish six projects, so it was a productive month:

February 4 - Bonnett Pond Bog - worked on the bog mat as the pond was frozen thanks to long-term frigid temperatures
February 11 - Daughmer Savanna
February 17 - Pearl King Savanna with Columbus Metro Parks - large group of almost 40 people, many staff and volunteers from Columbus Metro Parks
February 19 - North Kingsville Sand Barrens with Cleveland Museum of Natural History - cleared more trees and burned brush piles to open more units for prescribed burning in the spring
February 25 - Kitty Todd with The Nature Conservancy - worked on fire breaks for two burn units
February 26 - Wolf Run Regional Park with Knox Co Park District - cut and treated woody species in a grassland unit to be burned this spring

ONAPA is preparing to help several other partners with prescribed burns this spring including at Daughmer Savanna, North Kingsville Sand Barrens, Ashland County Park District, Knox County Park District, Crawford County Park District, and Richland CountyvPark District. These burns will be conducted in March and April. (Photos by Jennifer WIndus)

Bonnett Pond Bog

Only two projects to start 2026

Due to the holiday break, we did not start our stewardship projects until January 15 at Lakeside Daisy Preserve. We had a good turnout of 10 people on a snowy day and lots

of cedars were removed. At the second project - Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area - we removed woody species from one of the prairie fringed orchid sites. Brinkhaven Barrens, cancelled January 28 because of snow depth, was rescheduled for February 12.

Killbuck Marsh stewardship

Tackling woody invasives at Resthaven

December a productive month in the field

As we wind down the year, the ONAPA stewardship crew had four more projects in December: Clifton Gorge on the 9th, Resthaven Wildlife Area December 11, Daughmer Savanna December 16, and Honey Run Highlands Park December 18. These were all productive projects, removing and treating invading woody species. We worked on bush honeysuckle along the lower trail at Clifton Gorge. At Resthaven WA, we opened a small remnant prairie on Oxbow Road. At Daughmer Savanna, we continued to work on woodies in the understory, and cleaned up some downed trees and large branches. Columbus Metro Parks staff and volunteers helped that day and we had a super group of 21 people. We helped Knox County Park District staff at Honey Run Highlands to remove large autumn-olives in a grassland unit, in preparation for a spring burn.

Randy Haar handles the chainsaw at Resthaven

October a slower month for stewardship projects

October was a slower month for the ONAPA stewardship crew. We had two project cancellations and four days specifically for the stewardship assistants. We held projects with volunteers at Cranberry Bog (Oct 16), Brinkhaven Barrens (Oct 18), Meilke Road Savanna Wildlife Area (Oct 21), and Lakeside Daisy Preserve (Oct 23). These all involved woody species removal and cut stem treatment. Other projects and events with the stewardship assistants included a Lakeside daisy transplant, an Ohio Invasive Plants Council workshop, and prescribed fire manager training.

Brinkhaven Barrens

Meilke Road Wildlife Area

Lakeside Daisy SNP

Cranberry Bog

September projects all a "go" in warm and dry September

In spite of another dry and warm month, September was pretty busy for the ONAPA stewardship team. We had projects at Gallagher Fen, Greenbelt Preserve (Great Parks), Wengerd Woods (Cleveland Museum of Natural History), Cranberry Bog, and Kitty Todd Preserve (The Nature Conservancy). For all these projects, we were working on woody species control for species such as bush honeysuckles, privet, and glossy buckthorn.

Wengerd Woods

Attendees at ONAPA 12th Annual Meeting August 23 enjoy great weather at Alley Park

ONAPA held its 12th Annual Meeting on Saturday, August 23 at the Gosling Nature Center at Alley Park in Lancaster. Two guest speakers, Andrew Lane Gibson from the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves and Heather Stehle from Crane Hollow, Inc., shared their experience, often with a side of humor. Andrew took the audience on a trip around Lake Superior, highlighting the orchids of the region’s many habitats. Heather shared the legacy of Crane Hollow Preserve.

Guy Denny and Jennifer Windus also gave updates about ONAPA activities in the past year. It was a good turnout with 72 people attending. Two vendors selling nature-related items were available for attendees -- Savannah Freeman with Moonville Print Shop and Nora Steele. It was a beautiful day, perfect for the four field trips in the afternoon -- Crane Hollow, led by Heather Stehle and Jennifer Windus, Wahkeena Preserve, led by Tom Shisler, Rock House in Hocking Hills State Park, led by Tim Snyder, and a short hike around Alley Park, led by Dick Moseley.

Volunteer Stewardship

Stewardship Project Reports

Member Activities

2024 Event Highlights

Stewardship
Projects

We plan stewardship projects year-round throughout Ohio and we are always looking for volunteers. We will include a short field trip on each project to see some of the preserve where we are working.

2025 Member
Field Trips

Preserve
Monitoring

Field trips are scheduled from late spring into early fall. Most are easy walks through our state's Division of Natural Area's preserves. Watch the website and Facebook page for updates.

Any state nature preserve in your area can be visited and a report completed to help inform ONAPA and the preserve managers about the condition of the preserve.