2022 ACTIVITY REPORTS AND EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

October's Annual Meeting on perfect autumn day celebrates ONAPA's 10th anniversary 
This year's ONAPA Annual Meeting was held October 29 at the Eagleview Lodge at Blacklick Woods Metro Park on the east side of Columbus.  Almost 70 people, including walk-in's, turned out to celebrate ONAPA's 10th anniversary.

Presentations by Guy Denny and Jennifer Windus covered ONAPA's accomplishments over the past year. Guest speakers covered a variety of subjects:
  • Dr. Elliot Tramer, retired, University of Toledo: Winners & Losers in the Age of Humans
  • Cody Berkebile, Senior naturalist, Blacklick Woods MP: Preserves in Your Columbus Metro Parks
  • ​Judy Semroc, Nature Spark: Hiding in Plain Sight – Amazing Patterns of Camouflage, Evasion, Trickery & Mimicry in Nature
After a short business meeting during lunch, participants enjoyed a perfect autumn afternoon on one of three field trips:  Tucker Preserve (a dedicated preserve at Blacklick 
Woods) led by Cody Berkebile; Cranberry Bog groups led by Guy Denny and Jennifer Windus and Shallenberger Preserve, led by Dick Moseley. ​
Collecting prairie seeds brings out a crowd in October
The ONAPA seed collecting event at Guy Denny's prairie October 1  brought out a crowd of members and guests. Participants, which numbered over 65, took advantage of the beautiful fall weather and a chance to learn about establishing their own prairie or pollinator-friendly native garden.

Guy gave an overview of prairies and how to manage them, as well as tips on seed collecting.  He had many samples out on tables so that people could see how the plants appear when in seed.  We had several ONAPA folks available to help people in the prairie identify species and collect the appropriate parts of the plants. 

​The opportunity to collect a variety of tall grass prairie seeds usually comes along once a year, so if you missed this year's event, look for another opportunity in the fall next year. 
Photos by Jennifer Windus.
 Tour of Denny's Prairie in peak bloom beats storm
Photos by Terry Duncan & Jan Kennedy
Groups of 15 to 20 led by Guy Denny, Jennifer Windus, Dick Moseley and John Watts managed to beat the July storm that drenched Guy’s tall-grass prairie July 23. The tour leaders shared great information about the forbs and grasses during their two-hour walk before the rains hit.

Members and friends toured the gently rolling landscape in peak bloom: compass plants, royal catchfly, coneflowers, cup plants, and so much more hosted a gathering of butterflies, bees and other pollinators, much to the delight of the several photographers in attendance. The prairie was created on 20-plus acres of once-cultivated farmland and also features two ponds with native hibiscus, gentians and other natives that thrive in wetter conditions.