Events

Some Beavercreek residents received a weed citation for their native plant landscape, based on a complaint by an anonymous passerby. We helped form a citizen group of DAWO Beavercreek residents and friends to come up with a native plant-friendly ordinance to present to the city council.

Focusing on smaller, urban and suburban neighborhood yards, presenter Brooke Medlin will show sample garden designs appropriate for HOAs, general zoning regulations, and neighborhoods where a more manicured look is expected. Also included are maintenance tips for plantings to encourage full, healthy native plants that stay upright and bloom often. Attendees can expect to leave with sample garden designs, ideas on how to implement them in their own yards, and recommendations for free resources to continue learning how to create and manage yard-sized healthy ecosystems. Brooke Medlin is a garden consultant, designer, and co-owner of Meadowsweet Ecological Landscapes.

Registration is required.

Many native plants require a little different seed starting technique to successfully germinate into healthy plants. In this hands-on workshop, learn about best practices for collecting seeds, seed storage, and providing optimum seed starting conditions. Bring an empty, clean one-gallon opaque milk jug and take home a mini-greenhouse to start some native plants! This free program is held in partnership with the National Trail Parks and Recreation District and registration is required through them.

Several DAWO members attended the city council's work session to hear the council's discussion about the proposed changes to the city's “Weeds and Grass” ordinance.  As part of our Weed Ordinance Project, we had presented the city with a proposed Managed Natural Landscape ordinance we wrote that is friendly to native plants.  After this work session, three DAWO members were invited to read the first draft of the proposed ordinance and work with the city on revising it.

Join Brooke Medlin, garden consultant, designer, and co-owner of Meadowsweet Ecological Landscapes, for a hands-on workshop in sowing native plant seeds in winter.

During the citizen comment period after this meeting, several members of DAWO and citizens of Beavercreek protested a city weed ordinance that was unfriendly to managed natural landscapes in a number of ways.  Some of our members stood and voiced their comments.

We are lucky to have several nurseries in the Dayton area selling straight native plants, and each has special areas of expertise we can tap.  In this presentation, a panel of six of these nursery owners will answer your questions about native plants for your home landscape. Bring your questions and/or send them ahead of time to [email protected]. 

Greene County Master Gardener Volunteer Terese DeSimio will lead a book discussion on Dr. Douglas Tallamy's Nature's Best Hope.  This groundbreaking book sparked a national movement around restoring local ecological networks, inspiring communities to transform residential landscapes into flourishing biodiverse sanctuaries. 

Dr. Doug Tallamy gave a PowerPoint presentation on why we need to plant native plants to save biodiversity.  DAWO had an information table at the event.

I do not know the total number of attendees at this event. Instead, I posted an estimate of the number of people who came to our table.

Some Beavercreek residents received a weed citation for their native plant landscape, based on a complaint by an anonymous passerby. We helped form a citizen group of DAWO Beavercreek residents and friends to come up with a native plant-friendly ordinance to present to the city council.

All are welcome to join this free virtual panel discussion exploring the vital roles of native, solitary, and honeybees in pollination and biodiversity. Featuring experts Sam Droege (USGS), Dave Hunter (Crown Bees), and Dr. Lora Morandin (Pollinator Partnership), this event will discuss into the challenges pollinators face, the balance between managed and wild bees, and actionable ways to support all pollinators.

Gain insights from over 90 years of combined experience and learn how to advocate for pollinator habitats through planting native species, participating in community science, and adopting responsible management practices.

Presenter Jennifer Windus will talk about the threats posed by invasive plants, the most problematic species in Ohio, control methods, and alternative native species that are appropriate replacements. She will also go over what OIPC is doing to address invasive plants. 

Jennifer is currently the President of the Ohio Invasive Plants Council (OIPC), which she has been involved in since 2005, when it formed.  For 31 years, she worked for three divisions of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, retiring in June 2014.  Most of her work involved land management, invasive plant control, rare plant monitoring on nature preserves and wildlife areas, and prescribed burning.

The city presented the first reading of its revised Weeds and Grass section of the property ordinance.  During the citizen comment period after the reading, several members of DAWO and citizens of Beavercreek commented on what parts of the ordinance were unclear and which parts would pose problems for residents and a healthy ecosystem. 

The meeting was recorded and is available online:  

The city voted on a revised ordinance. We had worked for several months with a group of Beavercreek citizens to try to make the ordinance more native plant friendly.  You can see the revised ordinance starting at page 22 at this link: https://www.beavercreekohio.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03102025-727

The CV-WT Dems invited us to talk to their members about our environmental mission and how they can help increase biodiversity on their own properties. Other presenters talked as well.

The BEHCC invited us to come speak about DAWO and native plants at their meeting. We were the main featured speakers.  A local native plant business owner agreed to come and speak about native garden design.

Snow Trillium Quest

Indian Mound Reserve

2750 U.S. Rt. 42 East

Williamson Lane entrance

Cedarville, Ohio 45314

Directions             

Leaves of three, let them be.  Unless they are the rare Snow Trillium (according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources).  Well, we still want to let them be, but we don’t have to be afraid of looking at them. 

The target of our search is the early blooming, diminutive snow trillium and a few other early ephemerals in Massie Creek Gorge.   The gorge trail is narrow, with rocks and tree roots, and one short but steep slope to climb.   The hike will be approximately 1.25 miles.  Be sure to bring your wildflower field guide and binoculars in case we happen upon some other elusive spring ephemerals!   

There will be two opportunities for group hikes:

Thursday, March 20 at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 23 at 2:00 p.m.

Families and friends are welcome!  Please let us know if you plan to join us.

Indian Mound Reserve is a 169-acre Greene County Parks & Trails property, with Native American earthworks, an 1800’s log cabin, 8 miles of hiking trails along Massie Creek Gorge, and a scenic overlook at Cedar Cliff Falls. The spring wildflower display is incredible here – be sure to visit the changing floral display throughout the season!

There are three entrances to this reserve - use the WILLIAMSON LANE entrance by the LOG CABIN.   We’ll meet in the parking lot on the right and walk the Pollock Works Loop back to where the action should be. 

Optional:  Afterward, we can head to Pearl’s Fen, then walk to Oakes Quarry to view another display of snow trillium on a steep, wooded slope. 

Public gardens hold tremendous power to influence landscaping norms and inspire change. By showcasing the beauty, functionality, and ecological value of native plants, these spaces help foster biodiversity, advocate for sustainable practices, and engage communities in environmental stewardship. 

This webinar will explore how public and demonstration gardens serve as powerful tools for native plant advocacy. Attendees will learn how gardens move beyond aesthetics to spark action—turning appreciation into engagement and inspiring participants to replicate these practices in their own communities.

We will hear insights from Nicole Machuca, Environmental Social Scientist at the Field Museum, on how public gardens influence behaviors, foster stewardship, and connect people to conservation efforts through research and community engagement. The Wild Ones Capital Region NY and the Wild Ones San Diego (CA) Chapters will share their experiences building native plant demonstration gardens and how these spaces drive community engagement, education, and advocacy. And We'll finish with a conversation exploring how public gardens create a lasting impact beyond planting day moderated by Kelly Kapuzzi, Demonstration Garden Char with the Wild Ones Hocking Hills (OH) Chapter.

Snow Trillium Quest

Indian Mound Reserve

2750 U.S. Rt. 42 East

Williamson Lane entrance

Cedarville, Ohio 45314

Directions             

Leaves of three, let them be.  Unless they are the rare Snow Trillium (according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources).  Well, we still want to let them be, but we don’t have to be afraid of looking at them. 

The target of our search next week is the early blooming, diminutive snow trillium and a few other early ephemerals in Massie Creek Gorge.   The gorge trail is narrow, with rocks and tree roots, and one short but steep slope to climb.   The hike will be approximately 1.25 miles.  Be sure to bring your wildflower field guide and binoculars in case we happen upon some other elusive spring ephemerals!   

There will be two opportunities for group hikes:

Thursday, March 20 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 23 at 2:00 p.m.

Families and friends are welcome!  Please let us know if you plan to join us.

Indian Mound Reserve is a 169-acre Greene County Parks & Trails property, with Native American earthworks, an 1800’s log cabin, 8 miles of hiking trails along Massie Creek Gorge, and a scenic overlook at Cedar Cliff Falls. The spring wildflower display is incredible here – be sure to visit the changing floral display throughout the season!

There are three entrances to this reserve - use the WILLIAMSON LANE entrance by the LOG CABIN.   We’ll meet in the parking lot on the right and walk the Pollock Works Loop back to where the action should be. 

Optional:  Afterward, we can head to Pearl’s Fen, then walk to Oakes Quarry to view another display of snow trillium on a steep, wooded slope. 

We invite you to attend this educational opportunity that will inspire the way you look at native plants. The workshop will be held at one of our favorite venues, the Bergamo Center in Beavercreek, Ohio. Registration link below. $95 includes lunch. We offer informative presentations, hands-on learning opportunities and field trips for home gardeners, native plant activists, landscape designers, and anyone interested in learning about the remarkable world of native plants and their interactions with our local wildlife. Our keynote speakers are Donald Pell and Jim McCormac. Breakout sessions by Kara Maynard, Tom Borgman, Jennifer Smith, Carol Mundy, Brian Jorg and Judy Semroc! Outdoor field trips weather permitting led by Kelly Cappuzi and friends!

Rooms are available to rent at the Bergamo Center on Friday night. $72 single, $95 double. Email [email protected] for more information. Go here for detailed information about Speakers and Programs.

Hosted a DAWO table at this event.

Focusing on smaller, urban and suburban neighborhood yards, presenter Brooke Medlin will show sample garden designs appropriate for HOAs, general zoning regulations, and neighborhoods where a more manicured look is expected. Also included are maintenance tips for plantings to encourage full, healthy native plants that stay upright and bloom often. Attendees can expect to leave with sample garden designs, ideas on how to implement them in their own yards, and recommendations for free resources to continue learning how to create and manage yard-sized healthy ecosystems. Brooke Medlin is a garden consultant, designer, and co-owner of Meadowsweet Ecological Landscapes.

Registration is required.

Spoke in Salon about the benefits of planting native plants on one's own property--especially regarding increasing biodiversity.

Hosted a Wild Ones information table at this event.

We will start our exploration at this little-known park right beside the Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve. Spring ephemerals we might see include mayapples, toadshade, twinleaf, and dutchman's breeches, just to name a few. For those who want to extend the outing, we will then venture over to the Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve to see what exciting wildflowers are blooming there. 

We need your help to save the Beavercreek Native Plant Demonstration Garden. The garden was designed by DAWO member and owner of Deeply Rooted Landscapes Kara Maynard and was installed with the help of DAWO members in spring of 2019. The original plan was for Beavercreek Parks and Recreation to take over maintenance once the garden was established. Then the COVID pandemic struck and Beavercreek was unable to hire the seasonal workers needed to maintain it. DAWO volunteers cared for the garden until fall of 2022 when we turned it over to Beavercreek. Management in 2023 was limited, but in late summer, a new volunteer stepped up. She was initially unfamiliar with native plants but has been learning as she cares for the garden. She has been doing a good job, but it is a large area for just one person to manage. This spring the weeds exploded; the garden is now overgrown and in dire need of care.
 
We would love to save the garden, especially given the recent emphasis on native plants in the landscape in Beavercreek and its new lawn ordinance. We would like to do a one-time intervention to help clean out the garden and make it presentable. Beavercreek’s new Parks and Recreation Operations Supervisor Allison Bush looks on native plants favorably. Our intervention at this time would allow Allison time to develop a more sustainable approach to maintaining the garden.
 
We are scheduling a work session on Tuesday, May 6 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Please join us to help save this beautiful garden. Bring gloves and your own tools. You can also bring pots and soil as there will be errant seedlings that you can take home.
 
A City of Beavercreek volunteer liability release form is required and will be available on site or email us to request a copy. Questions? Email us at [email protected].
 
Beavercreek Station
1153 N. Fairfield Rd.
Beavercreek, OH 45432

We need your help to save the Beavercreek Native Plant Demonstration Garden. The garden was designed by DAWO member and owner of Deeply Rooted Landscapes Kara Maynard and was installed with the help of DAWO members in spring of 2019. The original plan was for Beavercreek Parks and Recreation to take over maintenance once the garden was established. Then the COVID pandemic struck and Beavercreek was unable to hire the seasonal workers needed to maintain it. DAWO volunteers cared for the garden until fall of 2022 when we turned it over to Beavercreek. Management in 2023 was limited, but in late summer, a new volunteer stepped up. She was initially unfamiliar with native plants but has been learning as she cares for the garden. She has been doing a good job, but it is a large area for just one person to manage. This spring the weeds exploded; the garden is now overgrown and in dire need of care.

We would love to save the garden, especially given the recent emphasis on native plants in the landscape in Beavercreek and its new lawn ordinance. We would like to do a one-time intervention to help clean out the garden and make it presentable. Beavercreek’s new Parks and Recreation Operations Supervisor Allison Bush looks on native plants favorably. Our intervention at this time would allow Allison time to develop a more sustainable approach to maintaining the garden.

We are scheduling a work session on Friday from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Please join us to help save this beautiful garden. Bring gloves and your own tools. You can also bring pots and soil as there will be errant seedlings that you can take home.

A City of Beavercreek volunteer liability release form is required and will be available on site or email us to request a copy. Questions? Email us at [email protected].

Beavercreek Station
1153 N. Fairfield Rd.
Beavercreek, OH 45432

Join Wild Ones National Board President Loris Damerow for a special presentation as part of Week 3 of the 2025 Less Lawn More Life Challenge, “Native Plants Planted Right.” Loris will walk us through the basics of native plant gardening- from choosing the right plants to planting and maintaining them with confidence.

Join us on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT for the YouTube Live premiere of this 30-minute webinar. Native plant experts from  Wild Ones, Plan it Wild, Homegrown National Park, ReWild Your Campus, and others will be active in the live chat throughout the presentation and for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage! 

This event is designed for newcomers to native gardening and is part of the national Less Lawn More Life Challenge, hosted by Plan It Wild in collaboration with Wild Ones, iNaturalist, Homegrown National Park, Pollinator Partnership  and many others! 

See more about the Less Lawn More Life Challenge:  https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

DAWO tabling at event sponsored by the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association

tabling event3

Join DAWO and the Oregon District Park gardeners for a tour of the lovely native plant gardens and native trees. Three years ago, the gardeners made a commitment to use native plants and trees in the park. The results are spectacular. Tour also a nearby native plant garden with a bee lawn and beautiful water feature. And after the tour, take advantage of one of the District's fabulous restaurants

Join us as Dr. Don Cipollini,  Professor of Plant Biology and Ecology at Wright State University, leads us on a nature walk at this recently updated Reserve.   

We will be on the lookout for summer blooming flowers and any wildlife we can find.  Additionally, we will hike along the newly constructed boardwalk that runs along the marsh. 

Meet at the parking lot located at 2050 New Germany Trebein Rd.  For more information on the park, see  https://beavercreekwetlands.org/location/james-p-amon-biodiversity-reserve/ .

The closing event of this year’s Less Lawn More Life Challenge, will be led by Lisa Olsen, Chapter Liaison at Wild Ones. In this webinar, you’ll learn how small, personal actions like planting native species and removing invasives, can ripple outward to inspire neighbors, change policies, and reshape communities. 

During the premiere, native plant experts from Wild Ones and collaborating organizations will be active in the live chat. They’ll be ready to answer questions, share tips, and connect viewers with resources. The live chat will remain open for 30 minutes after the webinar, giving you plenty of time to ask questions and engage. Please note: You must be logged into a YouTube account to participate in the chat. 

The Less Lawn More Life Challenge is a free, 12-week action series designed to help people transform traditional lawns into vibrant, life-supporting native plant habitat. Each week, participants complete a simple challenge like planting a native shrub, removing invasives, or observing pollinators to reimagine their outdoor space and take meaningful steps toward restoring biodiversity at home. 

It’s not too late to get involved. Catch up on the weekly videos and start your rewilding journey today at https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/ 

This educational, community-focused event brings together native plant enthusiasts, gardeners, and nature lovers for a weekend of learning and exploration.  

Note: The conference is SOLD OUT. No further registrations will be accepted.

A multi-vendor native plant sale on Saturday is still open to the public. Please register for the sale at the link below, as parking is limited.

https://www.midwestnativeplants.org/native-plant-artisan-sale

WARNING!! SUPER BLOOM IN PROGRESS.  Well maybe not technically, but if the wildflowers blooming at Huffman Prairie Flying Field right now don’t qualify, they should. Volunteer Naturalist Kathie Bowers has scheduled an “emergency” nature walk for us to enjoy this special time on this stunning restored prairie, where the Wright Brothers learned to control their “Flying Machine.” If you want to catch the threatened species, Royal Catchfly, in full bloom, now is the time to see it.  Trail Description: The prairie inner trail is a flat, grassy mowed surface of around 1.25 miles. Meet at the kiosk across from the parking lot, located along Pylon Road at the trailhead for the inner trail loop. 

Note:  Some mapping programs might provide inaccurate directions because of restricted roads along WPAFB.  The safest way is to put “Twin Base Golf Club” into your mapping program and then follow these directions: 

When you leave route 444, you will be heading north on Communication Blvd.  Drive 0.2 mile. 

1.    From OH-444, enter WPAFB at 16a onto Communication Blvd.  Drive 0.2 mile.
2.    Turn LEFT at the intersection as you approach a closed gate.  Drive 0.4 mile.
3.    Turn LEFT on Hebble Creek Rd. at T-intersection. Drive 1.0 mile.
4.    Make a SHARP RIGHT onto Marl Rd. (narrow, tree-lined road).  Drive 1.0 mile.  You will pass an overflow parking lot on the left.
5.    Take another RIGHT to stay on Marl Rd. and drive about 200 feet
6.    Take a slight RIGHT onto Pylon Rd.  Once you are on Pylon Rd., the parking lot will be on the right and the trailhead on your left.  
 

Join us as Marianist Environmental Education Center Program Coordinator Tara Polling leads a beginner-to-intermediate workshop on how to use iNaturalist, the free community science app to log nature observations and identify species. We'll cover differences between the original app (now iNat Classic) and the new version as well as the following:

     - how to make and share observations

     - how to connect with other users through projects

     - how to navigate location permissions and digital privacy

     - how to get the best results possible.

Users of iNaturalist contribute to real biodiversity and species management research.  You need no prior experience or knowledge of natural history; just bring a smartphone or tablet with an integrated camera (iPhone or Android) and your curiosity!  

(Tara Poling manages the Mount Saint John All-Taxa Biotic Inventory project on iNaturalist. This event is co-sponsored by Dayton Area Wild Ones and the Marianist Environmental Education Center.) 

Before the event, you might want to check out this Ted Talk about iNaturalist’s impact.

Naturalist and author David Nolin, former director of conservation for Five Rivers MetroParks, will lead us on a 1-2-mile hike at this restored prairie, where the Wright Brothers learned to control their “Flying Machine.”  By this time of the year, the prairie should be transitioning from summer to fall blooming native plants.  Trail Description: The inner trail is a flat, grassy mowed surface of around 1.25 miles, while the outer trail is similar terrain and 2 miles.   We will explore the most interesting trail at that time. 

Meet at the kiosk across from the parking lot, located along Pylon Road at the trailhead. 

Note:  Some mapping programs might provide inaccurate directions because of restricted roads along WPAFB.  The safest way is to put “Twin Base Golf Club” into your mapping program and then follow these directions: 

1.    From OH-444, enter WPAFB at 16a onto Communication Blvd.  Drive 0.2 mile.
2.    Turn LEFT at the intersection as you approach a closed gate.  Drive 0.4 mile.
3.    Turn LEFT on Hebble Creek Rd. at T-intersection. Drive 1.0 mile.
4.    Make a SHARP RIGHT onto Marl Rd. (narrow, tree-lined road).  Drive 1.0 mile.  You will pass an overflow parking lot on the left.
5.    Take another RIGHT to stay on Marl Rd. and drive about 200 feet
6.    Take a slight RIGHT onto Pylon Rd.  Once you are on Pylon Rd., the parking lot will be on the right and the trailhead on your left.  
 

Educational Topic: "A Step in the Right Direction: Guiding Your City to be Native Plant Friendly"

Wild Ones Greater Cleveland presents Sarah Bills, a Dayton Area Wild Ones member, who grew up in Cleveland Heights, and now uses her passion for native plants to make changes in her community. Sarah found out that a friend's native gardens had been targeted by their city as a "nuisance".  The incident began a wave of concern among people in the native plant community that their own yards could be targeted by the vague city ordinance.  Dayton Area Wild Ones organized the concern into a citizen's working group to try to influence the direction the landscaping ordinance rewrite would take. And guess who came out on top? Listen in as Sarah shares her experience and victory.

Speaker: Sarah Bills was born and raised in Cleveland Heights, OH.  She moved to Beavercreek, OH in the Dayton area 20 years ago when she got married.  She has 5 kids that she homeschools.  As Sarah's children have grown up, she  has begun to increase her involvement in the community.  This has included working as a seasonal worker at the Board of Elections in her county, working local elections on Election Day, and completing the Citizen's Police Academy and the city's Citizen Academy.  She volunteers time with the Beavercreek Wetlands Association and helps maintain a native plant garden owned by the city.  She attends city council meetings every month and is a member of the Tree Advisory Board for the city as well as Dayton Wild Ones.

Discussion Topic: TBD

Pearl’s Fen is showing its peak colors, so we scheduled a last-minute hike to enjoy them. Naturalist, author, and former Director of Conservation for Five Rivers MetroParks David Nolin will lead us on a walk through this extraordinarily biodiverse, peat-accumulating wetland—one of the rarest of ecosystems.  Trail Description: An unpaved parking lot and gravel path lead to the accessible boardwalk trail. Those who wish to extend their hike can visit nearby Oakes Quarry Park via a connector trail.  

Have you ever wondered how old that tree is in your yard? Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist Kathie Bowers will lead us on a 1.5-2-mile nature walk at Charleston Falls Preserve, just north of Huber Heights and south of Tipp City, where we will hike through forests and learn how to estimate the age of living trees.  We will also visit the prairie ecosystems to see the late summer/fall blooming native plants and, of course, we will visit the falls. (Hope for some rain in the days beforehand!)  Trail Description:  The trail is well prepared with a gravel surface.  About 80% of the trail system is relatively flat, but we will also be hiking up and down a couple of hills.  For more information on the “Miniature Niagara,” visit Charleston Falls Preserve.

Discover how ecological landscaping with native plants can make your landscape more resilient and help address the climate crisis. This webinar will highlight practical, evidence-based approaches to designing and maintaining landscapes that build resilience to climate change and support native biodiversity. Join Wild Ones for a free webinar, “EcoBeneficial Landscape Strategies for the Climate Crisis,” featuring environmental horticulturalist and ecological landscape designer Kim Eierman.

“The Change Begins With Us”

EcoFEST 2025 will provide fun and family-oriented education focused on helping the planet. This event was awarded 1st Place at the Ohio Parks and Recreation State Conference.

At the Outdoor Market, local native plant growers Tadmor Greenes, Local Lush, Native Ohio Plants, Deeply Rooted Landscapes, The Milkweed Patch, and Down Nature's Path will be offering native plants, shrubs, and trees for your home landscape, as well as sharing their passion and knowledge of Ohio native species. Fall is a great time to plant, with cooler temperatures; less need for watering; and fewer weeds, pests, and diseases. 

Sponsored twice a year by Five Rivers Metroparks.

Briefly introduced Dayton Area Wild Ones and its purpose as a local environmental movement to educate people on the benefits of planting native species on their properties. Passed out handouts on the importance of planting native plants to increase and preserve biodiversity in our ecosystems and to advertise the upcoming Doug Tallamy webinar with Wild Ones.

Dr. Don Cipollini, Professor, Plant Biology and Ecology at WSU, will lead us on a hike on the trails of Wright State’s Biology Preserve, an approximately 220-acre wooded reserve with two acres of restored prairie. Some of the trees on the trails are over 85 years old.

Trail Description:  Trails are easy to moderate

Directions:  We will meet at the overhang at the University main library.  Parking is free after 5:00 pm.    From Colonel Glenn Highway, turn into the campus using Center Park Blvd. (north).   From Center Park Blvd., turn right onto Loop Road.  The library will be to your left just past the Creative Arts Center.   If you reach the intersection with University Blvd., you have gone too far, although you will still be able to see the library to your left.

Even after reading books and attending talks, many still have pressing questions about ecological landscaping. In this talk, Tallamy addresses common concerns on biodiversity, invasive species, native plants, and conservation strategies, providing practical guidance and motivation to restore nature in everyday spaces. 

Attention DAWO members!  Join us for a special members-only evening to mark DAWO’s 10th anniversary. We will start with a brief hike of Mount St. John grounds to see native flora and fauna; enjoy a presentation by Hope Taft and others about DAWO’s beginnings, past, present, and future; and learn about native ferns of our region with Marianist Environmental Education Center Program Coordinator Tara Poling.  We will also enjoy Old Scratch pizza, salad, beverages, and cake, and—most of all—the opportunity to meet other DAWO members.  

Please note, YOU MUST REGISTER BY OCT. 15 so we have enough food for all. 

MEEC Land Manager Michele Banker will demonstrate native plant seed cleaning to help us more effectively store our native seeds for planting and sharing. In November, we will schedule a native plant seed swap so you can get different plant species from other DAWO members and friends!

NOTE: THIS EVENT IS FULL. We apologize, but we are no longer accepting registrations.

In October, a large group of members and supporters of the Dayton Area Wild Ones were treated to an educational and enjoyable guided hike of Wright State Woods, led by Don Cipollini. Our November program will continue with the “walk in the woods” theme. Our destination is the Ferguson Land Laboratory, which was just added to the Old-Growth Forest Network with a ceremony on October 1 – the first designated old-growth forest in Greene County and the entire Dayton region! The Old-Growth Forest Network is a national network of protected, native, publicly accessible mature forests. 

Our guide will be Dave Nolin, retired Director of Conservation at Five Rivers MetroParks. We’ll learn the history of this 44-acre remnant forest, the characteristics of an old-growth forest, and how it came to be protected as we walk its trails.

Trails:  We will be walking on dirt trails crossed by tree roots in areas. There are a couple of slopes.

Directions:  From Dayton-Xenia Road, enter on the east side of the high school property at the edge of the woods. Continue on the access road past the large parking lot and tennis courts on the left. Parking is on the left just past the tennis courts, here.

NOTE: THIS EVENT IS FULL. This is the rescheduled Nov. 9 event, which was cancelled because of inclement weather. We apologize, but we are no longer accepting registrations.

In October, a large group of members and supporters of the Dayton Area Wild Ones were treated to an educational and enjoyable guided hike of Wright State Woods, led by Don Cipollini. Our November program will continue with the “walk in the woods” theme. Our destination is the Ferguson Land Laboratory, which was just added to the Old-Growth Forest Network with a ceremony on October 1 – the first designated old-growth forest in Greene County and the entire Dayton region! The Old-Growth Forest Network is a national network of protected, native, publicly accessible mature forests. 

Our guide will be Dave Nolin, retired Director of Conservation at Five Rivers MetroParks. We’ll learn the history of this 44-acre remnant forest, the characteristics of an old-growth forest, and how it came to be protected as we walk its trails.

Trails:  We will be walking on dirt trails crossed by tree roots in areas. There are a couple of slopes.

Directions:  From Dayton-Xenia Road, enter on the east side of the high school property at the edge of the woods. Continue on the access road past the large parking lot and tennis courts on the left. Parking is on the left just past the tennis courts, here.

Discover the power of ecological garden design in this free national webinar, Living in the Liberated Landscape: My Yard, with award-winning landscape designer Larry Weaner. Join us for a personal look at how dynamic, self-sustaining landscapes can emerge when we partner with nature instead of controlling it. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience, Larry will share practical strategies for designing dynamic gardens that evolve naturally, support biodiversity, and bring lasting beauty to your yard.

Did you harvest native plant seeds from your garden this year, or would you simply like to get some free native seeds from local gardeners? At this gathering, we will share seeds from plants native to southwest Ohio with other DAWO members and friends.

If you are bringing seeds to share, please label them clearly with the species name--preferably the Latin name, if you have that. (We can help you find the Latin name if you have the common name.)

If you do not have seeds to share, simply bring paper envelopes and a pen for collecting and labeling seeds you would like for your garden or landscape.

We will have available information and resources on planting and caring for your seeds. And later this winter, watch for a DAWO workshop on how to sow seeds in milk jugs, if you prefer to try that method!

The DAWO president (a Washington Township resident) and some DAWO members spoke during the public comments section, expressing concern about a proposed Natural Landscaping resolution that would place burdensome restrictions on homeowners who are attempting to grow native landscapes.  The trustees listened to residents' comments and proposed that the resolution be put on hold and that zoning officials work with Dayton Area Wild Ones officers to draw up a more thoughtful and informed resolution. The zoning officials were also presented with copies of a proposed Managed Landscape Ordinance that DAWO had drawn up for the City of Beavercreek in late 2024/ early 2025.

Designing with native plants isn’t just about what you grow, it’s about how you shape your space. In this hands-on workshop, Zoe Evans (Plan it Wild) and Heather Evans (Design Your Wild) guide you through the process of creating a cohesive yard plan that supports both your lifestyle and biodiversity.