Janet Lasley Memorial Garden & Education Area
Public Welcome Family-Friendly Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Janet Lasley was one of the founders of the Dayton Area Wild Ones and its first President. She was also a valued education volunteer at the Caesar Creek Nature Center. To honor her memory after her sudden passing in 2023, a major renovation of the gardens and pond near the Nature Center was undertaken through community support and volunteer effort. More than 3000 native plants of 60 species have been installed in the first three years of the project with three major additions planned for 2026. The pond area is a microcosm of the park, starting with a dock leading to a beach and fossil area, followed by the picturesque boardwalk, and culminating in a serene prairie zone, then returning to the dock along a woodland edge planting. The Janet Lasley Memorial Project also began a comprehensive restoration of all the woodland areas surrounding the Nature Center, involving invasive species removal and trail enhancements. An ongoing botanical survey has identified more than 240 species of Ohio native plants to date.
Join us for an easy guided tour of the gardens with an option to explore the surrounding woodlands afterward, which will be slightly more challenging.
Caesar Creek Nature Center: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QZ9CuJijZrYjuUEB6