Lakeside's Secret Gardens

Lakeside, Ohio has many attractions: the beautiful shores of Lake Erie, fine food and entertainment, friendly people and quaint architecture.  Now it even has a very special park for nature lovers.  It is a botanical "step back in time" featuring the historic flowers of Marblehead.

I'll be leading two walks on Saturday, May 23rd at 3:00 and again at 4:00 pm if you would like to experience this woodland garden in person.  Walk/field trip details can be found here on Lakeside's website.

Woodland Phlox and Mayapple leaves bespeak the richness of this forest floor.

Spring's ephemeral flora is short-lived but spectacular. Like mini-rainbows, the fleeting colors of flowers dance in dappled light, scattered across rich forest floor.  This year the outstanding display of Woodland Phlox, Phlox divaricata is as remarkable as any I have ever seen.

Moss-covered Rock outcropping

 The rocky outcroppings, remnants from Marblehead's rich history of stone quarrying, have an enchanting, verdant covering of moss.  Even winters in this secret garden boast of green.

Large-flowered Trillium, Ohio's state wildflower.

 The last of the Trillium are waning, but their leaves will bear proof of their presence.  A grander wild flower is not known in Ohio than this, Trillium grandiflorum.

Appendaged Waterleaf is now stealing the show.

 The newcomer blooming this week is the Appendaged Waterleaf, Hydrophyllum appendiculatum. It should be putting on an excellent show by Saturday. You'll not want to miss the opportunity to see these unusual flowers and trees growing in a natural habitat near the shores of Lake Erie.

Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum

 We will even discuss some of the local non-native flora, like this winsome gem, Herb Robert.  Some say it works as an insect repellent!

Join our walk to learn more stories of our favorite native plants and gain a greater appreciation for the unique Carolinian Forest flora found in this park. This newly "un"developed park is found at the corner of Sixth Street and Popular Avenue just north of the beautiful Chautauqua Memorial Gardens.

There is also a plant sale being held in Lakeside earlier in the day, and you may sign-up for this field trip at the registration table at the Legacy House at 217 Walnut Street.

Lakeside Daisy, Tetraneuris herbaca

While you are in Lakeside, you'll want to visit another very special "secret" garden on the Lakefront path in Perry Park. The rarest flower in the United States grows on our shores.  The last of this year's Lakeside Daisy blooms should still be evident in the garden maintained especially for their benefit.

Leave a comment below if you'd like help signing up for Saturday's walk. I hope to see you there!

Trillium Fest near Hocking Hills

It was my good fortune to be invited to the Trillium Fest held at Mathias Grove in the Hocking Hills, near Rockbridge, Ohio. The wildflower display was stellar, with a vast array of species and notable variety within species.

The Queen of Ohio's Trilliums and State Flower, the Large-flowered Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum was in stunning profusion, covering the rocky out-croppings.

The other species of Trillium putting on a good show is the Red, Purple or "Wake-robin" Trillium, Trillium erectum. Pardon my fingers, but these guys droop a bit, and I want you to really note the center of these flowers.

Here is another fine specimen of "red" trillium, not quite as red is it? It also had some interesting larva activity going on- note the "worm's" cobweb-like protection and hole on the petals and leaves.

Behold, another "red" trillium. Red? How can that be? Trillium erectum gets its name for the red style in the center of the flower- not the color of the petals. Go back and study the Large-flowered Trillium and you'll see its style, located in the center of the flower is all yellow.

Both species were in glorious display, and they were just some of the interesting things we saw.