Everyone can relate to waiting for the harbingers of spring after a dreary winter- the return of critters and crawlers, heavy rains, and warmer weather – but one of everyone’s favorite preludes to spring is the spring wildflower. They provide much-needed pops of color in the gray winter landscape and remind us of the brighter seasons ahead. In preparation for the program Nature in…

Pyrus calleryana, or Callery Pear trees, are one of the most recognizable plants in the state of Ohio. They are a common tree seen in many urban, suburban and rural settings. Callery Pears were introduced to the United States in the early 1900s from Asia. They were first planted in suburban America in the 1950s,…

The New Year brings a host of new things- resolutions we will forget next month, cold winter weather, and coyote mating season in Ohio. You may have noticed increased coyote activity in your backyard, at your local parks, or even in areas that are more developed. Coyote confrontations, even with pets, are fairly rare, but…

Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) Trees are amazing creatures and as human beings, we are fortunate to share spaces with them. There are over 90 tree species here in Ohio and today I am writing about one of my favorites: Carya ovata, better known as the shagbark hickory.  From afar, this shagbark hickory looks like any…

Have you met Joe? If you haven’t been introduced to Joe Bruns, it’s very possible you’ve seen him out and about in the parks, or at a minimum have enjoyed his work. Joe is MetroParks’ Project Manager, and he has had a hand in all of our recent capital projects. They include the Great Miami…

Every year since 1963 a group has gathered on the Sunday after Mother’s Day to remember the people who formed and preserved the Indian Creek Regular Baptist Church and Burial Ground at the annual Salute to Pioneers. Now known as Pioneer Church, the building and cemetery are part of MetroParks of Butler County’s Indian Creek…

Follow me to one of the first MetroParks in the southwest corner of Butler County. This trek will take you back in time to the beginnings of our state, a campground with a history, and on the newest trail in the park system. For Part One, we’ll concentrate on the uplands section of the park.…

The holidays are coming to a close, and a new year is upon us! You may find yourself contemplating an upcoming resolution. While hitting the gym or eating a better diet might be high on your list, at MetroParks, we can’t help but encourage you to get outside more next year. With so many green…

When I first moved to Butler County in the early 1980’s I would drive down I-75 and notice the tall broadcasting towers of the Bethany Relay Station of Voice of America (VOA) Broadcasting, never dreaming I would one day work for MetroParks of Butler County at Voice of America MetroPark. I hope you enjoy a…