Author Archives: kkovarik

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Posted on September 12, 2012 | Leave a comment

Pete has informed me that we are now the proud landlords of a female black and yellow garden spider (argiope aurantia). Now normally, I’m not too excited about spiders. As a small child, I was chased with a spider (semi-squished in a tissue) held by a relative who shall remain nameless. You know who you are! Apparently, I’ve never gotten over it. Thank goodness my husband is a trained entomologist who can remove any spiders that made it inside our house.

But back to the garden spider. These are, in my opinion, very handsome arachnids. I’ve seen them out in the prairie preserves around central Ohio but never anywhere else. What Pete said was so surprising about seeing this spider in our backyard (and this is only the second one in eight years) is that these spiders travel by ballooning. (Images of a frightened spider riding along in a hot air balloon were quickly dispatched by Pete…) Now if I understood Pete correctly, the spider climbs as high as it can then stands on its tiptoes (Wait – spiders have TOES?) with its abdomen facing up into the air. Then the spider releases some gossamer (the correct term for the very fine silk created by spiders for just this purpose) that forms a parachute of sorts. Air currents lift the silk and take the spider away. In some cases, spiders have been found many miles from land, having been carried away by the jet stream. Since these garden spiders are rarely found in urban areas, this little lady got here after traveling for some distance. Pretty cool!

A little more about these spiders. The female is the large showy specimen, spanning nearly 2.5 inches. The male, by contrast, is very small and inconspicuous. The orb webs (circular with parallel lines) the spiders weave are large and often decorated with a tell-tail zig-zag of white silk. The babies, when they hatch, are bright yellow, and will emerge in the spring.

Until next time!

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Festiville!

Posted on September 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

Saturday, LOUA members spent the day at the Clintonville Festiville. What a great time we had! I couldn’t get over the number of people who stopped by our booth to say “hi.” And so many of those that stopped by had already heard about our Arboretum and just wanted to hear more. I nearly lost my voice talking to people about LOUA we had that many ask for additional information. I guess I sometimes forget that there are more people out there that know about LOUA than the 91 that like us on Facebook!

The artists at the Festiville were really great. I bought some earrings and a teabag holder. I could have spent a lot more than I did! If you didn’t make it out this year, you really need to come next year. I kept thinking how great all of the many items would be for presents.

We also had our September LOUA meeting last week. This meeting was mostly about plans for the future, and what direction we want to go. One of the things we are working on is planting more canopy trees in tree lawns this October, once again with help from OSU students. LOUA is also working on getting about 1000 understory trees (think dogwoods, redbuds, pawpaws and the like) planted within the Arboretum. Now granted, we are heading into fall and winter, but once these trees are planted over the next several years, the Arboretum will be so lovely in the spring!! I can’t wait to be able to walk through all of those blooming trees.

We also discussed the dam being removed from the Olentangy River just east of

The 5th Avenue dam on the Olentangy River being demolished. (Photo: Sam Hendren / WOSU)

Ohio State around 5th Avenue. Removing the dam has narrowed the river’s channel and will increase the diversity of fish and invertebrates. The river will be more shallow and meander as it did before the dam was built in the 1930s. I had forgot that the dam was being removed, and it was only when I noticed the level of the river being so much lower that I recalled the dam was gone. OSU is also working on making the campus along the river more attractive and pedestrian-friendly. I can’t wait to see what they do, and with the cooler weather, I might walk down to the river during my lunch.

Until next time!

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LOUA APPs Festival :: 9.22.2012

Posted on September 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

Sorry for the lack of posts. Pete and I were up in Connecticut and Cape Cod, Massachusetts  for a much-needed vacation. We went whale watching in Provincetown, MA (thanks Ellen!), and saw several humpback whales and minke whales. One that only I saw looked like it was out of a Pacific Life commercial, with the humpback whale coming straight out of the water, dropping back down with a huge splash.

The first day at the Cape Cod National Seashore, a storm rolled in, providing us with some amazing photos.

The East Coast was quite a contrast to Ohio as those states haven’t had a drought like we are experiencing. Everything was very verdant and lush there.

But back to our upcoming Pawpaw Festival! Pawpaws are a native tree that produces Ohio’s only temperate tropical fruit. NPR had a story on the tree along with a great video. (Sorry, but I couldn’t embed the video into this blog for love nor money!) I’ve had the fruit raw as well as made into jam as it’s quite popular in Florida. It’s very tasty!

The First Annual LOUA APPs Festival
(that’s APP for: Art, Plants and Pawpaws!)
Featuring local art, native plants and pawpaws
Hosted by LOUA and Scioto Gardens

Saturday, September 22, 9am – 3pm
In the lot across from the Indianola Informal K-8 School
251 Weber Road, Columbus, Ohio 43202

If you are interested in showing your artwork at the festival, please give me a shout out at this blog!

Until next time!

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Sad Update on Baby Finches

Posted on August 11, 2012 | 2 comments

Well, we’ve lost another set of baby house finches. I am so heart-broken. On Wednesday, I watered all the plants on the porch, and Mama Finch was there. She flew away when I watered the fern her nest was in, but she came back a few minutes later. I could hear the little guys chirping, so I knew they were fine.

The next day, Pete told me that one of the babies had fallen out of the nest. He put him or her back into the nest, noting that the two other little guys seemed fine. Then on Friday, I wanted to see how they were doing, being somewhat concerned that one had fallen out. I wanted to make sure he was OK. When I looked in the nest, there were two little birds, both dead. I burst into tears. Over the weeks, I became quite fond of my little family, watching their progress, talking to Mama and Papa Finch whenever I saw them.

The birds were buried in our garden with some words of love. I’ve heard Mama and Papa this morning. They sounded sad, like me.

If anyone has any suggestions or thoughts, please let me know. I understand that this is what happens in nature; that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

Until next time.

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Oh How I Wish That It Would Rain!

Posted on August 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

As I was heading out the door from work today, The Weather Channel indicated that there was a pop-up storm forming near Ohio State. A look out the window confirmed a darkening sky, with the wind picking up, and even a rumble of thunder. I was hopeful that Clintonville might get a shower, even if it was brief. Of course, the shower headed south of town, leaving me looking at a dark, full of rain clouds sky in my rearview mirror as I drove home. It is so frustrating to see the heat island effect of Columbus turn incoming showers into nothing, or turn them away, only to have the storms reform on the east side of town. I was also excited that the post I had planned on writing (water gardens) would make sense if it was raining. So much for that idea! I’ll have to post it another time.

So I will have to again water the few plants in our yard that aren’t native, as well as the ones on our porches, especially the ferns, who love their water while thriving in this humidity. The hanging ferns dry out very quickly; since Mama and Papa Finch have returned with another round of babies, I always want to make sure that the fern they are nesting in isn’t wilted so that it provides lots of shelter. But in looking around our yard, I am again happy that most of the plants we have are natives. Although some of them don’t look the best right now (unless you like brown, crinkly plants!), Pete assures me that they aren’t dead, just resting – sort of like the parrot in one of my favorite Monty Python skits. In this dormant stage, the plants are able to better conserve water. Other natives in our gardens are not bothered one bit with the lack of rain, as the following photos of our backyard will attest!

All of these native plants that we have have spent thousands of years learning to adapt to local conditions. They do well with our native soils (love that Ohio clay!) and rain patterns such as this drought we are in. Although some of these plants may not look their best this year, I’m pretty certain that next year, they will all be back in full glory.

Some other tips/thoughts to help out our plants and wildlife during this lack of rain:

  • Make sure that bird baths are kept full and clean. Birds, as well as butterflies, use that water.
  • Keep hummingbird feeders clean with fresh food to cut down on mold.
  • Deep watering plants should be done, if possible, after it rains. The soil soaks up the water, leaving little to make its way deeper into the soil. A heavier watering after it rains will allow the soil to take in the rain water, and the plants to take in the rest.
  • If you have any animals that are outside, make sure that they have water. Our neighbor’s cat has been coming around, looking for water, so we make sure he has some.
  • We also save the water from the shower as we wait for the water to heat up, putting a kitty litter bucket under the tap. The water goes into the rain barrel, along with all the water from our dehumidifier in the basement.

Hope you are all keeping cool and that your plants are surviving this heat to come back next year.

Until next time!

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Gone But Not Forgotten…

Posted on August 2, 2012 | 2 comments

Last night, at our monthly LOUA meeting, we spoke about the usual things: membership, upcoming events, grants, and of course, planting more trees.  Then we had a presentation by Mike Graziano, who is an adjunct professor at Columbus State as well as a doctoral student at Ohio State. He studies ecological restoration and snakes, frog, toads, and salamanders and the like. Part of his presentation included species native to Franklin County that were no longer around, either extinct or extirpated from the county. That’s a fancy word for saying the species used to be found in Franklin County but hasn’t for a long time even though it still exists elsewhere.

That got me to wondering just what sorts of things used to be in Ohio and are no longer. There are eleven species lost forever, including some fish, mollusks and a beetle, Kramer’s cave beetle. Now to be honest, those sound like the kind of things you might not miss, simply because they would have been rarely seen by most people even when there were many around. I’ll admit that other than in an Italian restaurant, I’ve never seen a mollusk in the wild. And searching the Internet turned up not one picture of the Kramer’s cave beetle.

Also on the list was the Carolina Parakeet. In looking at this colorful bird, I can’t imagine it living anywhere outside a jungle. It was the only parrot species native to the Eastern US and was called the pot pot chee by the Seminole. These birds lived along rivers, nesting in hollow trees, eating insects and fruit. The last wild bird died in 1904 while the last one in captivity died in 1918 at the Cincinnati Zoo, ironically in the same cage that the last passenger pigeon also died in. Removal of its habitat, using the feathers for hats, and hunting all contributed to the decline of the parakeet. However, most believe that the birds finally became extinct from a disease carried by chickens.

Hellbender

The extirpated species list was much longer, with 35 species on it, including bison, elk, and porcupines, to name a few. There were also some birds, fish and mollusks. Mike also mentioned the hellbender (which Pete had seen elsewhere, saying they were “Neat!”), a very large salamander, reaching over two feet in length as well as the Pickerel frog.

I think it’s so sad that these creatures are no longer around, that some only exist as stuffed versions while others were so “unimportant” that their image can’t even be found on the Internet. In some cases, the last living example died with no fanfare, out in the wild. In other cases, the last example died in a zoo. In all cases, humans somehow had an impact in what happened to the species. LOUA is hopeful that by adding native trees to our area, we can bring back some of the species that have gone outside Franklin County, or preserve those populations that still exist but are dwindling.

I, for one, would have truly enjoyed waking up to see a Carolina Parakeet outside my window.
Until next time.

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Growin’ Green

Posted on July 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

This past Monday and Tuesday, I went on a trip with some Ohio faculty and staff. The Roads Scholars Tour is put on by the Office of Outreach and Engagement and features trips to several Ohio companies, museums and the like that have ties to Ohio State. I wasn’t all that keen on this trip but got very excited when I heard two of the destinations: the Molly Caren Agriculture Center and the Urban Arts Space in the old Lazarus building.

The Molly Caren Agriculture Center is located in London, Ohio; you can see it as you drive by on 70 East. Every time we went out to Springfield, my dad would mention that he donated some trees to the Center. I was so excited to actually get to the Center and look at the trees that Dad planted some 30 years ago. In speaking with the staff at the center, I was told that the trees were close to the stone for Molly Caren, who donated the land. And there was a pin oak, just like Dad said there would be. There were also several very large ash trees, so far untouched by the emerald ash borer. There is a belief that with the trees being so isolated, they might be spared. One can only hope. Anyway, it was very moving to me to see a tree that my dad has planted. Again, it’s all a legacy that will be here long after he is gone.

Then our final stop in the tour was at Ohio State’s Urban Arts Space in the old Lazarus building. The building is a green building, using a lot of the latest technology to save energy and natural resources. I had heard it also has a living roof. I couldn’t wait to see what that looked like. There are plenty of plant species up on the roof that can filter rain water into a holding tank with about a 90,000 gallon capacity. That water is used in the building and manages to cut down water usage about 80%. Pretty cool – check out the video below…

You all know how much I love things that hold rain water. The garden was almost (but not quite) as neat as my swales!

Also, Pete and I went out the Scioto Garden’s Gardening and Arts Festival on Saturday. What a treat it was! There was so much to see, so many vendors whose wares fit in so perfectly with the garden shop. So many plants, with many that are native. I ended up with some jewelry (for me and for presents!), a butterfly for my garden, and a beautiful wood bowl that is so gorgeous. There was also some great music, so Pete and I bought one CD while Sam, who went with us, bought another. All in all, a good time was had by all! We will most definitely be going back there next year.

Until next time!

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Only in Ohio…

Posted on July 21, 2012 | 2 comments

Ever since I went off to college in 1980 (now you can all figure out how old I am!), I’ve talked to my mom nearly every Sunday night. It all started because the dorms at Ohio State had a phone that could only be used to make local out-going calls, no long distance. Yes, this was way before cell phones became so popular! In order to make sure I was there when she called, Mom and I settled on a time of 7pm for her to call. The time might change, but on Sunday night, Mom and I usually talk on the phone.

Picture by Scott Heckel, The Canton Repository, Sunday, July 15, 2012.

This last Sunday, when my mom called, she was so excited about an article that she had read in the Canton Repository, her local paper. When I heard her story, I was excited, too. It seems that the world’s largest magnolia acuminata, or cucumber tree, is located in northeast Ohio in a gated community in North Canton, Ohio, just down the road from my mom’s house in Louisville. She read about the tree in the paper and knew I’d be interested. After I got over my shock of there being a gated community in North Canton (and if you are familiar with the area, you will understand my wonder), I asked Mom to tell me more. This magnificent tree is a whopping 432 years old, stands 94 feet tall, and has a circumference of 290 inches. That means it’s about as tall as a 9-story building, and the picture shows that it took seven men to circle it. So that tree started out its life in the year 1580. In that year, the Billy Mitchell volcano on the island of Bougainville had a catastrophic eruption and Henry I, the King of Portugal, died with no direct heirs, causing a secession crisis. Strangely enough, I have read so much about WWII battles on the island of Bouganiville and don’t recall hearing about an volcano. Learn something new everyday!

Also, while at the Glen Echo Birthday Party, I saw an ash tree that had been killed by the emerald ash borer. The amount of damage that those beetles did was amazing, such devastation that I took a picture of it. I read in The Dispatch that ash trees are very important to Cedar Bog Nature Preserve. They provide shade for several species of Ohio orchids and flowers, both common or rare and endangered. In order to fight the borer, non-stinging wasps are being released in the bog. Three species are being released that attack the beetles in different stages of their lives. It’s hopeful that these wasps will be able to save future trees as some trees are already showing signs of damage.

Finally, who would have thought that there is a race in Cincinnati that asks participants to swim across the Ohio River? I would never have thought that possible. Because of the Clean Water Act, the Ohio River is in much better shape than ever. It’s called the Great Ohio River Swim and is taking place today.

And only in Clintonville…

I saw this little girl on Indianola, as I was walking back from the thrift store…someone walking along behind me said that she has seen two chickens around the area for the past two weeks or so. Chicken Little was looking for her meal and managed to make a snack out of an ant or two. I told her she would be famous in my blog!

Until next time!

 

 

Only in Ohio indeed!

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Scioto Gardens Gardening and Arts Festival::July 21, 2012

Posted on July 19, 2012 | 1 comment

The 6th annual Scioto Gardens Gardening and Arts Festival is this Saturday, July  21. The show hours are 9am -6pm. There will be artists and craftsmen, food, music and workshops.

Scioto Gardens 3351 State Route 37 West Delaware, OH 43015
Phone/fax: 740-363-8264

http://www.sciotogardens.com/

The schedule of events:
 
Free Gardening Workshops:
10:00 Beekeeping Basics, Al Blyth, Blyth Construction
11:00 Summer Proofing Your Garden, Debra Knapke, The Garden Sage
12:00 A Really Bad Idea – Bombing Our Parks to Save Them, John Makley, Mohican Advocates
1:00 Design Secrets for a Stylish Native Plant Garden, Amy Dutt, Urban Wild
2:00 Growing Your Health Independence: a Profile of Black Chokeberry, Dawn Combs, Mockingbird Meadows
3:00 Great Plants for Shady Gardens, Beth Richardson, Designs with Nature

Live Music
10:00 Three Day Weekend – Jazz
12:00 Rusty Strings – Rock, Folk, Jazz
2:00 Walkin’ Cane – High Energy Acoustic Blues
4:00 Doug Wood – Instrumental Acoustic Guitar & Bass

 
Until next time!

 

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Happy Birthday to Glen Echo!

Posted on July 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

Well, if you didn’t make it to the Glen Echo birthday bash this past Saturday, you missed a wonderful party! We must have had about 200 people show up. There was face painting for kids (my favorite was a kid painted as a cow!), a magician, White Castle hamburgers, hot dogs, and LOUA, FLOW and FOR all representing. So many people stopped by our tent – I think we had over ten new members! There was such support for all that LOUA, FLOW and FOR have done for this area.

The bird mural was also dedicated and turned out even better than I could ever imagine. Jason was nice enough to record the dedication – watch the video below!

So many people were there to see the mural; Sarah Snyder has a great camera that took these wonderful shots:

I did get one mystery solved at the event. Do you remember me mentioning a small greyish bird that I saw but could never identify? Well, I saw that bird in the ravine on Saturday. This time, John was there, our expert birder. I took him to the area where I had seen the bird and, yes, you guessed it, the little guy was no where to be seen. But then, I saw him at the same time John did. A few seconds to look through the binoculars, and I was told the bird was a blue grey gnatcatcher. They are really amazing birds, hopping around on the trees then suddenly diving to the stream to catch an insect. These birds are so fast and never seem to rest for a moment. (Not to mention that they look like the models used for “Angry Birds”!) I tried unsuccessfully to find the birds myself in the lens, but by the time I focused on the place I thought the bird was, the little guy was already somewhere else. I was given a trick of sighting the bird in with my eyes then bringing the binoculars up to my eyes but no luck. I guess I need my birds to be larger and more still!

Anyway, thanks to everyone who came out to the Glen Echo birthday bash. It was a blast!

Until next time!

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