Greater Cincinnati Wild Ones ®Chapter
2008 Program Schedule
Program Chairs: Dan Hadley and Mary Elizabeth Huey at 513-521-4688.

Program: Garden & Yard Tour
Date: May 10, Saturday 10am - Noon
5760 Red Oak Drive, Fairfield, OH.

Description: Kathy Kitts is an experienced and enthusiastic gardener (her "garden lady" email says a lot). Kathy is adding natives to her landscape. Having cleared her wooded area of the evil twins, honeysuckle and garlic mustard, she wants to compliment the existing bluebells. The front & side yards feature ground covers, grasses, herbs and many shrubs. If you have extra shade lovers please bring to share with Kathy and others.

Directions: From I-275 (Northwest side) take exit 36 - Hamilton Ave/Mt. Healthy. Go north on Hamilton about 3 miles. At the light by Lakeview Nursery (left side) turn left on Hunter. Turn right on Red Oak and come to 5760. House is on the right across from Dow Court. Contact: Kathy Kitts, 746-5732

May 17th, 10am
Wild Ones Day at Keystone Flora.

This is not a meeting but an opportunity to purchase native plants and speak with the Keystone Flora staff.
See one of the most unique spots in Cincinnati and view all of the changes they've made in the past year.
Members will receive a 15% discount on sales totaling $250 or more.

http://www.keystoneflora.com/

DIRECTIONS TO KEYSTONE FLORA
5081 Wooden Shoe Hollow Lane
Cincinnati, OH 45232

We are less than a mile from Spring Grove Cemetery.
From I-75 take the Mitchell Avenue exit (exit #6).

If coming north on I-75 turn left at end of ramp;Or, if coming south on I-75 turn right at end of ramp.Turn left onto Spring Grove Avenue (at first major intersection)Turn right onto Winton Road (at second traffic light)Turn right onto Kings Run (at third traffic light)Turn left onto Winton Ridge (at first intersection)Veer left onto Wooden Shoe Hollow Lane (about 1000 feet from turn onto Winton Ridge).Follow Wooden Shoe Hollow Lane for 0.3 miles. It goes straight, then curves to the right, goes straight until entering a wooded canopy area where it curves left. As soon as you come out of the trees you’ll see a red mailbox 5081. Park in the marked area.

June 14th 10am
Yard Tour

Member Jim Brace is hosting this month.
He's done a trememdous amount of work to his yard and would love to show it off.
Here's his description of what to expect.

We built our house in 1992 in the middle of a cornfield. We added trees and bushes appropriate for a suburban neighborhood. As our children grew up, the backyard became available for me to use as a display for my love of nature. I began visiting local nurserys and greenhouses and learned about native plants and trees. This sparked my interest in native landscape and I got serious about converting a typical suburban backyard into a wildlife habit area. Over the last four years, I have gradually transformed my yard to include more native plants, water gardens, and development of a future woodland area. I tailor my gardens to attract birds and butterflies. I have had over 34 species of birds visit our yard and numerous types of butterflies. Turtles, frogs, snakes, and dragonflies inhabit the water gardens. To the neighborhood children my yard is loving referred to as the "Nature yard" and they visit often.

Directions:From the south- I 75 north, exit 21 (Cin-Day Road). Turn left. Follow this road for about 2 miles. The road will split, Cin-Day will go to the right, you will stay straight, the road will change to Maude-Hughes. Follow to the 4 way stop. Turn left, this is Hamilton-Mason Road. Go up the hill for about 1 mile. Greenbriar Subdivision will be on the right. Turn right into the subdivision, the street is Royale. Turn left at the second street, Blueberry to 6046.

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July 12th, 10am
Greenacres Farm, Indian Hill.

We'll walk the raised beds demonstrating Native American plants, sun-loving culinary herbs and aromatherapy plants. Over 120 species are grown using all natural methods, (no insecticides or fertilizers). We can also see compost bins, a small greenhouse, cold frame and rabbit hutch. We may even see black cows in the fields. Melinda Dietrich, volunteer extrordinaire & Wild Ones activist, leads our tour.

Greenacres is rolling fields and woods on Indian Hill's Spooky Hollow Rd. The Foundation has saved this land from numerous attempts by developers to construct houses. Greenacres looks back to early Cincinnati farm settings.

We won't have access to restrooms so come prepared.

Directions: Take Ronald Reagan Cross County Hwy east toward Montgomery. Get into the left lane to Montgomery Road, heading north. Turn right at light onto Cooper Road (which turns into Blome Rd.) Go 0.4 miles and turn left onto Spooky Hollow Rd. Turn right at the second driveway on the right (note there are several mailboxes visible from road). The office is the white ranch on left. Herb Garden is behind the Offices. Park in the rear of the office.

August 2, 10am
Yard Tour
Alexandria, KY

Our August yard tour will concentrate on prairie species. From the owner's, Judy & Ray’s description below, it sounds like the drive to their house will be well worth it. Here’s how they describe their natural landscaping.

Our property is 37.5 acres, the yard is about 1.5 acres with 7 acres of field, a pond and an oak savannah behind it. Then there is a creek with a path and 29 acres of woodland beyond that. We have a (mostly) prairie garden along the drive-way and a (mostly) wetland garden in front of the house. The other side of the front porch is again predominately prairie species.

In the back yard we have some natural seepage which of course has a lot of wetland species and we have a woodland garden on one side of 'the barn' with another prairie garden on the other side of the barn. All together we have roughly 115 native species of flowers and a few grasses in the gardens. We also have many native trees/shrubs & a few vines in the yard. Some occur naturally and many more have been planted. We add 20 to 35 trees/shrubs a year to our property.

Directions: Take 471 south & continue onto Route 27 (also south) thru Highland Heights, Cold Springs & Alexandria. At this point travel becomes a little easier w/the new highway. When you pass A.J. Jolly park entrance (on left) you will drive about 1/2 mile (or so) to route 1936 on the right. There is a Grants Lick sign (also on the right) before approaching this intersection and the intersection has a flashing yellow light and a BP station. Take a RIGHT onto 1936 (Clayridge Rd.). Follow to first STOP sign (Grant's Lick Pub) and take another RIGHT following signs for 1936, also called Kenton Station. Follow to the next STOP sign and go STRAIGHT thru it (no longer on 1936) onto Boone Smith Rd. Take this until it dead-ends into Pleasant Ridge Rd. Take a LEFT here and look for a white double-wide house w/a split rail fence along the drive on the left side of the road. The address is 12945 Pleasant Ridge Rd. Alexandria, KY 41001.

If lost call Dan’s cell number at 513 218- 4987

Check back frequently for updates to monthly program listings.
All programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated.
To suggest a program, or volunteer your yard for a program, contact Dan at 513-521-4688
or email Chapter President Chris McCullough.