Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District
Spring 2019 www.johnnyappleseedparks.com
A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF NATURAL AREAS AND PRESERVES IN ALLEN COUNTY
Inside this issue:
Cooperative Park Improvement Grant Program 2
Campground To Open 2
Nature Photography Winners Announced 3
Junior Naturalist Club 4
Nature Photography Club 4
Nature: 101 4
Memorial Donations 4
Spring Programs 5/6/7
Scouting Programs 8
Park Locations & Map 8
Metro Park Adventures Summer 2019 9
Save the Wildflowers 9
Bird Banding Help Needed 9
Take Time To Smell The 10 Flowers
Job Opportunities 11
Activity Page 12
Director
Kevin L. Haver
Board of Commissioners
Robert K. Antibus
Kevin P. Bruin
Donna M. Creamer
2355 Ada Road
Lima, OH 45801
Phone: 419-221-1232
E-mail: [email protected]
As many of you know, the Park Dis-
trict Foundation of Allen County was
established to benefit the citizens of
Allen County through projects and pro-
grams in the Johnny Appleseed Metro-
politan Park District. Many of the ma-
jor capital projects that you see being
accomplished in your parks are the
results of generous donors supporting
improvements and programs through
non-tax monies. Without the Founda-
tion, most of the projects simply
wouldn’t happen.
In 2018, individual donors shared
their resources to sponsor the Nature
Photography Contest, Ottawa Metro
Park (Ahl) Amphitheater programs and
concert series, and the Lauer Histori-
cal Farm Open House entertainment
in August. Projects through the Foun-
dation included the Apple Festival en-
tertainment, tent rentals and supplies.
Over 7,000 people enjoyed the Apple
Festival! In addition, the Allen County
Farm Park bicentennial mural was
paid for through the Foundation as
well as ongoing support for the Veter-
ans Freedom Flag monument. Among
the larger donations and more notice-
able projects was the introduction and
use of the “B.E.E.T.L.E.” van, a mobile
nature center that is used at venues
all across Allen County. Keep an eye
out for the “B.E.E.T.L.E.” this year; it’s
been exceptionally well received and
will continue to be used extensively
for years to come.
While the listed projects and pro-
grams are the most noticed, citizens
of Allen County and beyond continue
to share their resources in big and
small ways…ALL of which are im-
portant and very much appreciated.
The Park District Foundation of Allen
County is a non-profit corporation and
(Continued on page 2)
PARK DISTRICT FOUNDATION OF ALLEN COUNTY
The “B.E.E.T.L.E.” Mobile Nature Center
Ottawa Metro Park Amphitheater Program
2
COOPERATIVE PARK IMPROVEMENT GRANT
PROGRAM CONTINUES TO IMPACT
The Cooperative Park Improve-
ment Grant Program (CPIGP) contin-
ues to make an impact on village
and city parks in Allen County. The
CPIGP was started in 1994 and to
date has supplied over $1.5 million
dollars to help build playgrounds,
restrooms, shelters, baseball dia-
monds and more. Electrical, drain-
age, water and other infrastructure
updates are included as well. A total
of $100,000/year revenue sharing is
provided by the Johnny Appleseed
Metropolitan Park District to 12 polit-
ical subdivisions including cities,
villages and townships. Several of
the subdivisions have leveraged ad-
ditional “outside” monies by using
our grants as local matches for
state/federal grants.
Projects are selected by a “review
team” for recommendation to the
Board of Park Commissioners. The
review team consists of one repre-
sentative from each eligible subdivi-
sion who is appointed by the legisla-
tive body of that subdivision. The
review team priorities for awarding of
grant monies are as follows:
1) Health and Safety Issues; 2) Major
Repairs to Upgrade Existing Facili-
ties; 3) New Outdoor Recreation
Needs; 4) Special Opportunities
(Grants, Emergencies, Joint Efforts,
Etc.).
On December 12, 2018 the re-
view team met to make recommen-
dations for the 2019 CPIGP. The
following is the summary of the
awarded grants for 2019.
Auglaize Township Park District -
$9,800
Westminster Park - Swing set/
Playground surfacing
Village of Bluffton - $ 8,000
Buckeye Park - Playground
Equipment & Playground surfacing
Village of Cairo - $14,000
Cairo Park - Playground
Equipment & Playground surfacing
City of Delphos - $ 2,625
Leisure Park - Replace Roof on
Shelter/Restroom
Village of Harrod - $10,000
Community Center Park -
Playground Equipment
Jackson Township Park District -
$13,500
Jackson Township Park - Concrete
Park & Walkways
City of Lima - $25,000
Faurot Park - Playground Equipment
Village of Spencerville - $ 4,000
Village Park - Replace existing
swing set
Spencer Township Park District
$ 6,500
Swing Set & safety surfacing
Sugar Creek Township - $7,500
Dad’s Club Park —two serving
stations & Air Conditioning
SUMMARY OF 2019 AWARDED GRANTS
(continued from page 1)
a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) organization.
If you’d like more information, please
take a look at our website:
www.johnnyappleseedparks.com or
give us a call for a private meeting at
your convenience. There are many
ways to become involved now and/or
in the future.
We deeply appreciate and respect
the trust that the people of Allen
County have placed in us and we’ll
continue to work hard to honor and
earn your trust. As always, your com-
ments are welcome. Thank you for
your support!
Kevin L. Haver
Director
PARK DISTRICT
FOUNDATION OF
ALLEN COUNTY
City of Lima - Robb Park Playground
CAMPGROUND TO OPEN
FOR SEASON
Ottawa Metro Park Campground,
located at 2632 Ada Road, will open
for its 20th season on Friday, April
12 and remain open through Sun-
day, October 13, 2019.
The campground has 30 family
campsites with 3 handicap accessi-
ble sites on a first-come, first served
basis.
Call the Park District office at
419-221-1232 for more information.
Ottawa Metro Park Campground
3
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
We are pleased to announce the
winners of our annual Nature Pho-
tography contest. The contest was
judged by professional photographer
Christopher Collins, photo editor for
Ohio Ornithological Society and for-
mer photography instructor.
Thank you to all of our partici-
pants and congratulations to all the
winners. All of the winning photos
can be viewed on our website
johnnyappleseedparks.com
A special thank you to Alloway
Environmental Testing Services for
their continued sponsorship. Also,
thank you to Art Space Lima and the
Lima/Allen County Civic and Conven-
tion Center for displaying the winning
photos.
Best of Show - Jamie Cunningham
Youth Landscape
1st place - Dylan Hohenbrink
2nd place - Samantha Peachey
3rd place - Emalee Cunningham
Youth Nature - Flora
1st place - Emalee Cunningham
2nd place - Samantha Peachey
3rd place - Dylan Hohenbrink
Youth Nature - Fauna
1st place - Dylan Hohenbrink
2nd place - Samantha Peachey
3rd place - Dylan Hohenbrink
Youth Parks Potpourri
1st place - Samantha Peachey
2nd place - Dylan Hohenbrink
3rd place - Dylan Hohenbrink
Adult Landscape
1st place - Tammy Smith
2nd place - Sandra Litton
3rd place - Sharon King
Adult Nature - Flora
1st place - Jamie Cunningham
2nd place - Tom Ramsey
3rd place - Megan Kennedy
Adult Nature - Fauna
1st place - Awilda Ortiz-Pastor
2nd place - Jamie Cunningham
3rd place - Mandy Roberts
Adults Parks Potpourri
1st place - Amanda Piper
2nd place - Danielle Hodges
3rd place - Amanda Piper
Best of Show
Jamie Cunningham
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Open to anyone age 12-18
who has an interest in nature or
animal related careers, or just
wants to spend time learning
about nature. When we have 10
club members signed up, we’ll
begin meeting on the second
Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.
at the McElroy Environmental Ed-
ucation Center (MEEC) 2355 Ada
Road, Lima, OH. The meeting
topics will focus on natural histo-
ry and include animal handling
and care, conservation, native
gardening and environmental
awareness. We will regularly go
out into the field to observe,
study and experience nature first
hand. We will also have guest
speakers and the occasional field
trip. For questions or to apply,
please call the Naturalist office
(419-223-1025) or email Jessie
([email protected]) for an appli-
cation form.
JUNIOR NATURALIST CLUB
Combine your love of nature
and the art of photography – with
a little help from your friends!
The Nature Photography Club is
for ages 12 and up and is open
for any skill/equipment level. It is
free to join, with nominal fees for
some activities. The club will offer
workshops, classroom sessions,
field trips, photo contests and
more. Meetings will be held the
third Monday of every
month. Join us for an
informative meeting March 18th
at 7:00 at McElroy Environmental
Educational Center (MEEC) 2355
Ada Road, Lima, OH. Please reg-
ister by March 14 at 419-221-
1232.
Mon., March 18 - 7 p.m.
Mon., April 15 -7 p.m.
Mon., May 20 -7 p.m.
Allen County, although primari-
ly agricultural in its land use, is
full of life! Both flora and fauna
abound if you know where to look
and what to look for. Join a Natu-
ralist the 2nd Thursday of each
month this season as we explore
some of the natural world’s most
fascinating topics. We try to ex-
amine all facets of these topics in
depth so, while all are welcome,
moderate maturity is encouraged.
These indoor presentations are
paired with hands on adventures
to explore and apply what we
have learned.
Thurs., March 14 - 6 p.m.
Thurs., April 11 - 6 p.m.
Thurs., May 9 - 6 p.m.
McElroy Environmental Education
Center - 2355 Ada Road, Lima,
OH 45801
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB
NATURE: 101
Donations
In memory of
Thomas Arheit
Larry Cloyd Converse
Larry A. Curl, Sr.
Chuck Dell
Geraldine Dobner
Wilson Dodds
Dick Evans
James P. Fisher
Marjorie E. Hake
Jean Henze
Richard E. Hover, Sr.
Lillian Lee Kazee
Carmen Kollars
Steve Lindsay
Kathryn “Kitty” Lusk
Wesley McGinnis
Alfred “Bud” Northup Jr.
Bonita Glee “Bonnie” Place
Nancy Steiner
Constance Strayer
Patricia Varga
Melvin Wilkins
In honor of
Richard & Mary Campbell
Volunteers of the Johnny Appleseed
Metropolitan Park District
Julie Nunley & Rick Jordan
Willetta & Don Knepper
Carol Wright
5
***To register for programs, please call 419-221-1232
unless otherwise noted
PARKS LEGEND
ACF Allen County Farm Park
AR Agerter Road River Access
DC Deep Cut
FA Fort Amanda Park
HP Heritage Park
HWMP Hermon Woodlands Metro Park
KW Kendrick Woods
LBS Lippincott Bird Sanctuary
MEEC McElroy Environmental
Education Center
MTB McLean Teddy Bear Park
OMP Ottawa Metro Park
OMP/AMP Ottawa Metro Park Amphitheater
OMP/CG Ottawa Metro Park Campground
LIMA AREA WOODCARVERS
Mon., March 4 - 7 p.m. – MEEC
Join Mick McCune of the Lima Area
Woodcarvers this month to work on
memorial Christmas tree ornaments.
Beginners are always welcome. Con-
tact Dave Betts at 419-204-1571 for
more information.
TEETH, JAWS & CLAWS -
THE CARNIVOROUS DINOSAURS
Tues., March 5 - 7:30 p.m. -
OSU Visitors Center
Dale Gnidovec, collections manager
and curator at the Orton Geological
Museum at The Ohio State Universi-
ty, will present on the tremendous
diversity of theropods, or carnivorous
dinosaurs that walk on two legs. Dale
will also discuss why scientists be-
lieve birds are living dinosaurs.
*Co-sponsored with the
Tri-moraine Audubon Society
NATURE PALS: WONDERFUL WACKY
WEATHER
Thurs., March 7 - 10 a.m. or
1 p.m. - MEEC
Children, ages 3-5, and their adult
companion are invited to join us as
we learn about clouds, wind and
rain. Stories, a craft and a short
hike, weather permitting, are all part
of the fun. Dress to be outdoors.
Registration required by March 5.
NATURE 101: SALAMANDERS
Thur., March 14 – 6 p.m. – MEEC
*See Nature 101 Article
Salamanders are incredibly underap-
preciated members of our local eco-
systems. These important amphibi-
ans play major roles in the environ-
ment, including telling us how it is
doing. An indoor presentation will be
followed by a short hike. Be prepared
for weather and ground conditions.
*This program is paired with an out-
door exploration on Mar. 20* Regis-
ter by March 12.
SUNRISE HIKE
Sat., March 16 – 7:30 a.m. – MMP
Enjoy the last few official days of win-
ter and the start of Daylight Savings
Time with a sunrise hike in beautiful
Motter Metro Park. Bring a camera if
the weather is nice! Be prepared for
the weather and (likely wet) ground
conditions. Register by March 15.
KIDS NATURE JEOPARDY
Mon., March 18 – 6 p.m. – MEEC
Kids, come test your Nature
Knowledge in a fun, interactive trivia
game inspired by Jeopardy. Ques-
tions will be based on fun and inter-
esting facts about our world and all
that live in it. This program is geared
toward elementary and middle
school ages but older and younger
kids are welcome as well. Partici-
pants may work in pairs if they
choose. Prizes will be awarded to the
top scorers. Please register by March
14.
GLORY BOUND QUILT WORKSHOP
Tues., March 19, April 2 &
April 16 -5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. -
MEEC
Get your scrap material out and
learn how to make this beautiful
scrap quilt that is 64”x64”. You will
make two different sizes of squares
and half square triangles. Class size
is limited. Class fee is $35 per per-
son plus materials. Call 419-221-
1232 for more information.
SPRING BEGINS!
Wed., March 20 - 7 p.m. – KW
Finally! Spring officially begins at
5:58 p.m. today, so start the new
season the right way – with a walk in
nature! Join a naturalist for a sunset
hike in Kendrick Wood’s, followed by
a meander to the edge of the wet-
lands to look for salamanders and
listen for frogs. Dress for the weather
and ground conditions. No registra-
tion required.
FULL MOON HIKE
Fri., March 22 – 8 p.m. - HP
Let’s see what nighttime spring activ-
ity is going on in our park. Come join
a naturalist on a nighttime stroll in
the moonlight. Please dress for the
weather. No registration required.
6
KILLDEER PLAINS FIELD TRIP
Sat., March 23 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Meet at Eastgate Parking Lot
Join a naturalist to explore some of
the 8,000+ acres of wetlands, prai-
ries and woodlots at Killdeer Plains
as we look for waterfowl and more!
Experienced and beginning birders
are welcome. Partnering with the
Tri-moraine Audubon Society, we
will mostly be driving between
points of interest with limited walk-
ing. Prepare for the weather and
pack lunch/snacks/beverages. A
limited number of binoculars and
field guides will be provided. A car-
pool, including the park van, will
depart at 10 a.m. from Lima’s East-
gate Mall parking lot behind Wen-
dy's on SR 309. We will meet at the
Killdeer Upground Reservoir at 11
a.m. The park van will plan to be
back at 4 p.m. Register by March
22 for a seat in the van.
WOODCOCK WATCH
Tues., March 26 – 7:30 p.m. – MTB
Take a break this week with a twi-
light walk as we look and listen for
the American Woodcock. After a
short presentation we will hike to
see the male timberdoodle perform
his unique sky dance to show off for
the ladies as part of their courtship
rituals. Be prepared for a hike in the
(wet) woods. No registration re-
quired.
HOUND HIKE
Sat., March 30 – 2 p.m. to
4 p.m. - HWMP
It’s national “Take a walk in a park
day!” So bring your four-legged
friend to enjoy a stroll through the
park. Dogs must be leashed, up to
date on shots and friendly to other
dogs. Arrive anytime between 2-4
pm, check in at the B.E.E.T.L.E. for a
trail map and a prize from That
Place For Pets. Then walk the trails
at your own pace. As always, clean
up after your dog.
LIMA AREA WOODCARVERS
Mon., April 1 – 7 p.m. – MEEC
Join Cindy Croy to learn about and
practice chip carving. Beginners are
always welcome. Contact Dave
Betts at 419-204-1571 for more
information.
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Tues., April 2 - 6:30 p.m. –
OSU Visitors Center
Join the Tri-moraine Audubon Socie-
ty and Johnny Appleseed Metro
Park District for a variety of nature
related games and activities for chil-
dren ages 1 to 101. No registration
is required!
NATURE PALS: TERRIFIC TURTLES
Thurs., April 4 - 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. -
MEEC
Children, ages 3-5, and their adult
companion are invited to meet the
park district’s resident live turtles.
Weather permitting, we will also
hike through the woods. Please
dress appropriately. Register by
April 2.
NEW MOON HIKE
Fri., April 5 – 8 p.m. – HP
Let’s see what nighttime spring ac-
tivity is going on in our park. Come
join a naturalist on a nighttime
stroll. Register by April 4.
ADULT NATURE JEOPARDY
Mon., April 8 – 6 p.m. – MEEC
Adults, come test your Nature
Knowledge in a fun, interactive triv-
ia game inspired by Jeopardy. Ques-
tions will be based on fun and inter-
esting facts about our world and all
that live in it. Prizes will be awarded
to the top scorers. Register by
April 5.
NATURE 101: WILDFLOWERS
Thur., April 11 - 6 p.m. – MEEC
As I wandered the forest,
The green leaves among,
I heard a Wild Flower
Singing a song. - William Blake
Join a naturalist to explore the song
of spring wildflowers, their natural
history, biology, identification, and
lore. An indoor presentation will be
followed by a short hike. See Nature
101 article on page 4. *This pro-
gram is paired with an outdoor ex-
ploration on April 29* Register by
April 9.
KAYAK ADVENTURES
Sun., April 14 - 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. -
FTA
Bring your kayak and join a Natural-
ist as we enjoy the beauty of spring
on the beautiful Auglaize River.
Birds, trees, fish—nothing is off lim-
its as we explore the natural history
of this hidden gem. This program is
dependent on the weather & water
level and is for boaters with some
experience and the proper equip-
ment (registered kayak, life jacket,
paddle). Register by April 12.
GOOD FRIDAY HIKE
Fri., Apr. 19 – 2 p.m. – KW
Any day is a good day for a hike but
let’s celebrate today with apprecia-
tion and awe of the world around
us. No registration required.
SPRING BIRD WALK
Sat., Apr. 20 – 9 a.m. – LBS
We'll venture into the trails of Lip-
pincott Bird Sanctuary through
woodland, prairie, and wetland to
see what feathered friends are out
and about. A limited number of bin-
oculars will be provided and bird-
watchers of all skill levels are wel-
come. Be prepared for the weather
and (often wet) ground conditions.
Register by April 19.
7
AREA HORSES & HARNESS
19TH ANNUAL SPRING
PLOW DAY
Sat., April 27 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. -
ACF (Rain date - May 4)
Horses and antique tractors will be
preparing the ground for spring
planting, for more information call
419-302-2707.
WILDFLOWER WALKABOUT
Mon., April 29 – 6:30 p.m. – KW
Don’t miss the fleeting beauty of the
wildflowers that blanket the forest
floor in the spring. Join a naturalist
on an easy hike to explore one of
this county’s most treasured wild-
flower hotspots and State Nature
Preserve, Kendrick Woods. Be pre-
pared for the weather and ground
conditions. No registration required.
NATURE PALS: SPRING
SCAVENGER HUNT
Thurs., May 2 - 10 a.m. or 1 p.m -
MEEC
Join us as we celebrate the season
of spring. Children ages 3-5 and
their adult companion are invited to
participate in a spring scavenger
hunt. Dress appropriately to be out-
doors. Register by April 30.
GLOBAL BIG DAY
Sat., May 4 – 8 a.m. – KW
How many birds can we see today?
Join more than 20,000 birders
across the world as we see how
many birds can be recorded in a 24
hour period. While we will only
spend an hour or two at the park,
you are free to continue birding all
day long! A limited number of binoc-
ulars will be provided and bird-
watchers of all skill levels are wel-
come. Be prepared for the weather
and ground conditions. Register by
May 3.
LIMA AREA WOODCARVERS
Mon., May 6 – 7 p.m. – MEEC
Join the Lima Area Woodcarvers this
month to help with the club chip
carving project. Beginners are al-
ways welcome. Contact Dave Betts
at 419-204-1571 for more infor-
mation.
WARBLERS
Tues., May 7 - 7:30 p.m. -
OSU Visitors Center
A small but challenging group of
song birds, warblers are often dis-
missed (or unknown!) because they
can be difficult to see for the casual
observer. Dan Hodges, Naturalist
for Johnny Appleseed Metro Park
District, will help walk you through
the natural history of some of these
flying gems; their beauty, songs,
habits & more! *Co-sponsored with
the Tri-moraine Audubon Society.
NATURE 101: ODONATA
Thurs., May 9 - 6 p.m. – MEEC
Dragonflies and Damselflies make
up the insect order Odonata and
they are the invertebrate rulers,
above and below the water. Join a
naturalist to learn about these in-
credible insects, Their natural histo-
ry, biology, identification, lore. And
how you can participate in a state
wide survey! An indoor presentation
will be followed by a short hike.
*This program is paired with an out-
door exploration on May 25* Regis-
ter by May 7.
BIG BIRDING DAY!
Mon., May 13 - 6:30 a.m. -
2:30 p.m. – Eastgate Parking Lot
Join a naturalist for a visit to one of
the hottest birding spots in the
world, Magee Marsh! Partnering
with the Tri-moraine Audubon Socie-
ty, we will spend the morning on the
boardwalk and after lunch visit the
nature center before returning. A
carpool, including the park van, will
depart (rain or shine) at 6:30 a.m.
from Lima’s Eastgate Mall parking
lot behind Wendy’s on SR 309. We
should arrive at Magee close to
8:15 a.m. Some may stay longer,
but the park van will plan to be back
at 3:00 p.m. Prepare for the weath-
er and pack lunch/snacks/
beverage. A limited number of bin-
oculars and field guides will be pro-
vided and bird-watchers of all skill
levels are welcome! Register by May
10 for a seat in the van.
BEGINNING ARCHERY
Wed., May 15 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. -
KW (Evans Archery Range - 1376 N.
St. Marys Road)
Participants age 9 through adult
can go to the Evans Archery Range
anytime between 6 pm & 8 pm.
Certified archery staff will be on
hand to assist beginning archers on
the fundamentals of archery.
Mathews Genesis bows and all oth-
er supplies will be provided by the
Park District. Archery supplies are
co-sponsored by ODNR Division of
Wildlife in cooperation with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife serve and the Wild-
life Restoration Program. Partici-
pants in the program must use
bows provided. Please call the of-
fice at 419-221-1232 by May 13 to
let us know you are coming.
CROUCHING DAMSEL, HIDDEN
DRAGONFLY
Sat., May 25 – 2 p.m. – OMP
Flying jewels and tigers of the sky,
these aerial masters are inverte-
brate kings. We’ll visit the lake,
pond, prairie and river at Ottawa
Metro Park to catch and observe as
many of these awesome insects as
we can! Some nets will be provided.
Be prepared to hike in the weather
and to get your feet wet/muddy in
the stream. Register by May 24.
8
The Johnny Appleseed Park Dis-
trict is happy to help you and your
scouts complete requirements for
badges, achievements and electives.
Below is a list of what programs we
offer. Please contact the naturalists
at 419-223-1025 to schedule a pro-
gram.
Cub Scouts & Webelos
Tiger Adventure: Backyard Jungle
/Tigers in the Wild
Wolf Adventure: Paws on the Path
Bear Adventure: Fur, Feathers, and
Ferns
Bear Elective Adventure: A Bear
Goes Fishing
Webelos/Arrow of Light Elective Ad-
venture: Into the Wild / Into the
Woods / Earth Rocks/Walkabout
Boy Scouts
The JAMPD naturalists are
merit badge counselors in:
Bird Study, Mammal Study, Insect
Study, Reptile & Amphibian Study,
Nature, Hiking, Environmental Sci-
ence, Fish and Wildlife Management,
Sustainability
Girl Scouts
Daisies: Rose Petal, Clover
Petal
Brownies: Bugs, Senses, Hiker
Juniors: Flowers, Animal Habitats
Cadettes: Trees, Night Owl,
Trailblazing
SCOUTING PROGRAMS
ANSWER KEY FROM PAGE 12 (Can You Identify These Spring Wildflowers?)
1. F.; 2. G..; 3. D.; 4. A.; 5. C.; 6. H.; 7. B.; 8. E.
The Johnny Appleseed Metropoli-
tan Park District may offer “pop-
up” programs when opportune
conditions align for special
seasonal events or to reschedule a
cancelled program. Please follow
our Facebook page to receive any
opportunities that might arise.
Example of pop-ups include Sala-
mander Run, Sunset/Sunrise Hike
or Stargazing.
ALLEN COUNTY FARM PARK
1582 Slabtown Road
AGERTER ROAD RIVER ACCESS
16410 Agerter Road
DEEP CUT HISTORICAL PARK
22900 St. Rt. 66
FT. AMANDA STATE MEMORIAL
22800 St. Rt. 198
HERITAGE PARK
2092 Reed Road (West Entrance)
1772 Reed Road (East Entrance)
HERMON WOODLANDS
485 N. Wapak Road
KENDRICK WOODS
971 N. Defiance Trail
EVANS ARCHERY RANGE
1376 N. St. Marys Road
LAUER HISTORICAL FARM
800 Roush Road
LIPPINCOTT BIRD SANCTUARY
3093 Bellefontaine Road
McLEAN TEDDY BEAR PARK
2004 N. Dixie Hwy.
MOTTER METRO PARK
10740 Columbus Grove-Bluffton
Rd. Bluffton
OTTAWA METRO PARK
2632 Ada Road
PARK OFFICE/McELROY CENTER
2355 Ada Road
ROTARY RIVERWALK/ OTTAWA RIVER
BIKEWAY
From Heritage Park to Ottawa Metro Park
VETERANS FREEDOM FLAG MONUMENT
1191 Buckeye Road
Park Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
2355 Ada Road, Lima, Ohio 45801
Phone 419-221-1232
Emergency Assistance at Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan
Park District Properties call 911.
Your METRO PARKS!
9
Mark your calendars now for our summer youth program series in the
Metro Parks. More details will be available soon. Please contact the Park
District office at 419-221-1232. Registration begins May 1.
METROPARK TRAILBLAZERS (ages 5-6)
Three Cheers for Trees
June 18, 19 & 20 - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - McLean Teddy Bear Park
Every Day is Earth Day
July 9, 10 & 11 - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - McLean Teddy Bear Park
METROPARK DISCOVERERS (ages 7-9)
Science Camp: Naturally
June 25, 26 & 27 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - McLean Teddy Bear Park
Animal Adaptations
July 23, 24 & 25 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - McLean Teddy Bear Park
METROPARK EXPLORERS (ages 10-14)
Dashing Dragons, Daring Damsels
June 11, 12 & 13 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - McLean Teddy Bear Park
Archery Day Camp
June 18 & 19 - 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Allen County Farm Park
Powerful Pollinators
July 16, 17 & 18 - 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - McLean Teddy Bear Park
Land Stewardship Day Camp
August 6 & 7 - 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Ottawa Metro Park &
Hermon Woodlands
Help us save our spring ephemer-
als from garlic mustard, an invasive
weed from Europe. We will be pulling
at Kendrick Woods, Hermon Wood-
lands, McLean Teddy Bear Park, Lip-
pincott Bird Sanctuary, and Heritage
Park. Pulling will take place every
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
mornings from April 15th through
May from 9 am to 12 pm. If you
would like to help, please contact
Anne Smedley at
[email protected] or Austin Roby
at [email protected] or call 419-
221-1232. If you have any sturdy
woven plastic bags to put the pulled
mustard in, please bring them along
or donate at the Park Office.
SAVE THE WILDFLOWERS
Licensed Bird Bander, Anne
Smedley, is looking for help with the
Monitoring Avian Productivity and
Survivorship program. There will be
8 bird banding sessions at Lippincott
Bird Sanctuary between May 21st
and August 8th. Each session begins
at approximately 6 a.m. and lasts for
7 to 8 hours. No experience is nec-
essary but bird ID skills are helpful.
Volunteers will help with setting up
equipment, handling birds and writ-
ing down data. Two or three volun-
teers are needed each day You do
not need to commit to all 8 sessions.
Please contact Anne Smedley at
BIRD BANDING HELP
NEEDED
METRO PARK ADVENTURES
SUMMER 2019
10
According to the color wheel, I must have a red
thumb. Whatever is opposite of a green thumb when
gardening, I have that. Maybe it would be better to say
that I have a black death-to-most-plants thumb. Al-
though I have a few random houseplants, I find most
indoor and outdoor plants to be extremely needy. Oh,
I’m so thirsty – water me! Oh, I’m feeling so weak – fer-
tilize me! Oh, the sun is too bright – move me! Ack, they
are just like my kids. Why would I want to deal with
needy plants when I already have needy kids??? Okay,
so, I’m not much of a gardener. I would love to say that I
have a beautifully landscaped yard (with native species,
of course) and a large garden brimming with vegetables .
. . that I use fresh each evening for our made-from-
scratch dinners . . . alfresco on our beautiful outdoor pa-
tio . . . on the herringbone patterned bricks I laid out by
hand . . . but, alas, that’s only in my fantasy world. I can,
however, appreciate a beautiful garden when I see it. I
truly know that a garden - whether vegetable, flower, or
shrub - requires a lot of energy, time and patience.
I recently read about an idea for a garden that is ex-
tremely creative and just plain awesome. I know that I
will never attempt to plant a garden like this, but maybe
one of you will. (Be sure to let me know if you do!) The
idea for this garden was actually developed in the eight-
eenth century in Sweden by Carl von Linné, otherwise
known as Carolus Linnaeus. Yes, the same Linnaeus
who developed the binomial nomenclature system used
to classify all living organisms. (Remember “Kingdom,
Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species” from high
school biology class?) In 1751, Linnaeus published
Philosophia Botanica in which he proposed – unfortu-
nately, in theory, only – what he termed a horologium
forae, translated as “Watch of Flora” or simply “Floral
Clock”.
Linnaeus’ Floral Clock finds its basis in chronobiology,
the natural biological rhythms found in all organisms. All
animals, plants, fungi and cyanobacteria have an inter-
nal, 24-hour circadian clock which dictates when biologi-
cal processes, such as hormone production, sleep, and
muscle strength, ebb and flow. In his scientific studies
over many years, Linnaeus noticed that plants opened
and closed their flowers at consistent times during the
day, these times varying from species to species. In the-
ory, one could tell the approximate time of day based on
the flowering behavior of different plants. The different
species of flowers could potentially be arranged in se-
quence as on the face of a clock. In Philosophia Botani-
ca, Linnaeus included a diagram of his proposed horolo-
gium florae. Imagine a circle divided into 12 pie-shaped
segments each planted with a different type of flower.
The species would be arranged such that the flowers
opened or closed in sequence clockwise around the cir-
cle throughout the day. How cool is that?!
Linnaeus’ Horologium Florae
The first true attempts to plant a Floral Clock using
Linnaeus’ suggested species occurred in a few English
Victorian gardens in the nineteenth century. The effort
was not met with complete success. Unfortunately, flow-
ering times are dictated by weather and seasons, as well
as variations in latitude. Also, plants that thrive in Swe-
den do not necessarily grow well in other areas due to
differences in soil and habitat. We would encounter the
same problems here in Allen County. So, for any garden-
ers out there, I challenge you to develop a plan for a Flo-
ral Clock that could thrive in our hometown. Please
share your idea with me so I can at least enjoy the
thought of a beautiful garden . . . because you know that
it would never flourish at my house!
Beth Theisen
Naturalist
TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE FLOWERS
11
JOB OPPORTUNITES
The Park District is seeking quali-
fied applicants to fill openings in
the following positions:
1) FULL-TIME ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATOR SUPERVISOR
Qualifications
Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in natural resources, conserva-tion, education, or a related field.
Ability to build and maintain ef-
fective working relationships with
Park District employees, volun-
teers, administration, and the
public.
Excellent organization, communi-
cation (written and verbal) skills.
Ability to effectively plan pro-
grams/events assuring the nec-
essary personnel, volunteers,
equipment, supplies, and sites
are met.
Five years prior experience
(preferred) supervising full-time
interpretive staff and successful
creation of environmental and
cultural programs.
Application Deadline: Friday, March
15, 2019. Submit cover letter, re-
sume & application in person, by
mail or email to Tyler Black,
2) SEASONAL NATURALIST
Qualifications
Earned or working towards a Biol-ogy, Environmental Science or Education degree preferred.
Knowledge of basic ecology and general plant and animal ID preferred.
Experience in environmental edu-cation preferred.
Excellent public relation, organi-zation and communication skills.
Valid Ohio driver’s license in com-bination with a clean driving rec-ord.
Ability to work flexible hours—some evenings & weekends.
Application Deadline: Friday, March
1, 2019. Submit cover letter, resume
& application in person, by mail or
email to Jessie Elsass,
3) SEASONAL PART-TIME RANGER
Qualifications
High School diploma with an in-
terest in Natural Resources Law
Enforcement.
Interested in the mission of the
Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan
Park District, and willingness to
convey support for that mission
to the public.
Thorough understanding of the
criminal justice system, Park Dis-
trict Rules and Regulations,
Chapter 1545 of the Ohio Re-
vised Code (ORC), local and state
laws (criminal and wildlife).
Must maintain the highest ethical
standards of professional and
personal conduct, and present a
professional law enforcement
appearance.
Must demonstrate trust, open-
ness, reliability, integrity, and
credibility.
Employee must be 21 years of
age with a clean felony record.
One year of law enforcement ex-
perience (preferred).
Ohio Peace Officer Certification.
A valid Ohio Driver’s License in
combination with a good driving
record.
Current certification in First Aid
and CPR.
Application Deadline: Until filled
Submit cover letter, resume & appli-
cation in person, by mail or email to
[email protected] (attention
Chief Ranger)
4) SEASONAL MAINTENANCE
TECHNICIANS
Qualifications
Knowledge of grounds mainte-
nance equipment.
Good work ethic, self motivated
and arrives at work on time.
Working toward a high school
diploma AND/OR a college de-
gree in natural resources related
field OR can possess equivalent
life experience.
Application Deadline: Friday, March
8, 2019. Submit application in per-
son, by mail or email to Vince Sarno,
5) SEASONAL LIFEGUARDS
Qualifications
Lifeguard certification by the Red
Cross, BSA or Ellis & Associates.
CPR for the Professional Rescuer
and first aid.
Application Deadline: Until filled
Submit application in person, by mail
or email to Vince Sarno,
A complete list of qualifications,
job descriptions and applications
can be found at:
johnnyappleseedparks.com or by
calling the Park District office at
419-221-1232.
12
Administrative Office
2355 Ada Road
Lima, OH 45801
Phone: 419-221-1232
Fax: 419-225-5593
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.johnnyappleseedparks.com
To be placed on The Cider Press mailing list,
please call the Park District Office.
Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District
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PERMIT # 27
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
1. 2. 3.
4. 5.
6. 7. 8.
A. Bloodroot
B. Jack in the pulpit
C. Mayapple
D. Dutchman’s
breeches
E. Spring beauty
F. Trout lily
G. Large flowering
trillium
H. Yellow violet
ANSWER KEY
LOCATED ON PAGE 8