Conservation at Work

Years ago, ninety-five percent of North East Ohio was made up of dense forest and dominated by shade-loving plants such as Jacob’s Ladder, Mayapple, Virginia Bluebells, Wild Ginger, and Wild Geranium. Over time, non-native, invasive plant species began to make their way into North East Ohio, pushing out the native species and changing the biodiversity […]

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Laudable Lawn Care

“3-H Lawns”: Healthy for Humans and Habitats The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes has initiated a campaign to help individuals, families and communities create “3-H Lawns”: Healthy for Humans and Habitats. Did you know that 67 million pounds of synthetic pesticides are used on U.S. lawns each year? This is more than the agricultural industry […]

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How to Green up Your Home

The Green “Monster” Conservation. Environmentalism. Sustainability. The green revolution. Most people say they are concerned about the environment, but having an interest in it and doing something to safeguard it are important distinctions. In 1912, the Van Sweringen brothers designed the Shaker community as a garden-style suburb, a predecessor to today’s New Urbanist, transit-oriented, or […]

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How to Burn a Prairie

First, have a prairie to burn: Next, prep the equipment: Safety First! Suit up and protect the surrounding site: We have ignition! Burn fire to fire to maintain control. Somebody is having a liiiiitle too much fun: Be ready if opportunity strikes: This Red-tailed Hawk was drawn in by the smoke and was on the […]

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Top 20 Invasive Plants Found at the Nature Center

Myrtle (Vinca minor) Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) Bush Honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.) Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) Porcelain Berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) Narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia) Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) […]

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