Bender Mountain Wildflowers

Date and Time: Wednesday, April 5, 11:00 a.m.

Meet at: Gravel parking lot on Bender Road – see https://www.google.com/maps/dir//39.1031865,-84.6640008/@39.1033718,-84.6630154,867m/data=!3m1!1e3 for directions

Leaders: Joyce Richter and Scott Peak

RSVP to: Ned Keller, nedkeller49@gmail.com

Bender Mountain Preserve is more than fifty acres of wooded hillside between Bender Road and Hillside Avenue. The principal areas of the preserve are owned by Delhi Township and the Western Wildlife Corridor, who maintain the trails and work to eliminate invasive species throughout the Preserve. Bender Mountain has a range of hiking options from easy to strenuous, and even includes a long-ago-abandoned stretch of Delhi Pike. Bender Mountain Preserve has over three miles of hiking trails, some with a fantastic view of the Ohio River. This is a lovely, heavily wooded, restored nature preserve that supports hundreds of plant and animal species. It’s been described as the “best place in Hamilton County to observe native wildflowers” by Dr. Denis Conover, botanist with the University of Cincinnati. The trails are well-maintained, have Trail markers (signposts), and feature four benches.

Because of WWC restoration efforts and the removal/ control of invasive species, WWC preserves offer some of the best places in Hamilton County to find spectacular displays of native Spring wildflowers. We could see Cut-leaved Toothwort, Sessile and Drooping Trillium, Wild Ginger, Wood Poppy, Blue-eyed Mary, Greek Valerian, Dutchman’s Breeches, Wild Hyacinth, Miami Mist, Fernleaf Phacelia, various species of ferns and grasses, and a variety of native trees and shrubs in spring attire. We suggest you bring water and wear sturdy shoes. This hike can be strenuous with steep hills and some trails are rocky in places. The pace allows for frequent stops to admire wildflowers, birds and wildlife.