Fall Color and Botanical Walk at Spring Grove Cemetery

Theme: Fall Color & Botanical Walk

Location: Spring Grove Cemetery

Date: Sunday, October 22, 2023

Meet: 10:00 A.M. at Spring Grove Cemetery, along the road just beyond the tunnel from the main entrance on Spring Grove Avenue

Leader: Denis Conover, (513) 390-0863, conovedg@hotmail.com

The focus of this field trip will be the diverse botanical community found at Spring Grove Cemetery. Come out and join ASO Board Member, UC professor, and expert botanist and naturalist Denis Conover as he leads us on a mid-morning autumnal walk through the beautiful grounds of Spring Grove Cemetery. This is a beautiful time of the year and fall color should be near peak on this date.

Denis will identify the tremendous diversity of trees, shrubs, fallen leaves and other plants that can be found here and expound on their ecology. Denis will also point out our native flora, invasive species, ornamental plantings and fall color as well as show us some of the national and state champion trees found here. Denis has interests in all aspects of natural history and he will be sure to point out any birds and other fauna we are sure to run across. So why not come along and join Denis on what should be a glorious fall morning and gain some tips and insight on plant identification and their natural history.

Participants should be prepared for a few hours of steady walking, most of which will be relatively flat and on pavement, but there will also be some walking off pavement on trails or in damp or wet grass. This will be a three to four walk. We suggest wearing good waterproof footwear. Binoculars are not necessary to see plants but are recommended if you have them, or want to see birds clearly. Restrooms are available at the cemetery office.

Directions: The Spring Grove Cemetery main entrance is located on Spring Grove Avenue just west of the Winton Road intersection. To find our meeting spot, drive in through the main entrance gates and go straight. You will go through a short tunnel. Just beyond the tunnel, pull over and park alongside the right side of the road. If you have any questions feel free to contact Denis.

Spring Grove Cemetery website:

https://www.springgrove.org/locations/spring-grove-cemetery-arboretum/

Spring Grove Cemetery Map:

https://www.springgrove.org/resource/maps/

(Contributed by Jay Stenger)