Late Fall Botanical & Bird Walk With Denis Conover

Theme: Late Fall Botanical & Bird Walk

Location: Spring Grove Cemetery

Date: Sunday, November 9th, 2025

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

Join us for our monthly field trip to Spring Grove Cemetery. The trees and shrubs on this beautiful property should still be showing some brilliant fall colors on this date. Who better to answer our questions concerning how trees and other plants prepare for winter than our regular Spring Grove field trip leader, noted botanist Denis Conover. Denis will focus on fall color and the seasonal change that all plants go through and will point out the diverse botanical community found at Spring Grove Cemetery. Denis is an ASO Board Member, a UC biology professor, and an expert botanist and naturalist.

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, and ornamental plantings as well as show us some of the champion trees found here. Denis has interests in all aspects of natural history and he will be sure to point out the birds and other fauna we are sure to see. So come along and join Denis to see the fall foliage on what should be a beautiful autumnal morning and gain some tips and insight on plant identification and their natural history. Late migrant songbirds and new winter arrivals should be plentiful and many should be seen.

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. Denis is always willing to stay later if anyone wants to go longer. We suggest wearing good waterproof footwear and dress for cool to cold temperatures. 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. Denis says rain will not cancel this trip. If you have any questions feel free to contact Denis.

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 along the right side of the road.

Spring Grove Cemetery website:

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

Spring Grove Cemetery Map:

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

The meeting place can be found here: Spring Grove Cemetery

(Contributed by Jay Stenger)