Spring Botanical and Bird Walk

Theme: Spring Botanical & Bird Walk
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery
Meet: 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

Spring will be in full swing on our monthly field trip to Spring Grove Cemetery. Our trip leader, Denis Conover, has become our designated ASO field trip leader for our monthly field trip to Spring Grove Cemetery. He is a UC biology professor, an ASO Board Member and an expert botanist and naturalist. And he loves Spring Grove and knows it as well as anyone. Denis says that rain will not cancel this field trip.

Trees, shrubs, wildflowers and a host of other plants will all be budding or in full bloom on this walk. Birds, both resident and spring migrants will also be present in good numbers. As always, Denis will take us on a walk through the beautiful cemetery grounds and point out the diverse botanical community and seasonal birds found at Spring Grove Cemetery.  Denis will identify the tremendous diversity of wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and other plants that can be found here and expound on their ecology. Showy woodland wildflowers should be particularly on display on this walk. 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 and hear. So come along and join Denis on what hopefully will be a pleasant spring morning walk and gain some tips and insight into plant identification and natural history, as well as see some spring migrant and resident birds.

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 (possibly) wet grass. This will be a three hour leisurely walk, but you can always end your walk whenever you like. We suggest wearing good footwear and dress for cool 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.

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 on the right side of the road.

Spring Grove Cemetery website:
https://www.springgrove.org/locations/spring-grove-cemetery-arboretum/

Spring Grove Cemetery Map:
https://assets.takeshape.io/af54a46e-9d1d-4a13-84ea-ea820654ba30/dev/5d7beeda-d7d3-4c82-966c-d22f93ebe751/2023_Visitor%20Map_current%20champion%20trees%20(2).pdf

(Contributed by Jay Stenger)