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Spring Wildflowers and Birds at Spring Grove Cemetery
May 26, 2024 @ 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Theme: Spring Wildflowers, Blooms, Buds and Birds
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum
Date: Sunday, May 26, 2024
Meet: At 8:30 A.M. at Spring Grove Cemetery. Park along the main road, just beyond the tunnel from the main entrance on Spring Grove Avenue (see directions below).
Leader: Denis Conover, (513) 390-0863, conovedg@hotmail.com
Spring Grove Cemetery is one of Cincinnati’s most beautiful natural settings and its designation as an arboretum is well deserved. A tremendous diversity and number of native and ornamental plants can be found here. The focus of this field trip will be on spring wildflowers, blooms and buds, birds, and all other aspects of nature. Over the years our trip leader, Denis Conover, has become our go to guy when botany is the theme of our field trips and we are fortunate to have him share his knowledge with us. Denis is a professor in the department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cincinnati and has been involved in various types of botanical research since 1981. Denis is also a current board member of our local Audubon Society. Denis also has a great interest in birds and will equally focus on them. Spring songbird migration will be winding down by this date but many species will be well into their breeding cycle. Spring Grove has a great birding reputation, especially during the spring. I think it is also safe to say that Spring Grove Cemetery is among Denis’s favorite places as he leads many field trips here.
Denis’s plan is to take us on a long leisurely spring morning walk through the cemetery observing what will be abundant signs of spring. Denis will also show us an undeveloped forested section of the cemetery that should be carpeted with woodland wildflowers. Native plants, ornamental plantings, invasive species, budding shrubs and trees and birds (resident and late spring migrants) will all be pointed out, identified and discussed. Other than a short drive here or there to move to a different part of the cemetery, participants should be prepared for a few hours of being on foot and moderate walking. Much of the walking will be relatively flat and on pavement, but there are a few low hills and there will also be some walking in damp or wet grass. We suggest wearing comfortable waterproof footwear. Binoculars are necessary to see birds well. Restrooms are available at the cemetery office. If you have any questions feel free to contact Denis.
Directions: The Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum main entrance is located at 4521 Spring Grove Avenue just west of the Winton Road intersection. To find our meeting spot, drive in the Spring Grove Avenue main gates and go straight. You will go through a short tunnel (old RR archway). Just beyond the tunnel, pull over and park alongside the road and look for Denis.
Spring Grove Cemetery website:
https://www.springgrove.org/locations/spring-grove-cemetery-arboretum/#hrs
Spring Grove Cemetery Map:
(Contributed by Jay Stenger)