Stiltgrass Removal for Running Buffalo Clover at Warder-Perkins 7-22-25 @ 10:30 AM

Audubon Society of Ohio (Cincinnati) owns a 25 acre preserve off Bridgetown Road near Cleves, Ohio. The land once belonged to Dr. John Warder, founder of the Cincinnati Park System. Ethel Perkins, a board member of Audubon Society of Ohio (ASO) purchased the property and donated it to the chapter.

The property, now called the Warder-Perkins Preserve, hosts a rare stand of running buffalo clover, a plant thought extinct until it was rediscovered in the 1980’s. The plant was put on endangered species list until 2021, by which time discoveries of other plots had improved the plant’s standing.

However, the species remains threatened by continued habitat destruction and competition with non-native invasive plants.

On July 22 Warder-Perkins’ stand of running buffalo clover is scheduled for invasive plant control, especially for Asian stiltgrass. Like the clover, stiltgrass grows in shaded forest openings, where its uncontrolled spread is chocking out native species.

The stiltgrass removal day is spearheaded by the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, which serves as a custodian of the Warder-Perkins Preserve. ASO is looking for volunteers to help with the project.

Volunteers will find that Warder-Perkins has a wonderful stand of mature oaks, but the terrain is steep, and the running buffalo clover is hundreds of yards from the parking lot. Stiltgrass removal will not involve heavy labor, but likely will be hot and sweaty.

Warder-Perkins Preserve lies behind the Crossroads West Side Church at 8575 Bridgetown Rd., Cleves, OH 45002. Meet at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 22 the southwest corner of the main parking lot, which is to the right of the church. Volunteers should plan to work until 3 or 4 p.m. Bring drinking water and work gloves.

Please contact Steve Maslowski at sbmaslowski@hotmail.com if you would like to volunteer. Thank you!