Spotted Sandpiper migrating hrough MEP (A. Langdon)Foxglove Beardtongue (Dave Woehr)Gadwall at MEP 2/15/2020 (Austin Langdon)Eastern Blue Bird, MEP 2/15/2020 (Austin Langdon)Yellow Golden Ragwort at MEPNorthern Mockingbird at MEP 2/15/20 (Austin Langdon)Blue violet in MIller Ecological ParkCarolina Tree Wren at MEP 2/15/2020 (Austin Langdon)...Kildeer at MEP 2/15/2020 (Austin Langdon)Red Shouldered Hawk at MEP 2/15/2020 (Austin Langdon)American Tree Sparrow at MEP 2/15/2020 (Austin Langdon)

The Season is Bright at Miller Ecological Park

Located within walking distance of three Lebanon City Schools and along the City's bike path, the opportunities and benefits of developing The Will and Harriet Miller Park as an ecological park for passive recreational activities have inspired City administrators and planners, area school personnel, local businesses, service organizations, neighbors, and the Miller Family descendants to join together to make the idea become a reality.   To see picture titles, place your cursor on the picture. To view a map of the park: Click Here

 

UPCOMING EVENTS DURING THE "SOCIAL DISTANCING" TIME, CHECK OUT THE MILLER PARK FACEBOOK PAGE FOR IDEAS TO HELP KEEP IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

 

Miller Eco Park Blitz:  Due to the fact that the Governor’s office extended the ban on group gatherings of larger than 10 through July 1 Casey is going to do the Bioblitz “virtually” by trying to set up something in iNaturalist and offering info gathering sheets in the Park that people can pick up, do their inventory, and then drop off or mail to Casey at the City Building.  A list of all the species can be complied from there or built off the old species list and shared on the MEP Facebook Page or a secondary page can be added to the City’s new website. 

July 11:  Native Plants for Native Pollinators  10AM.  Miller Eco Park

Bird Monitoring with Austin Langdon:  Click here:for ebird.com (See article below)

 CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

CONTACT Casey Burdick to learn about  volunteer opportunities.  Casey is the City of Lebanon Recreation and Natural Resources Coordinator. 513-228-3104; cburdick@lebanonohio.gov

 

Crown-vetch

Wildflowers in MEP: Seventh in a Series: Crown-Vetch

Pink Flowers in a distinctive flower head.Crown-vetch is widely planted along roadsides to prevent soil erosion.  It is a very attractive plant and a favorite of pollinators such as bees and butterflies. As do all members of the Pea Family, it captures gaseous nitrogen from the atmostphere and converts it to a usable form that enriches the soil,    It was introduced from Europe and is now well-established throughout Ohio. (Henn, Wildflowers of Ohio)

Bob Henn: "I first recorded it blooming on June 7 along the west side of the Rain Garden. It is very healthy this year. :)"

           

Spotted Sandpiper migrating hrough MEP (A. Langdon)

SPOTTED SANDPIPER VISITS MEP: Austin Langdon's Birds in MEP Report:

April 15: As spring migration picks-up, keep an eye out for unique or unusual birds at Miller Ecological Park! This Spotted Sandpiper spent its evening hunting for food along MEP’s neighboring pond. One of the easiest shorebirds to identify, Spotted Sandpiper are known for their characteristic tail-bobbing behavior. Look for an orange bill and heavy spotting on breeding adults!

March 25: Did have two Savannah Sparrows today, though. A first for me at MEP.. not sure if others have seen them there in the past? Woodcock are still displaying in the back prairie (had at least 7 last night). Meadowlark are back as well. 

Thank You to Bob Henn for applying for and receiving certificationn!

MILLER ECOLOGICAL PARK IS A REGISTERED NATIONALLY CERTIFIED MONARCH WAYSTATION!

On May 5 the National Wildlife Federation, America's largest wildlife conservation organization, registered Miller Ecological Park as a Certified Wildlife  Habitat site.   This a huge feather in MEP's hat.   
You can see the sign in the Girl Scout Garden.  So now, Miller Ecological Park is registered nationally as a certified Monarch Waystation and a Wildlife Habitat site.   
Enjoy the Park !


Common Fleabane

Wildflowers in MEP: Fifth in a Series: Common Fleabane

A member of the Aster Family, this is the earliest Fleabane to bloom in the summer. Beginning in April it sends up stalks of flowers 2’-3’ tall. The nectar attracts a variety of insects, and the foliage and flowerheads attract deer, rabbits, groundhogs, horses, cattle and sheep.

Appropriately named, Fleabane was used to rid homes of fleas. The crushed plant produces juices that were applied to the body as a lotion, and the dried plant was burned as a fumigant. Fleabane was also used by Native Americans as a medicinal plant.

 For other wildflowers in the series: Click here

 

Blue Spiderwort

Wildflowers in MEP: Sixth in a Series: Spiderwort

These bright blue to purple flowers bloom mainly in the morning and early afternoon.  The common name refers to the spikey, long, leaf-like bracts beneath the flowers, and wort is an Old English name for plant.  The Spiderwort has a long blooming season from May through July, and as the photo indicates,  it is pollinated by Bumblebees. 

Spiderwort had many uses in the past as food and medicine. In addition, scientists have found the stamin of this flower turns from blue to pink when exposed to radiation, and the transparent hairs of the filaments are a favorite biological specimen for observing the flow of cytoplasm in living cells.