Monarchs enjoying new habitatLebanon Garden Club members at Butterfly Release August 8Big Blue Stem GrassJoe Hackman films the Butterfly release for Channel 6MEP is certified as a Wildlife Habitat (Thanks Bob Henn)Mickie Marquis in April...the Butterfly garden takes a lot of work!Black SwallowtailMonarchs enjoying Purple Coneflower

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

 

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. 

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

 

Pat Schuman releasing Monarch butterflies.

LEBANON GARDEN CLUB MONARCH RELEASE AT MEP

Lebanon's Garden Club Butterfly Garden is not only a great habitat for bees and butterflies, but it is a beautiful work of art that all who wander in the Miller Ecological Park enjoy. Photos of the annual Butterfly Release held today and organized by the Garden Club were taken by Dave Woehr, Steering Committee Member and OCVN, This year due to the Covid Virus, individuals could not buy butterflies to release and the crowd was smaller and easily distanced, but still the event was very special time for all who participated.  More photos are on the Miller Eco Park Facebook page.

 

 

Bricks will line to entry way feature.

ANNOUNCING: ENGRAVED BRICK FUNDRAISER

Miller Ecological Park Trustees and Steering Committee are organizing an engraved paver fund-raising project to help fund a restroom/shelter/storage building for the entrance of MEP. The committees are offering the engraved Pavers for $100 donations ($75 if donated in 2020). 300 pavers are planned to line both sides of the stone walk from the parking lot to the entry way feature. (4x8 Paver; 3 lines of text; 14 characters per line) Orders for the first batch of pavers need to arrive at WCF by July 31 for installation by August 28. For more information and an order form, go to:

FOCUS ON OUR VOLUNTEERS: CAROL CARRAWAY

Miller Ecological Park has been blessed with a large group of dedicated volunteers for over ten years!  Carol Carraway lives in Millers Crossings and served as secretary of the MEP Steering Committee for over five years.  After retiring from that position she has advocated for our bird feeding stations and supervised obtaining food and filling the bird feeders at the Andrew Huitger Wildlife Viewing Station. In addition, she makes sure the United States flag at the park is respectfully displayed, raising and lowering it on appropriate occasions and making sure that the flag is in good condition.  Thank you Carol for your dedication and service to MEP!

Partridge Pea

Wildflowers in MEP: Ninth in a Series: Partridge Pea

Partridge Pea is in full bloom throughout the South Prairie and the Prairie Loop so you should easily spot the beautiful yellow flowers with a red blotch at the base and dark antlers. In October there will be long thin pea pods filled with miniature black lima beans. Please feel free to collect for your own garden. The plant is an annual and reseeds itself.

"With a hand lens, examine the stamens. Four are yellow and six are purple. How is this an adaptation for survival?" Bob Henn, Wildflowers of Ohio. 

This plant blooms from July through September and provides nectar for many pollinators.  Sulphur caterpillars feast on the feathery leaves. (North American Butterfly Association)

 For other wildflowers in the series: Click here

 

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak -

A new species record for Miller Ecological Park!

by Austin Langdon

Belonging to the same family as our beloved Northern Cardinal, the Blue Grosbeak is fairly uncommon throughout southern Ohio (and increasingly rare north of here). Sometimes mistaken for Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks are differentiated by their larger size and more substantial bills (and presence of rufous wing-bars in males). Female Blue Grosbeaks are brown overall. Listen for this bird’s warbled song during your next visit to the park!