The Stream And Wetlands Foundation

10/02/2026

With autumn here once again, our biologists are busy collecting seeds from existing sites to help grow brand-new wetlands! Today's featured species is always a favorite: Rosa palustris, the swamp rose. Its bright green foliage and beautiful pink flowers in the spring and summer transform into bright red rose hips in early fall, providing food for all sorts of wildlife preparing for winter. 🍂

09/28/2026

Not every wetland flower is showy, and some pollinators are so small that if you blink, you’ll miss them. But they’re all just as important as the biggest butterfly on the brightest swamp milkweed! This tiny native hoverfly species is pollinating softstem bulrush flowers, ensuring plenty of seeds for the fall rains to spread throughout the wetland.

09/21/2026

Spiders, one of our more common invertebrate residents this time of year, are adding shine and color with their intricate webs and vibrant bodies. From water-loving, six-spotted fishing spiders to orb weavers constructing expansive webs between hibiscus and aster stalks in the wetland meadows, these arachnids are an important part of a healthy wetland ecosystem.

Shamrock orbweaver

American green crab spider

Star bellied orb weaver

Spotted orb weaver

Banded garden spider

09/18/2026

It's Friday, and you know what that means!
It's Frog Friday once again! Today's star is this tiny little chorus frog, a master of woodland camouflage. Do you think you would have spotted this little guy? Keep your eyes sharp on your next hike! 🔎🐸

09/17/2026

Native seed conservation is a big part of what we do at The Stream and Wetlands Foundation! Our biologists collect hundreds of pounds from many diverse species every year and we are very happy to share what we have learned with friends like Monarch Meadows Native Plant Nursery - Lynd’s

We spent this morning with The Stream And Wetlands Foundation learning how to collect seeds from aquatic plants. Alex is collecting pickerelweed in this photo. We are currently working hard to collect many wetland seeds for an exciting project we hope to start this winter! Stay tuned!

09/15/2026

We're always working to increase wetland biodiversity on our sites across Ohio, and today we want to spotlight a recent favorite species of ours!

​Swamp loosestrife, also known as Decodon verticillatus, is a beautiful native plant that loves shallow wetland habitats and is covered in bright pink flowers nearly all summer.

​Unlike the invasive purple loosestrife (lythrum salicaria), swamp loosestrife supports native pollinators and provides great shelter and food to animals above and below the water's surface.

​Our biologists have planted several hundred new seedlings this summer, and we can't wait to see them bloom! 🌸

09/09/2026

One day this whole area will be covered in trees, so get a good look now! We are thrilled to see the progress at our Perfect Creek wetland site and there's no better view than from above.

09/04/2026

And we're back with another fantastic, late-summer Frog Friday! 🐸✨

​We couldn't pick just one favorite this time, so here are a few of our favorite field finds from the past week. Swipe through to check them out and let us know which one is your favorite!

09/03/2026

Check out this honeybee stopping for a quick drink of nectar on a bur-cucumber! You might be surprised to learn that Ohio has a few native "cucumber" species, some of these members of the gourd family thrive in wetland habitats. While these extremely spiny fruits are totally inedible, their sharp, Velcro-like surface is perfect for hitching a ride on passing wildlife – or wetland biologists!

08/28/2026

Today, we're taking a quick break from to celebrate a monarch butterfly release at Mosquito Creek, one of our Northern Ohio wetlands! We can't wait to protect even more healthy, diverse wildlife across the state. Wish these little guys luck as they pollinate our native flowers and begin their generational relay race south this fall!