The Native Yard Project

09/16/2026

Burton Park Prairie Update: Year 1 of the half acre prairie install is going great! The brown eyed susans made a great showing this year, along with a splattering of blue vervain and blue lobelia. Some of our native grasses like Virginia and Canada wild rye are also getting established. Visitors may also notice some non-natives like foxtail and crabgrass present. However, we expect the native species to over-power these in the next year or two.

Please stop by to see the year one progress with your own eyes and follow along as this prairie plot continues to evolve. HUGE thanks to all the volunteers who showed up on seeding day! Also, major props to City Of Mansfield Parks and Recreation Department for their excellent year one management!

08/04/2026

A few days left to register for this workshop! This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in creating or maintaining a prairie habitat.

Join us for A day in the Uplands as we explore the world of Ohio's prairies! Come learn how to identify native grasses and wildflowers, learn the importance of diverse seed mixes, discover common invasive species and how they can be managed, while finishing off with a guided field tour.
Whether you're a landowner, nature enthusiast, or interested about Ohio's ecosystems, this workshop is a great opportunity to learn all there is to know about local prairies!
This is a FREE event, but registration is required! We hope to see you there!

07/21/2026

Here is the schedule of events for this Saturday's pollinator festival at Gorman Nature Center. So many great activities, be sure to stop by and say hello in between the fun!

Join us at Gorman Nature Center on Saturday, July 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for our Pollinator & Native Plant Festival! Celebrate our native pollinators that help our ecosystems thrive with a fun filled day for the whole family:

*Native plant vendors all day!
*A live butterfly house: Sponsored by Buckeye Express Carwash
*Local artists
*HoneyB Express Coffee cart! 🍯
*Bloom2Go Mobile Drinks
*Guided pollinator and native plant walks
*Hands-on kids’ activities
*A screening of “The Extraordinary Caterpillar”

A HUGE THANK YOU TO Buckeye Express Carwash for sponsoring the live butterfly house 🦋 we are so thankful for such a great and supportive community.

07/18/2026

Liberty Park Prairie Garden Update: As of July 2026, this planting is about two years old. We could not be happier with the results. This garden install was a true community effort; plant & seed donations were made, volunteers prepped, planted & watered the site using buckets of creek water, biologists & habitat creators offered advice, the city parks department bought the mulch & supported this project every step of the way. We did it together -- we made something nice for ourselves and the pollinators we rely on. The best part? We can do it again. Now is peak bloom, so if you have chance, swing by and check it out!

07/02/2026

We will be on hand at this fantastic event to discuss all things habitat creation. And if you haven't already seen The Extraordinary Caterpillar... here is your chance. Hope to see you there!

🌼 Save the Date! 🦋

Join us at Gorman Nature Center on Saturday, July 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for our Pollinator & Native Plant Festival! Celebrate our native pollinators that help our ecosystems thrive with a fun filled day for the whole family:

*Native plant vendors
*A live butterfly house
*Local artists
*Guided pollinator and native plant walks
*Hands-on kids’ activities
*A screening of “The Extraordinary Caterpillar”

More details about vendors, activities, and the day’s schedule will be announced soon, so stay tuned. We can’t wait to celebrate our native pollinators with you!

05/09/2026

This Tuesday, May 12th is the annual Native Plant Sale & Workshop hosted by Richland Soil and Water Conservation District. A great opportunity to buy some plants from the incomparable Gale Martin of Natives In Harmony or Wild Acre . Rachel Coy of Pheasants Forever will be presenting. And of course, I'll be on hand to discuss how to help you, help our habitat. Hope to see you there!

05/01/2026

If you enjoy learning about edible native plants... here is an article for you.

By Sarah Sorci Est. Read Time: 7 minutes Cover photo: Pepperweed leaves top egg salad and toast. I often sense an air of martyrdom around planting native species. We selflessly devote a portion of our gardens to supporting wildlife-space that could have grown tasty veggies or eye-catching ornamental...

04/21/2026

FREE 12 week program to help you create habitat at home! Experts across the country have partnered up to help you succeed... sign up at

Be part of a growing movement to transform lawns into life. Join the free 12-week Less Lawn More Life challenge and create a healthier, joyful yard.

04/07/2026

I would love to see a program like this in Richland County and am willing to partner up to make it happen! What do you think Richland Soil and Water Conservation District? City of Mansfield, OH - City Government? If they can do it... we can do it!!

04/05/2026

***Note presentation begins at 6pm, Mens Garden Club Meeting begins at 5:30**** Yep, that'll be me! This Tuesday at Kingwood & FREE. I plan to discuss backyard conservation via planting natives... for people and pollinators. Because what is good for them, is good for us!

Mark your calendars for 2 weeks from tonight 🗓️ and explore 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 with Kelly Neef from the North Central Ohio Land Conservancy, Inc. 🌱

🐝 Learn how to convert portions of lawn into 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐬 and create beautiful and functional ecosystems where people and wildlife thrive.

Presented by the Mansfield Men's Garden Club as part of their Speaker Series here at Kingwood. Free admission; tuition costs waived thanks to the Club's generosity.

🗓️ Tuesday, April 7
🕠 5:30 PM
Also check out May's program on our website!

📷 North Central Ohio Land Conservancy, Inc.