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December 6, 2023
Snow and Dormancy: A Delicate Balance Threatened By Climate Change
By Beck Swab, PhD, Director of Conservation and Community Forestry
As winter blankets the world in a pristine layer of snow, a silent transformation takes place in the natural world. Snow cover and dormancy are interconnected elements in the delicate... more
November 8, 2023
Caterpillars at the Nursery
By M Onion, Nursery Plant Propagator Grower
The nursery at the Holden Arboretum takes care of a great number of species. One polyhouse alone currently contains between 300 and 400 species and cultivars. Among all these plants,... more
October 23, 2023
Holden’s Bat Detectors Reveal (Almost) All of Ohio’s Bat Species Live at the Arboretum
By Mike Watson, Conservation Biologist
Bats are among the most fascinating and most misunderstood animals in the United States. For years, fear of rabies, old wives’ tales, and other myths led to the persecution and... more
September 12, 2023
Beneath the Bark: Dead Wood Helps Wildlife Survive
By Kate Small, Gardener
As the Collections team breaks down fallen limbs obstructing pathways and fells dead trees when necessary, you will see some of the resulting logs lining planting beds in the Layer... more
July 25, 2023
Bird Banding at the Holden Arboretum
By Mike Watson, Conservation Biologist
Biologists use many tools to study birds and their behavior – binoculars, cameras, automatic recorders – but one of the simplest tools is the leg band. Leg bands have been... more
February 24, 2022
Eagles in Town
By Matt Edwards, Animal Care Specialist
As many people know, Ohio’s bald eagle population has seen a dramatic increase over the past several decades. From a low of 4 breeding pairs in 1979 they had increased... more
January 20, 2022
Birds and Berries
By: Alyssa Zearley, Nursery Technician Berries are an important winter food source for animals. This is especially true for songbirds. While some birds like cedar waxwings eat fruit all year... more
June 15, 2023
June is Pollinator Month: Here’s why we need pollinators!
Why do we care about pollinators? Pollinators are important creatures in natural ecosystems and our daily life because they provide vital services to wild plants and our crops. Pollinators carry and... more
January 4, 2023
Season Extending Plants for Pollinators
By Lori Gogolin, Horticulturist
Some of the best pollinator gardens include just a few key features that make them work well. Food, water, shelter and host plants. One way to have the most food... more
August 24, 2022
Milkweed: Beneficial and Beautiful
By Lori Gogolin, Horticulturist
Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) are beneficial host plants for the Monarch butterflies. The plant provides the adult female Monarch with a place to lay her eggs. Once those eggs hatch the... more
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