Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) and Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) have reached developmental stages that place these weeds outside of effective management options in southwest Ohio. Wild parsnip is producing seeds while poison hemlock is in full bloom meaning seeds can still develop on plants that are cut or sprayed with an herbicide.

Highly localized outbreaks of these native flamboyant-looking caterpillars are not unusual in Ohio. Unfortunately, outbreaks can occur so quickly that they “sneak up” on homeowners and managers of landscapes, nurseries, and Christmas tree plantations.

This free training opportunity provides an overview on Box Tree Moth (BTM) including what to look for and what to do about it. Sponsored by the Horticulture Research Institute (HRI)

I recently came across one of the largest colonies of soil mining bees I’ve ever seen in Ohio. The image below shows the extent of the collection of these important plant pollinators found in Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum (SGCA).

Lakeside Chautauqua, located on the Marblehead peninsula in Ottawa County Ohio is home to the rare Lakeside Daisy which typically blooms in early May. It was putting on quite a show.

The larder beetle is a cosmopolitan species. It is an important commercial and household pest, but is beneficial in museums and taxidermy for cleaning skeletons and plays a significant role in forensic science. Dig in to find out more about this beetle.

When done right, organic mulch, particularly hardwood bark mulch, will provide a wide range of benefits to trees and other woody ornamentals. When done wrong, it can produce a range of detrimental effects that wreak havoc on tree health from vascular strangulation to moisture starvation.

The “horns” that give the Horned Oak Gall its common name are popping through the surface of the galls in southwest Ohio. The horns are just the tip of the iceberg with this gall-making wasp. They also produce leaf galls.