Patrice Powers-Barker, OSU family consumer sciences educator, and I recently co-presented a community program at the ProMedica Ebeid Institute titled Nature for Health Benefits. The session highlighted why nature interaction is important for everyone and included suggestions on where you can experience nature in our backyard — literally and figuratively.
City, county and state parks, the 577 Foundation, community gardens, the Toledo Zoo, streetscapes and our own gardens and landscapes are just some locations that we can immerse ourselves right here in our community.
The session highlighted a research study conducted in England of 20,000 people who spent at least 2 hours a week in nature, and the associated benefits including good health and overall wellbeing.
After the session, I felt the urge to get out in nature and enjoy what the outdoors is providing this season. For me, it was a simple step outside my office at the Toledo Botanical Garden, and yes, I am very lucky. I wanted to share a few highlights that are seasonal must-sees. Hopefully you can find the time to enjoy a walk at the garden soon.
• Dahlia Garden (Dahlia pinnata). Dahlias come in a variety of shapes and sizes. From small border plants to the taller plants with plate-sized flowers, the variety of colors is amazing and the opportunity to take photos is a popular place. The garden is located near the rose garden.
• Seven-Sons Flowering Woody Ornamental (Heptacodium miconioides). This plant has just begun blooming. Its small white flowers will remain for a couple weeks, but followed an equally showy fruit and rose-colored calyces display that will last into October. This plant is a magnet for pollinators in the fall. The plants are located in a grouping north of restrooms near the parking lot.
• Fruit Set on White Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus). While the white flowers have fallen the fruit set is amazing and very attractive. The fruit has turned from green to a deep purple. It is olive shape and hangs down in groups. The plant is located behind the rose garden and at the entrance of the phenology garden behind the main office.
• Fruit Set on Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas). The shrub border is loaded with fruit this season. While many have dropped, there are still many yellow and red colored fruits in the canopy. A favorite snack of squirrels, the tart fruit has a large seed inside. The fruit we see now is a result of the early spring yellow flowers that captures attention before main other spring blooms. The hedge is located near the drive across from Unruly Arts and just north of the Peter Navarre Cabin.
• The Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) Spiral. This annual plant is blooming its heart out. One of my favorite annuals is designed in a creative way thanks to Amy Szabo at TBG. Amy’s design is rainbow spiral where garden guests walk on a path among the flowers and can enjoy the shades of the rainbow in blocks of colors. Take special notice of the variety of flower sizes among the planting. The garden is located next to the main office and across the parking lot from the artist village and home to the tin-man.
Get out in nature. If your time outdoors takes you to TBG, check out the plants above, but plan to explore everything the garden has to offer. I guarantee you will leave feeling relaxing and wanting another nature experience.
Amy Stone is an extension educator with the Ohio State Extension-Lucas County, Agriculture and Natural Resources. Contact her at: stone.91@osu.edu.
First Published September 3, 2019, 1:58 a.m.