2024 September 14 The Nature Forum

Today was more inspiring that I could have imagined. The Cleveland Metroparks hosted a day of learning, which partnered with all kinds of community organizations, businesses and nature experts. The keynote speaker was one of my favorite authors, Doug Tallamy. 

An excellent line-up of speakers to choose from! 

Derek Schafer, Executive Director of the West Creek Conservancy, started off the day showing how they acquire land for conservation. It was delightful to hear about something other than traditional “development” for once. Their work is big, interesting, and growing beyond the Parma watershed where it started. 

The next presenter, Julie Slater of Meadow City Nursery, seemed like she was talking from my future dreams. She and two business partners started an ecologically sound native plant nursery on an abandoned lot that was part of the Cleveland Land Bank. The crazy thing is, I have been to the Land Bank meetings, talked about the need for a native tree nursery, and I’ve been slowly easing into the idea that I’m going to be starting that business. It was amazing to see their process, and even buy some plants from them! 

Stephan Janosco of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District led a short presentation about HUGE projects to slow down, filter and divert storm water before it hits the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. I wish people understood the enormous environmental impact of that work.

The NEO Sewer District is doing good work!

Dr. Lisa Rainsong, a fabulous Music Educator and Naturalist,  led an amazing presentation about the insects who sing in the night. I was fortunate enough to attend a little hike with her out in the field with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. Both times I learned so much and just wanted to learn more. I also would like an app similar to Merlin for birdsongs, so that I can easily identify the singers in my yard.

So much to learn from Dr. Lisa Rainsong! Twenty minutes was not long enough. 

Then was the keynote, Doug Tallamy! Carli and I listened to his book about oak trees on a drive to New York. I was hooked. This spring, I ordered my college textbooks which included “The Living Landscape”. As I paged through the well-written descriptions of the photos, I couldn’t believe how in depth the book was, then I saw one of the authors was Doug Tallamy. Since then I have read a few more. This presentation today went over some of his latest book, “How Can I Help?” It was rapid-fire questions and answers and it hit all of my favorite points about where we need to go as landowners, even here in the city. AND HE MENTIONED MIYAWAKI FORESTS! Glad to know he is pro-Miyawaki forest, since we are planting one on September 26th at the zoo! I’d LOVE to plant Miyawaki forests EVERYWHERE.

Doug Tallamy is excellent in making the science of conservation into steps regular people can take. 

Of course, my phone died by the end. I didn’t get any great photos today since I was so enthralled in the moment.