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The Center Building: |
Discovery Room
The Discovery Room contains exhibits, games, native animals and real parts of animals. Most people love to get close the snakes, turtles and fish. The games entertain and educate. |
Butterfly/Hummingbird Garden
Native and non-native plants with rich nectaries are concentrated here. Bee balm, touch-me-not, buddleia, and purple coneflower are just four. Hummers and butterflies
are in abundance every summer. |
Auditorium
From time to time, special exhibits and natural history speakers can be found here. The Winter Speaker Series takes place here in January and February, another one of the many events offered by the Center. |
Woodland Garden
Some beautiful native plants tolerate shade. These woodsy favorites like Virginia bluebell, Christmas fern, columbine
and bloodroot do well in this shady garden. |
Prairie Garden
Along the walk from the parking lot to the Center Building is a display of native prairie plants. In winter the browns and golds of dead foliage provide cover for birds and some special insects. In summer, colors explode. |
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Our special programs provide exciting opportunities for all ages and interests. |
Book & Gift Shop
If you are looking for a special field guide, a children's book, or a teaching guide, stop here.You will also find many wildlife related gifts. |
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| Warm Seas, Cold Glaciers: |
Glacial Erratics
Near the stream just down from the Center Building you will find an assembly of rocks. These are rocks brought by the Wisconsonian glacier 20,000 years ago (more or less).
They are not like our bedrock. This part of Ohio, like
many glaciated regions, is rich with these boulders
from farther north. |
Geology Trail
The erratics are the start of the Geology trail. On it, you can explore the recent erosion of the land and the water cycle, the leavings of the glacier, and the 500 million year old bedrock with its load of Ordovician fossils. |
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| Out on the Trails |
Wildflower Trail
In February you can see the first Aullwood wildflowers blooming. By May their blooms cover hillsides. We add signs to this short trail to help you identify the flowers. |
Vernal Pool
In spring the low area which the Wildflower trail circles fills with water. It may be dry by summer. While it's full, spotted salamanders come to mate and lay eggs. |
Center Prairie
We drew from the remaining native prairies of our area to
fill an old farm field with special plants. Blooming starts in March but explodes in late summer. Eight foot tall prairie grasses wave overhead. |
Bluegill Pond
This dug pond is a magnet for wildlife. A study deck allows a leisurely study of pond dwellers. |
Muskrat Marsh
A constant flow of water and a low dam keep this shallow wetland filled with life. Aquatic insects thrive. |
Wet Meadow
Just north of Muskrat Marsh is a wet area with queen of the prairie, turtlehead, closed gentian and other special plants. |
admission, directions
