STATEHOUSE NEWS

The Ohio Statehouse will celebrate National Planting Day Tuesday, September 23
September 18, 2014
 

The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) in partnership with Keep Ohio Beautiful will celebrate National Planting Day Tuesday, September 23, 2014, by planting native Ohio plants at the Ohio Statehouse.

National Planting Day celebrates the value and power of native species in restoring ecological balance to the environment while creating greener, more beautiful communities. To commemorate this day, Keep Ohio Beautiful will host a public educational event at the South Plaza of the Ohio Statehouse, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., to beautify the grounds with Ohio native plants by planting an Ohio Native Butterfly Forage Garden. The event will be kicked off by a book reading involving preschool children from Children First Child Care.

In Ohio, native plants and wildlife are losing ground to suburbanization and fragmented habitats. However, natives are critical to sustaining the state’s environment as they are the best sources of food and habitat for pollinators and other important wildlife. Native plants are hardy, and require lower maintenance and less water than other ornamentals.

“When we plant Ohio native species on the grounds of the Ohio Statehouse we are also establishing a learning environment for the nearly 80,000 school children that visit the complex each year,” said William E. Carleton, executive director, Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board.

Michael Mennett, executive director, Keep Ohio Beautiful will be joined by Keep Ohio Beautiful state affiliates; Ohio legislators; William Carleton, executive director, Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board; Tamra Ansel, grounds supervisor, Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board; Su Lok, director of corporate and community partnerships, Scotts Miracle-Gro; Becky Lyons, chief operating officer, Keep America Beautiful; Dan Weisenbach, president, Keep Ohio Beautiful; and Greg Snowden, Davey Resource Group, a division of The Davey Tree Expert Co.

The species included in the butterfly forage garden were carefully selected by scientists at Davey with assistance from Tamra Ansel, grounds manager with the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board. The plants were donated by Arcola Creek Nursery in Lake County and Dayton Nursery. A special cell phone tour has been established, too— Capitol Square visitors who dial (614)/728-8756 from a mobile device will be able to learn about this wonderful butterfly forage garden.

High school students from the Tolles Career & Technical Center will be planting, and organizations from throughout the state will be on hand to educate attendees about native plants. In the case of inclement weather, the location will be moved to the Ohio Statehouse Atrium.

About National Planting Day
National Planting Day is a Keep America Beautiful program now in its third year. The organization holds its national celebration on September 6, and encourages Americans to hold events supporting local ecosystems by planting native trees, shrubs and plants throughout the fall. For more information on National Planting Day or Keep Ohio Beautiful, contact Michael Mennett at (330)/338-8328 or mmennett@keepohiobeautiful.org.

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