The Darke County Parks Native Plant sale is back! The plant sale will be Saturday, May 13th from 10am-3pm at Shawnee Prairie Preserve. Pollinator plants are the focus of the plants available this year. Offerings include milkweeds, aster, bergamot, coneflower, and much more! Please consider planting milkweed to help provide habitat for the fragile monarch population. 

Pre-sale orders will be accepted until April 26th, and the plant list and order form can be picked up at the Nature Center on St. Rt. 502 West of Greenville or downloaded as the last page of the Nature Notes newsletter from the website at www.darkecountyparks.org. For questions or more information, call the Nature Center at (937)548-0165, or email info@darkecountyparks.org. 

Did you know? Butterfly weed is only one of the many options available this year that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your backyard.

Darke County Park District invites children in kindergarten through 2nd grade to join them on April 15th from 10am to 12pm at the Shawnee Prairie Nature Center to explore nature’s variety during Park P.A.L.S! Children will go on a scavenger hunt for critters as the ground starts to warm and the forest comes alive. They will gently roll logs and pull back leaves to expose the diversity of life that thrives on the forest floor. Please remember to dress for the weather.

Park P.A.L.S. is a program designed for students of this age group who are interested in nature. P.A.L.S. stands for Practicing And Learning Stewardship, and its mission is to develop future earth stewards through meaningful educational opportunities and hands-on experiences in the natural world. A $3 fee is charged for the program, and registration is required. For any questions about the Park P.A.L.S. program or any other park district programs or to register for the April class, please call the Nature Center at (937) 548-0165.

Did you know? Rotting logs can be home to worms, pill bugs, and many other small insects and decomposers.