Many trees were either lost or damaged in the wind storm. A way we can help conserve our neighborhood ravine habitat is to plant a diverse selection of native trees this fall and spring. If all of us plant 2 different trees on our properties, we’ll help assure our grandchildren enjoy this precious ecosystem in the future.

Maybe some of you saw the huge red oak on Glenmont Avenue that went down in the storm. This gentle giant was one of the trees blocking Glenmont Avenue traffic in the area just west of the Wynding Drive intersection for 4 days. Many neighbors lost power just after the winds began on Sunday, September 14 and didn’t get power back until Friday night, September 19. Cable returned on Sunday, September 21st. Others were more or less fortunate. It was a time of community building. I met new neighbors. I am fortunate to live next door to dear friend Barbara Lloyd who brought me a French press coffee each morning at 7 AM! We helped each other clean up, and even pulled our grills into the street to cook and share our food.

Red Oak down on Glenmont

storm damage

Tree on roof

Glenmont

storm damage

Sisters Samantha and Molly stopped to chat and look at the rain garden today. They knew what a rain garden was and what it did and said when they were kids they picked up litter with other neighbors.

“We lived on the corner of Indian Springs and Overbrook!” They lived with their Dad, Jack Wilson, at 190 Overbrook years ago.

Samantha now has an organic farm in southeastern Ohio and Molly owns Coyote Trails School of Nature in Bend, Oregon. They talked about the wonder of the Adena Brook neighborhood–the ravine, brook, and the families who live here like Carina and Mark Carter. Molly shared a story about being in Chicago on a travel layover when she met a man who also had lived in Ohio. They chatted as they waited for their flight. When they discovered they had both lived in Clintonville he exclaimed how much he loved the neighborhood and told her a story of a wonderful man who had planted a tree in a friend’s yard when she was struggling with cancer. That man was her Dad! Molly and Samantha said the tree was still there.

Some people who have lived here for decades declare the 2008 spring wildflower show the most spectacular ever. Removal of invasive plants that out-compete native plants is a big part of the reason the park is looking so beautiful. Our mentors visit and say they are awed by our conservation efforts. Elayna Grody often says, “the native plants and wildlife thank you.”

In April and May we removed more than 10,000 pounds of invasive garlic mustard and honeysuckle from the Adena Brook woodland. And we just kicked off the work season! We planted native trees and shrubs along Overbook near the rain garden and Greg Cunningham installed 2 new wood duck boxes. There’s so much more that Adena Brook Community neighbors do to better the neighborhood. To name a few: Have you noticed how well the Cooke Road/Indianola corner is maintained? Thank Adena Brook neighbors Mark and Carina Carter. The Robinsons and Platts pick up litter between clean ups. Judy Robinson inspires others to adopt streets for litter maintenance, and she also initiated invasive removal by Clintonville Woman’s Club members. Ann Almoney and Dominic Julian photograph wildlife so you see first hand the wonder of wildlife in our backyards. Greg Schneider continues to guide our efforts to maintain and add new plants to the rain garden. An education sign will be installed at the Adena Brook Rain Garden site.

It’s time to invite you to support our work. Any donation amount is appreciated. As many of you know, we do not charge dues or offer memberships to belong to Adena Brook Community. Instead we ask for donations from those willing and able to support the specific projects and tasks we decide to do each year. Make your check payable to “Adena Brook Community” and mail it to PO Box 14055, Columbus, OH 43214. Thank you!