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Native Medicinal Plant Walk at AOA’s Gertrude Hill Nature Preserve
May 25 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Free
Enjoy a late spring ramble on AOA’s newest conservation site – Gertrude Hill Nature Preserve in Hocking County. We will see the last vestiges of the spring wildflowers while walking through relatively mature forests as we survey and identify plants of medicinal value growing on the preserve site.
This is an excellent opportunity to learn about threatened species such as American Ginseng, Goldenseal, and Black Cohosh, their preferred habitats, and tips for growing them on your own property. Historical and contemporary medicinal uses of the plants will be discussed as well as their greater ecological significance (pollinators, seed dispersers, wildlife value, et al.).
The 32-acre Gertrude Hill Preserve is part of AOA’s Hocking Hills Conservation Initiative that has conserved nearly 90 properties and over 5,200 acres. The high hills that frame the southern portion of the property showcase characteristic Hocking Hills landscape features such as spectacular Blackhand sandstone bluffs, a rock shelter, slough rocks, waterfalls, relatively mature forest, as well as a number of small, forested wetlands. It includes riparian corridor and bottomlands along the East Fork of Queer Creek as well as two Coldwater primary headwater habitat stream systems. The site has very few invasive species with a relatively pristine forest habitat.
This medicinal plant walk will be led by Erika Galentin, MNIMH, RH (AHG), clinical herbalist consulting from Sovereignty Herbs in Athens and Columbus, Ohio. Erika utilizes her knowledge of and passion for medicinal plants native to Ohio and the Greater Appalachian region to teach, lecture and write on native medicinal plant conservation and applied ecology, propagation, and clinical efficacy.
The walk will last approximately two to three hours. We will be very informal and will have much to see and discuss! This event is free and open to the public.
Time: Meet at 10:00 a.m.
What to Wear: This activity will be held rain or shine – so please come prepared and dress appropriately for the weather and hiking on slopes, some of which are relatively steep.
What to Bring: Lunch, snacks and/or drinks of your choice. Insect repellant is recommended during tick season.
Location: The Gertrude Hill Preserve is located on the south side of Highway 56 on the eastern edge of the Village of South Bloomingville – see Google Map link below. Look for AOA signage and cones at the entry drive. AOA staff and volunteers will direct parking alongside the drive and in the adjacent field. Use 24009 State Route 56, South Bloomingville, OH, 43152, for a Google Maps street address.
Google Map Link: