by Mandy Wolski, Park Naturalist

Ohio is home to many native pollinators, including roughly 3000 moth species, 500 bee species, and 140 butterfly species. Hummingbirds, wasps, beetles and flies are important pollinators in Ohio as well.

Native flowers, shrubs and trees are best for our pollinators. Ohio’s native plants and insects have a strong connection because they have co-evolved together. This means that our insects naturally seek out native plants knowing that they will provide the best nectar and larval food sources. For instance, the zebra swallowtail (pictured) must have pawpaw trees to feed on as caterpillars. That same pawpaw tree relies on native flies and beetles for pollination.

Another advantage of planting natives is that they are low maintenance, which makes them perfect for lazy gardeners like myself! Our park staff will only need to mow these native patches once a year instead of every week. Natives will survive our changing seasons, will thrive in our soils, and will self-seed every fall making replanting every spring a thing of the past.

What we do for one pollinator species helps all of Ohio’s pollinators! If you decide to plant milkweed to help the monarch caterpillars, you will also be providing a beneficial nectar source for bees and butterflies. In nature, all things are connected!

Editor's Note: The Friends will soon be planting two pollinator gardens along the trail, one to be located at about mile marker 40 and another further north around Oregonia.

June 2020

by Tom McCray

It was June 1^st 2019 and a beautiful early summer day. I was on my favorite ride heading south and rolling into Morrow. I always stop at the picnic shelter to take a break and eat a few snacks and as I coasted in, I saw the bike leaning up against a picnic table in the shelter. It was obvious that it was the bike of a long-distance traveler. It had all the telltale signs: the panniers on the rear, multiple water bottles, and a few other mounted bags and racks.

I said hello and asked him where he was headed. He said he was headed east, back to Harpers Ferry. I ask where he’s been and he said he’s been “crisscrossing the United States.” The next logical question was how far have you gone? He stepped back to his bike and pressed a few buttons on his cycle computer and said “15,400 miles.” My eyebrows raised and my jaw dropped. He said he had been out for about a year at that point and was finishing his trip and heading home.

His name was John and as we talked more and I examined his bike I saw that this was not the normal tourist bike you see on the trail every now and then. This one was different, a lot different. First off, he had two half-gallon water coolers strapped to his front forks, far more than what the typical tourist carries in these parts. He was using 2-inch-wide tires and told me that at one point while crossing the Rockies, he had 3-inch-wide tires mounted due to the rough conditions. The point here is that he was not restricting himself to paved roads. He had been off road onto trails with and without pavement quite a bit as he travelled the country.

His bike was a Surly Troll, described on the Surly website as a “highly-versatile, dirt road expedition touring bike.” He had opted for a Rohloff hub in lieu of the typical derailleur and freewheel system. The Rohloff is a rear hub having an all-internal gearing system with 14 evenly spaced gears. It is much more durable and reliable than a derailleur, especially in long-distance off-road conditions. This bike was built to go the distance in places I could only imagine.

Regardless of the bike, it’s the person who makes the adventure. John was doing what I am sure most of us will only dream about. He had an incredible case of wanderlust and I was glad to have crossed paths with him as he was passing through.

June 2020

by Erick Wikum

As I waited in the car for my wife to emerge from the big box store, I noticed a man returning to his vehicle carrying a tiny bicycle, no doubt meant as a gift for his grandchild. I imagined the delight on the child’s face when the new bicycle was revealed and the child’s headlong rush to try it out right away. A bicycle is indeed a wonderful gift for a child, but equally wonderful is sound advice for riding safely. Whether you’re a parent or a grandparent, you can lay the foundation for a child to enjoy cycling safely by sharing a few tips including the following.

1. Always (ALWAYS) wear a helmet: Ensure your child wears a cool enough helmet when riding. To function as intended, a helmet must be correctly sized and adjusted and worn properly to cover the forehead. Set a positive example by wearing a helmet yourself.

2. Master requisite skills: Find a safe place to practice skills including (a) traveling in a straight line, (b) stopping on a line, (c) turning and (d) glancing behind while maintaining a straight line.

3. Navigate the environment: Slowly introduce children to more complex situations as appropriate based on age, experience and skill level. Demonstrate rules of the road including travelling on the right-hand-side, showing intent using hand signals (left turn, right turn or stop) and coming to a complete stop at intersections. Stress the importance of focusing on the task at hand and maintaining awareness using both eyes and ears. Teach children to expect the unexpected, including cars emerging from driveways and doors opening on parked cars.

With its smooth, flat surface and lack of motorized traffic, the Little Miami Scenic Trail is a great venue for children to ride bikes. When riding on the trail, children (and for that matter older bicyclists) should stay to the right side of the trail and should move off of the trail when stopped. Children who might stray into the path of other trail users pose a danger for themselves and others and should be carefully supervised. Avoiding intersections and using the trail during off peak times can make for a more enjoyable and safe riding experience for kids and adults as well.

Teach a child to ride a bicycle and he or she will receive satisfaction for a day. Teach a child to ride safely and the child may well embark on the rolling journey of a lifetime.

Editor’s Note: Friends of the Little Miami State Park will offer a free children’s helmet giveaway on June 27 from 10 am to 2 pm at Nesbit Park in Loveland.

June 2020