The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Local nature preserve houses a variety of plants, butterflies
Lorain County Metro Parks’ Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Road in Avon, is a local sanctuary for plants and animals that are both native to Ohio and some that aren’t.
Linda Paull, manager of the preserve and senior naturalist for the Metro Parks, said the preserve features a 5,000-square-foot conservatory.
“We have a variety of different plants we house in here,” Paull said. “When guests come to visit, the first room they encounter is one we house cacti in.
“The room is kept at the perfect temperature to allow them to grow.”
Paull said the next area over is the preserve’s Tropical Zone.
“We have a variety of different plants you would see in a tropical climate,” she said. “We have information on plants posted throughout that allow visitors to learn about plants they probably won’t see in the backyard.
“We even have a parrot, we call Echo, that we keep in the zone and who is a fan favorite.”
Paull said the conservatory provides plenty of interactively.
“We have a scavenger hunt of sorts that has children take a page with a list of all the different flowers we have,” she said. “They can then go around and cross off the ones they see. We also have a play area set up for children.”
Paull said the Tropical Zone also houses the new butterflies they receive from Florida.
“We bring in a good amount of Chrysalids and display them here prior to taking them to the butterfly house,” she said. “The house is a netted area we have outside that holds 150 butterflies.
“The butterflies, including when they are in the caterpillar stage, stay in here and are provided with everything they need.
“The goal of the house is to show people how easy it is to have a butterfly habitat in their backyards. You just need the right amount of cover from the sunlight, water and plants to set their eggs.”
Paull said the preserve also features a very robust garden in the front.
“We have a lot of pretty flowers that greet people as they come in,” she said. “We have some beautiful coleus plants and milkweeds among others.
“The work that is done here could not be possible without the help of Avon Garden Club, Buddleia Society of Ohio and Pat Serio, who is a volunteer through the Friends of the Lorain County Metro Parks.”
Linda Partridge, of Elyria, was at the preserve with her husband, James, and two grandchildren.
“The kids are really having fun,” Linda Partridge said. “I really just wanted to keep them busy, so this gave them a chance to have a good time and learn about nature at the same time.”
“The goal of the house is to show people how easy it is to have a butterfly habitat in their backyards. You just need the right amount of cover from the sunlight, water and plants to set their eggs.” — Linda Paull, manager of the preserve and senior naturalist for the Metro Parks