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Blossoming red bud trees in a restored woodland
Porcelain vine: an aggressive invader
With guidance from Cincinnati Parks naturalists, we are removing porcelain berry vine, shown at left. Porcelain vine is an aggressive, fast-growing vine that can reach 20 feet in a single season. It climbs up and over trees and shrubs, blocking out sunlight. It also produces tendrils that wrap around and dig into branches as it climbs. It produces small green flowers in the summer and berries that are violet, deep purple, and turquoise in the fall. If you see porcelain vine growing on your trees, cut it at the base in two places so that the vine cannot reattach. Allow leaves in the upper branches to remain, as they will eventually die. Pulling them down may cause damage to the tree.
A sanctuary for birds
Aletheia Pattison, the patron who donated Scarborough Woods to the Cincinnati Park Board, envisioned the woods as a permanent wildlife preserve, bird sanctuary, or arboretum. Scarborough Woods volunteers have begun keeping a log of birds seen in the woods and invite you to send us news of your sightings. Cardinals, like the female at left, are frequently seen and heard.