Johnson Woods Bird Sanctuary

1/2 acre woodland given to Park Board by Myron G. Johnson Jr. in 1972 now restored for wildlife. (P4P)
What is Partners for Plants? Why this space? Who is Myron G.

Restoration of Johnson Woods – Bird Sanctuary
Started in October 2018
Who are we? Town & Country Garden Club is a chapter of a national organization called the Garden Club of America(GCA). www.gcamerica.org
The Garden Club of America has developed a program called Partners for Plants. Partners for Plants (P4P), which began in 1992, is a joint initiative of the GCA’s Horticulture and Conservation

Committees to restore native habitat on federal, state, county, regional and local public lands. P4P encourages club members at the hands-on level to work together with land managers, botanists, and other horticultural professionals to monitor and conserve rare plants, restore native habitats, and remove invasives. A P4P project is an excellent educational tool to increase knowledge of native plants and ecosystems as well as to encourage environmentally friendly, sustainable action. We appreciate that our Park system has been stretched, and we want to help them address this overlooked space. It is owned by the Park Board so it fits our requirement of a public space. Our intention is to work with neighbors and other volunteers to remove invasive plants, eventually reintroduce native plants, and thus restore the woodland setting Myron G. Johnson Jr envisioned as a safe and beneficial space for all beings. Johnson Jr? Myron is the son of Myron and Eva Bramble Johnson. His father started Johnson Lumber Company in Northside, which Myron eventually joined. He was a fan of birds, bird watching, educating others about birds and donated the 3 lots in 1972 to protect birds. What will it look like eventually? The ultimate goal is to create an “adopt a plot” type maintenance program. Neighbors, businesses, and/or clubs will take on small sections to keep the troublesome plants including, euonymus fortunei, honeysuckle, lesser celandine, garlic mustard, and trash under control and out of the space. We are not including “trails” or benches at this time, although there will be paths to get to all the areas. This is to be a space for wildlife, protected and supported by humans. Our current plan is to use as little chemical treatment as possible and leave what we can to decompose. All of this is subject to change at anytime.

Photos from Johnson Woods Bird Sanctuary's post

04/24/2026

OMG. The deer are here 😞. Y'all. These deer are making it very hard to keep enthusiasm up. They bite the heads off everything about to bloom. But Lexi and I added more fences... Enjoy the beautiful calm visual experience. 😃

03/09/2026

It could be a weather fake out, but it was fabulous to be able to check in in the sunshine.

Photos from Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District's post

02/10/2026

Go help! It's fun.

Photos from Ohio Native Plants - Nature in My Backyard's post

02/10/2026

Check this out! Tomorrow's talk is still available to sign up for. Zoom at lunch.

Nature in My Backyard — Ohio Native Plant Month

02/10/2026

A wonderful woman, Jane Ellison, and a group of people in Cleveland knew people were interested in starting conservation minded projects in their yard, but didn't always know where to begin. They started a group called Nature in My Backyard. They are partners with the Audubon Society of Cleveland, Shaker Lakes Garden Club, and local nature centers. There's a fabulous website, but they also now have a page. Volunteers made up of Master Gardeners in Cleveland will come to a person's house and help them look at what they have and figure out where to go next. One day, hopefully, we can do this in Cincinnati.
They also have a monthly online webinar during lunch hour. You sign up, they send you a zoom link, and you get to watch some very cool people nerd out about wonderful topics. There's one tomorrow. It's free!

Check out their page. Nature in My Backyard

Tomorrow's talk:
Brown Bagging it in My Backyard
A 2nd Wednesday Zoom Lecture Series
Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Noon

Ephemeral Excitement:
The Spring Rush for Sunlight, Nectar, Pollen & Love
Judy Semroc, Conservation Specialist

Nature in My Backyard — Ohio Native Plant Month Nature in My Backyard is a certification program of the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland and the Shaker Lakes Garden Club, together with the Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County. It is designed to help you understand the most essential steps for building biodiversity in your backyard. Free site v...

01/18/2026

ID tip: Wintercreeper is a climbing evergreen vine with glossy leaves and cream to pink fruits in the fall. Early removal saves your trees!

01/15/2026

Dandelions Are Not the First - Or Best - Flower for Pollinators - Prairie Up! A growing voice in garden circles dotes on dandelions for pollinators, particularly as they are claimed as the first flowers to bloom in spring. This refers

01/15/2026

Our number one out of place plant.

Invasive wintercreeper spreads fast and smothers native plants, blocks sunlight, and reduces wildlife habitat. Catch it early and remove it to protect your local ecosystem!