Benjamin Franklin Garden, Old Brooklyn, Ohio

Exploring a Community Treasure

by Beth Coyne

 Last week I was invited by Cuyahoga County Master Gardener Rita Robinson to visit the Benjamin Frankin Garden, located in Old Brooklyn. Her e-mail said "If you've never been here, you should visit. It's amazing! The gardening program for 4th graders started in the 20's and continues today." 

 Note to myself.. when someone says something is amazing and you should visit, my advice. Go! Stop what you think you need to do, breath then rest. I trust you too will have the luck of the Irish and discover this magical oasis tucked neatly away in a  neighborhood south-east of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. My original mission was to seek then photograph:native plants, the pollinator gardens, herb gardens and the Tiny Metroparks, then quickly head back home. Oh dear, I lingered well over an hour on this five acre site and discovered so much more! 

Build a Beetle Bump for Your Backyard

Attracting predatory insects into our gardens

Ground Beetles & Friends Welcome 

Reasonable Rates

Spider - Beth Reis Photography

One of the ways a city like Cleveland, Ohio, USA attract young professional is to build quality housing, one of the ways to attract ground beetles (Coleoptera) is to build Beetle Banks. That is long a furrow speckled with native wildflowers, grasses and sedges parallel to farm fields. Since, our planting space is limited we opted to create a Beetle Bump,  a smaller version of a bank.

Dogbane Beetle - ODNR Division of Wildlife

 Why, you might ask are we striving to attract ground beetles into our nursery? The answer, these fellows along with: spiders, Hover Flies, Green Lacewings, Lady Beetles and Minute Pirate Bugs pulverize gardens pest like: slugs, aphids, fly maggots, mite, slugs and snails. 
 
So how do we entice these nocturnal, Vikings to taking up residency in our gardens? Advertise!! You don't need a flashing neon billboard; subtle blooms and fragrances radiating from Ohio native plants will spark their curiosity enough for them to glide in and grab a snack. When creating your Beetle Bump consider using building material that beetles are fond of: leaves, sticks, native grasses, sledges and native plants will do the trick.