In a world of thick forests, flowers and tall trees, a group of curious plant fanatics can be found exploring Athens. Ohio University’s Plant Biology Club is home to Bobcats who enjoy nature walks and outdoor adventures.
The organization has been established for over 10 years. Members range from plant biology majors to inexperienced students who are interested in learning about plants.
“Anyone who is interested in learning about plants, sharing their knowledge, engaging in conservation activities or hiking are welcomed,” Kim Thompson, associate professor of instruction and the club’s advisor, wrote in an email.
Thompson said the organization included both graduate and undergraduate students when she started in 2014. However, she later established a separate Plant Biology Graduate Student Association. She officially took over as faculty advisor in 2017 and reconstructed the bylaws to create an undergraduate student organization.
With 15-30 active members, there are several places and plants for the club to discover. Some of the native trees in Athens include the Box Elder, Pawpaw, Red Maple and Sweetgum, according to the plant encyclopedia PictureThis.
These trees are scattered throughout the hills and trails of Athens, bringing various amounts of greenery to the city. Through hikes, collaborations and conservation projects, plant biology club members make their way through Athens, exploring the nooks and crannies of each path and saving plants in need.
Brennan Everitt, a junior studying plant biology, is the organization’s treasurer and plant fiend. Everitt said teaching new members about plant biology and watching their passion grow is a rewarding experience.
“We mention patterns and people start to pick it up on plants, just different structures that are similar across plant families,” Everitt said. “We have a lot of people in the club who are not plant biology majors and just like plants so it is cool to share a bit of what we know with them.”
The club’s most recent meeting was a nature walk at Emeriti Park on South Green. Surrounding the scenic pond, gazebo and benches lie a variety of hidden plants and overarching trees for students to discover.
As the club took in the gorgeous weather and explored the greenery, Ashby Marsh, a senior studying plant biology, said she noticed new plants blooming and budding.
“We identified a lot of the trees on campus which was cool,” Marsh said. “We found (an) American Sycamore, we did identify a Cottonwood … we were trying to figure out what that one was … we got to smell the magnolias.”
Marsh joined the club during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been the president for two years, fostering friendships and cultivating fun experiences for new and old members.
“I joined Plant Club as a freshman and I thought it was so good for me and my mental health,” Marsh said. “... So for me, as a scared little freshman in the thick of COVID and feeling very isolated in that way, plant club was my way to explore Athens and explore the campus.”
In addition to exploring parks in the area, the club finds ways to collaborate with other organizations to benefit the community. Marsh said the Ohio Department of Natural Resources invited the club to host an invasive species removal event at the end of April. These removal processes are common, as invasive species can cause damage to the environment and human health, according to the ODNR.
Alongside their invitation from the ODNR, the club has a strong connection with the Athens Conservancy, a nonprofit land trust that “protects water quality,” “preserves wild and scenic places” and upholds “healthy, resilient ecosystems.”
With 3,200 acres of preserves and over 2,100 acres open to the public, the Conservancy protects more than 300 acres of “public land.” Marsh said the Conservancy is an uplifting organization and easy to work with.
“We go and do invasive species pulls and trail building with them,” Marsh said.
As OU’s plant enthusiasts hike through the woods, stay in for club craft night and host plant clinics, memories are consistently made and plants are saved. Cat Gavin, a senior studying plant biology, is the vice president and said if Bobcats see the club “hunched over a plant” to stop over and join in the fun.
“Plant club is just uniting people for the love of plants,” Gavin said. “... It can be a really nice outlet, especially when the world outside is scary.”
