Jennings shows off prairie
BRADY TWP — Despite some early rain Saturday, the first Celebrate the Bloom at Jennings Environmental Education Center went well.
Wil Taylor, center manager, said a steady stream of people came to the center to see what the event had to offer.
“People are participating in everything,” said Taylor, who hoped that 300 people would attend.
The event was designed to attract more attention to the center's 20-acre prairie, which is the easternmost prairie in the U.S.
It featured guided walks through the prairie, vendors, music and workshops. It ended with a bonfire.
Milagros Swerdlow and Ann Murphy of New Wilmington came because they knew the person who did the tie dyeing presentation and they were interested in seeing it.
“I would like to know more about the process of dyeing,” Swerdlow said.
Neither had been to the center before.
“We have heard about it,” Swerdlow said.
She said that she liked what she saw and was excited to see everything the event had to offer.
This was not the first time at the center for Colleen and Karl Dyback of Slippery Rock Township.
“We come here all the time,” she said.
However, they said that curiosity about the event drew them to check it out.
“We're really excited to just see everything,” she said.
She was primarily interested in the beekeeping presentation, while Karl wanted to see the vegan food truck.
Susan Race of Valencia, who has been to the center before, came to support the center and the event.
“It has so much to offer,” Race said.
She said that she enjoyed seeing the flowers in the prairie, particularly the blazing star.
Pat Somers of Zelienople was filming part of the event for the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau. Other than early morning rain, he said it was a nice event.
He had only been to the center once before and he would not mind coming back. “I'd check it out again,” Somers said.
