Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve
Ottawa County, Ohio
Our take written by Nature Awed
Lakeside Daisy protects 137 acres of old limestone quarry on the Marblehead Peninsula in Ottawa County for the Lakeside daisy, a federally threatened and state-endangered plant.
ODNR describes early- to mid-May flowering on nearly barren limestone and says plants within a population tend to bloom at about the same time, their flower heads tracking the sun, with petals fading after about a week. The guide notes peak bloom in May, and ODNR's permit list names a Glacial Grooves Area here as needing a permit.
Our plain-language reading of the ODNR text quoted on this page. It adds no facts of its own.
Verify current visiting hours and access restrictions with ODNR's page for this preserve and ODNR's permit page before relying on this summary.
What ODNR says about it
Colleen Taylor and Ruth Fiscus - Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve encompasses 137 acres of old limestone quarried land on the Marblehead Peninsula of Lake Erie in Ottawa County. This preserve was established to protect he largest natural United States population of the Lakeside daisy (Tetraneuris herbacea), a federally threatened plant species which only occurs naturally at a handful of sites. Also a state endangered species, this is one of Ohio's most spectacular wildflowers. In early to mid-May, its bright yellow flowers adorn the otherwise bleak, sun-baked landscape of the Marblehead quarry. This preserve was named in honor of Colleen Taylor and Ruth Fiscus who were very instrumental in the protection of the original 19-acre parcel in 1988.
The Division of Natural Areas and Preserves worked with Holcim Corporation to protect the Lakeside Daisy within the active limestone quarry. The bright Lakeside Daisy is one of Ohio's most spectacular wildflowers. This long-lived perennial grows where few others can, on nearly barren limestone bedrock in full sunlight. In early to mid-May, the bright yellow flowers of the Lakeside Daisy adorn the otherwise bleak, sun-baked landscape of the Marblehead Quarry. Each basal rosette of leaves usually produces a single 6-11" tall, leafless, erect stalk topped with a solitary flower. All individuals within a given population tend to bloom about the same time, producing the spectacular effect of a golden blanket across the rocky landscape. All the flower heads track the sun across the sky in unison. After about a week, the double notched petals fade before falling. Seed dispersal takes place about a month later. Lakeside daisy also reproduces vegetatively by rhizomatous growth. The dense basal tufts of somewhat fleshy, mostly linear leaves appear stemless; the stem, or rhizome, is at the surface or slightly underground. It is from this rhizome that new plants emerge.
Visiting
Trail starts at preserve entrance
Open 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset
Pets are not permitted
No restrooms
Verify current visiting hours and access restrictions with ODNR's page before relying on these hours.
In ODNR's preserve guide
| Address | 309 Alexander Pike, Marblehead, 43440 |
|---|---|
| Trails (miles) | no figure in the guide |
| Visitor information | Peak bloom in May |
Lakeside Daisy Ottawa 309 Alexander Pike Marblehead, 43440 Peak bloom in May
Access permit for part of the preserve
ODNR's permit list names a part of this preserve, not the whole preserve. The row reads:
Lakeside Daisy - Glacial Grooves Area Ottawa 117 Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
The permit application must be received by the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves at least 14 days in advance of the requested visitation.
Permits will be issued and emailed to the applicant at least 7 days before the scheduled visit. Maps, directions and any special stipulations concerning the use of the preserve will accompany the permit.
Verify the current application deadlines with ODNR: State Nature Preserves Access Permit before you rely on them.
The land on ODNR's map
| LANDS_NAME | COUNTY | PROP_TYPE | SUM_CALC_ACRES | MANAGING_AGENCY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve | OTTAWA | Dedicated Nature Preserve | 137.21 | Division of Natural Areas and Preserves |
| Mapped acres | 137.21 (our sum of the parcels ODNR's GIS layer maps under this name) |
|---|---|
| Access permit | Required for the part named on ODNR's permit list |
| Centre of mapped land | 41.5261, -82.7242 (our calculation; not an entrance or parking lot) |
Statewide rules
Ohio Administrative Code chapter 1501:17 sets rules for nature preserves and natural areas under ODNR's supervision or its designated custodian, on pets, drones, picnics, collecting and more. Can I…? quotes them rule by rule, with their exceptions.
Pets are prohibited at all state nature preserves, except Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve where leashed pets are only allowed on the multipurpose paved trail.
Check before you go. Verify current hours, access and trail information on ODNR: Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve and ODNR: State Nature Preserves Access Permit; our checker last found the quoted words there on October 14.
Nearest other preserves
Straight-line miles between the centres of mapped land (our calculation), not driving distance.
- North Pond State Nature Preserve · Erie County · about 6.0 miles
- North Shore Alvar State Nature Preserve · Erie County · about 6.5 miles
- Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve · Erie County · about 9.3 miles
- Erie Sand Barrens State Nature Preserve · Erie County · about 12 miles
- Dupont Marsh State Nature Preserve · Erie County · about 14 miles