Initial Documentation of Species
For initial documentation, we used the iNaturalist app as both a field guide and a living notebook. During our visit we walked slow transects along the Oval leading up to Glen Echo Ravine and documented species that caught our eye. We snapped geo-tagged photos from several angles—leaf, stem, flower, and habitat context—then uploaded them to iNaturalist on the spot, adding quick notes on substrate, light, and any signs of stress. Within hours the platform’s community helped refine our tentative IDs, and we confirmed uncertain specimens later with the OSU Herbarium keys. Every validated observation was exported to our Lost Waters spreadsheet, where we logged GPS coordinates, phenological stage, and water-quality metrics, creating a robust record that links plant diversity to hydrologic conditions. The result is a crowdsourced, peer-reviewed inventory that not only maps flora across hidden waterways but also anchors future restoration decisions in solid, open data.
Examining Plant Species Through History
We examined historical botanical records housed in Ohio State’s Herbarium, with a particular focus on the work of William Starling Sullivant—renowned botanist and namesake of Sullivant Hall. In 1840, Sullivant published A Catalogue of Plants, Native or Naturalized, in the Vicinity of Columbus, Ohio, documenting over 700 plant species he had personally collected and studied. Many of these specimens, still preserved in the Herbarium and labeled in his own handwriting, offered a window into the ecological history of the region. This catalog served as a valuable reference for the project, helping us root our environmental storytelling in the real plant life and historical landscape of the Mirror Lake area.
While examining William Starling Sullivant’s A Catalogue of Plants, Native or Naturalized, in the Vicinity of Columbus, Ohio (1840), We were surprised by both the age and the precision of the work. The catalog, now a delicate and timeworn volume, reflects Sullivant’s meticulous attention to detail in documenting over 700 plant species from the region. Given its historical context, we anticipated encountering records of native species once common around Mirror Lake—some of which may no longer be present today. The experience of studying such an early botanical text offered valuable insight into the ecological past of the area and informed the environmental narrative elements of the Lost Waters project.
Documenting Plant Species Into Excel
To complement our historical research, we documented plant species for the Lost Waters catalog by combining archival information from Sullivant’s 1840 publication with contemporary observations collected through the iNaturalist platform. Our team conducted fieldwork in and around the Mirror Lake area, using iNaturalist to identify and record current plant species present in the environment. This dual approach allowed us to compile an extensive and contextually rich list of flora—bridging past and present—which informed our selection of species for inclusion in both the VR and AR components of the project. By integrating historical records with modern ecological data, we aimed to create an experience that is both immersive and grounded in the evolving botanical landscape of the site.
Story Map Selection
For the story maps, we selected plant species that held both ecological and cultural significance, drawing from our combined historical research and iNaturalist observations. Priority was given to species that were visually distinctive, historically documented by Sullivant, or representative of environmental changes in the Mirror Lake area, ensuring each plant contributed meaningfully to the narrative framework of the project.\
VR Selection
For the VR environment, we selected plant species based on both historical relevance and present-day observations, aiming to represent flora that accurately reflects the ecological character of the Mirror Lake area. We cross-referenced our compiled species list with assets available in the Quixel Megascans library, choosing foliage that closely matched the visual and structural qualities of native plants. Where exact matches were unavailable, we selected approximations that maintained the integrity of the landscape while ensuring visual cohesion within the virtual setting.