8 July 2023 Lake Metroparks Visit

 We stopped to geocache at Lake Erie Bluffs in Lake Metroparks.  

Our journey included a sighting of a red-shouldered hawk perched on the top of a dead tree.

4 July 2023 Geocaching in the ANF

 It was a perfect holiday for continuing to visit historical sites in the Allegheny National Forest.  It was also time for deptford pinks to be blooming.  The flower is non-native and considered invasive, but has not made huge gains in our time visiting the ANF.  The flowers add a bit of color to fields.

We spotted this tiny salamander on a trail.

A fritillary on our journey

One of our stops included a visit to this wetland with a large area of open water and a very active osprey nest.  

Two of the young are visible.

It's a crowded house...

3 July 2023 Celebrating 100 Years of the ANF

The Forest Service sponsored a new Allegheny National Forest Geotrail to celebrate the centennial of the national forest.  We spent a good part of the weekend visiting parts of the ANF.  Many were familiar places.  This old barn on Route 62 is one of those. 

Wild geraniums in bloom

Beautiful fritillary

Trout run at a fish hatchery

Female wood duck at the fish hatchery

Lizzie playing in a stream

A pleasant stop on the Allegheny River

2 July 2023 A Pond in the ANF

We were walking a trail in the Allegheny National Forest when these dragonflies were spotted near a pond by the trail. 

28 June 2023 Fog on the Water

I stopped to look for herons at a small lake on my way to the office.  The morning's fog was still on the water.  There were no herons, but the park was nearly empty on my quiet visit.

25 June 2023 Visiting Stan Hywet and Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Each summer we set aside on Sunday to visit the beautiful grounds of Stan Hywet.  It's a peaceful time together to walk and enjoy  ourselves.   The rose garden is always part of the journey.

English Garden

Majestic Pathways

The Japanese Garden

Time to Play

After our visit to Stan Hywet we drove to a pond in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park for a little bird watching.

18 June 2023 Looking For Orchids

We spend one afternoon each year searching for orchids on our property.  We have identified three varieties.  Today we took a walk with the dogs before hitting our trails.  Blue-eyed grass is always a welcome sighting.

Our trail walk is always a peaceful way to spend an afternoon together.

This wood thrush was spotted near one of the streams.

We found a few round-leaf orchids in a usual spot.  Their numbers seem to be declining and there were no spikes.

It was a great time to be out together.

17 June 2023 Walking in the ANF

We stopped in the field for a wildflower walk, but we were a little early for summer blossoms. 

We did manage to see a deer leap before scampering away from us.

Paddle traffic on the Allegheny was strangely quiet.

 

10 June 2023 Car Cruise Night

If we are in town, we always stop by this annual show.  Some of the cars are there every year, but there's always a few that stand out.  An early right-hand drive, Austin Mini in rally gear was the first to catch my eye.

A vintage Seagrave engine was on-hand for the evening.  Seeing these makes one wonder how many fires were actually put out.

This 60's Barracuda looks quite diminutive next to a Grand Cherokee.

Falcons were a utility car.  They were cheap and often passed along to youth.

This Nissan Pao is rare in the states.  I see it very occasionally.

This likely was a family sedan, but it shouts law enforcement vehicle.  It was a different time when mirrors were attached to the front fenders.  Note the rear-view mirror is attached to the dash and not at the top of the windshield.

A true woody was on display.  Note the location of the side mirror.

5 June 2023 Welcome

 Creative sign showing the way for people fishing in Barcelona, New York.