Columbus area Metroparks owns and maintains 14 natural area parks and protects more than 22,500 acres in seven Central Ohio counties for people to discover and experience nature. We now live in Franklin County in close proximity to these parks and explored Highbanks last week. This park "encompasses 1,158 acres of woodlands, fields and wetlands. The forests include oak, maple, hickory and beech trees. Three miles of the Olentangy State Scenic River run along the park's western boundary." We hiked ~6 miles of the park's 11 miles of trails and saw many familiar deciduous woodland inhabitants. It's good to be back.
Butterweed & Shield bug
Columbine
Deciduous hardwood forest
Adena burial mound
Some nice topography!
Mourning Cloaks
Wild Indigo Duskywing
Hooded Merganser mother & babies
Shale lined creek
Happy hiker
A Meadow Rue
Larkspur with aphids
A Houstonia
Mayapple flower
White Baneberry (Doll's Eyes)
Looks great, but what a change from New Mexico! I'm glad there are lots of areas close to you for hiking:)
ReplyDeleteI love your blog. I read several times a week. I work at a desk job and live vicariously through all of the lovely hikes. Glad to see you back in the Midwest (although I'll miss the pics of the Southwest). I'm a Michigan girl all the way and love all of the trees and plants. Saw this video on YouTube and thought of you. Great band if you haven't heard them.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGxaRpN5Eb4
Glad you were able to catch the last of the spring wildflowers. Everything was about two weeks ahead this spring.
ReplyDelete