One of these days I’m going to topple over while trying to snap a picture. Lake Loretta at Alley Park was teaming with dragonflies on Saturday and it brought me great joy to watch them.
I was crouched on rocks on the lake shore, leaning forward and down with nothing to hold me up but what little core strength I have. The fact my heavy zoom lens didn’t make me top heavy is a miracle.
They say you’re among angels when there is a dragonfly nearby. I stood there watching them for a long time but couldn’t resist trying to grab a shot. None turned out great but at least I have something to remember the moment.
While out running around Saturday, I meandered into Alley Park near Lancaster, Ohio. Part of Lancaster’s city park system, it’s home to picnic areas, seven miles of trails, a terrific log cabin, nature center, a catch and release lake and this covered bridge.
It’s called the George Hutchins Covered Bridge. Built somewhere else in 1865, it was brought here for the Fairfield County Bicentennial Celebration in 2000.
At just 49 feet, it’s not an enormous bridge but it’s in great shape and the perfect venue for small events. In fact, it was decorated Saturday for a late day wedding.
I wandered around here for a bit before heading down the road to bargain shop at Peddlar’s Junction. Just before this, I had visited a local sunflower field. Read about that experience here!
Also, in case you need a pep talk – this flower was growing all alone in a pavement crack. If a little flower can muster this kind of resilience and will to live, we can too!
While out running around Saturday, I meandered into Alley Park near Lancaster, Ohio. Part of Lancaster’s city park system, it’s home to picnic areas, seven miles of trails, a terrific log cabin, nature center, a catch and release lake and this covered bridge.
It’s called the George Hutchins Covered Bridge. Built somewhere else in 1865, it was brought here for the Fairfield County Bicentennial Celebration in 2000.
At just 49 feet, it’s not an enormous bridge but it’s in great shape and the perfect venue for small events. In fact, it was decorated Saturday for a late day wedding.
I wandered around here for a bit before heading down the road to bargain shop at Peddlar’s Junction. Just before this, I had visited a local sunflower field. Read about that experience here!
Also, in case you need a pep talk – this flower was growing all alone in a pavement crack. If a little flower can muster this kind of resilience and will to live, we can too!
To be completely transparent, I had never paid that much attention to sunflowers until a couple of weeks ago when I wandered through a sunflower field near Urbana, Ohio.
I was immediately transfixed by the textures, shapes, colors and variety of these large, sunny flowers. It was great fun to lose myself among endless rows of the different varieties they had.
It was an unexpectedly joyful morning.
Imagine my glee when I learned that a sunflower field had opened close to home this weekend. Walker Farm is on St Rt. 180 near Logan, Ohio and they now have a patch for locals and Hocking Hills region visitors to enjoy.
They have a handful of varieties as well as props for photos and there’s plenty of room to roam away from other people.
Sunflowers have significance in some cultures. It’s the national flower of both Russia and Ukraine. In Chinese culture, sunflowers represent good luck and lasting happiness. In other cultures, these magnificent flowers represent positivity, admiration and strength.
With over eighty worldwide varieties, there are a ton of different colors and sizes. Regardless of the variety, the bees love them and that’s good for the environment. I also saw some hummingbirds in the field on Saturday.
At $5 per person or $20 for a family of four or more, this one is a bargain compared to most I have read about. Your admission includes one cut flower to take home and you can buy additional flowers for a buck apiece. Five and under get in free. You can visit on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 8 p.m. through Labor Day weekend. This same farm offers a pick your own pumpkin patch and corn maze starting mid September.
It’s well worth your time and a memorable experience. Like the other sunflower fields I have seen advertised in Ohio, it’s locally owned by a farm family and I’m sure your support means the world during these challenging economic times.
Check out my story from the Urbana field here and follow Walker Farm by searching them on Facebook.
Yesterday was magnificent. I went wandering not far from home and enjoyed the beautiful Ohio summer day. It felt a little like I was playing hookie or had broken out of jail because life has been so void of fun recently. The day included some antiquing, a sunflower field, a walk in the park and a leisurely trip through the grocery store.
Nothing exciting and all close to home but it was terrific anyway.
It felt great to meander and to do as I pleased while still being a responsible adult and buying vegetables. It really is the little things that make a difference!
There are a few stories to tell from this day but it’s late and I’m tired so I hope you’ll forgive me for just sharing a few pictures.
Turns out that I’m a bit obsessed with sunflowers so here’s one last picture. Have a beautiful day friends.
Sometimes the list of things we should stop doing needs to be longer than our to-do list.
At least that’s how I feel today.
Life has been stressful. Work has been busy. These last seven days have been exhausting. Scratch that. These last few months have been exhausting.
I don’t know what I’ll do today but I promise you that it will not involve a single thing on my to do list. Except buy groceries. That’s a must but I enjoy the grocery store so this isn’t a chore.
So, who’s with me? Are you ready to set aside your list for a day?
