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GOSH! Who knew it would be
20 months from my last post until
this one--and almost two years
since I made these photos?!?
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I suppose it's time to give
Pickerington Ponds Metro Park
a fair shake.
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-------------------- If you know me very well,
you know I'm am not a fan
of sitting water. Ponds,
lakes, dams, mud puddles...BORING!
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-------------------- Having said that, this
trip had a few nice
surprises and one
wretched surprise!
The white butterfies (moths?)
at the beginning of my hike
were one of the highlights.
In my memory
there were hundreds;
in reality, there
were likely dozens. :)
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--------------------I did capture some shots
of barns, like the one above.
I'm not a huge barn fan,
but my buddy Rufus is.
This hike is dedicated to you, my friend.
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-------------------- I do like all of the little
features that make each
of our metro parks unique.
Even though this water
appears not to be running
(see my first comments above),
the bridge is cool.
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-------------------- This white-flowered wild bush
was stunning. I'm not sure
what it actually is.
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I looked above me as I was
walking and saw what I thought
might be a beehive.
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It was a buzzard!
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-------------------- Can you find the dragonfly
in the shot below?
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These blue herons are nesting in the dead
trees in the midst of the ponds.
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-------------------- I think this grass was my
happiest moment all day.
The photo doesn't capture
the graceful shimmer and
flow of the seed heads
in the wind. It was so beautiful...
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Here lies...I dunno.
Obviously, this is an old
family grave plot.
A fence protects
its borders.
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See the swan?
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This cardinal darted playfully.
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It's at this point in the trip
that I have my worst moments.
I was attacked incessantly
by deer flies. These pests
are larger versions of house
flies but bite like horse flies!
This trip taught me to pack
AND USE insect repellent
when I hike this late in the year.
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-------------------- Did you notice the blimp
in the shot above?
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-------------------- Running water saves the
trip from the deer-fly
situation!
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-------------------- I wish I had been smart enough
to provide a frame of reference
for this "dandelion" blossom.
It was literally
the size of a baseball!
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Wild orchids!
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A WHITE heron seems to own
this spot in the pond.
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-------------------- These murals were created
by local school children.
They decorate the exterior
of the public restrooms.
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-------------------- These kids are now adults, of course.
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