• Metro Parks,  trees,  winter scenes

    Winter Solstice

    December 21, 2025
    Blendon Woods Metro Park, Westerville, Ohio – 2011

    The Winter Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere in 2025 occured today at approximately 10:03 a.m. EST, marking the shortest day and longest night as the Earth’s tilt is furthest from the Sun. So today we officially begin the winter season and signal the gradual return of longer days. And, we celebrate this day because it is also my youngest granddaughters birthday. Happy birthday Madie! And, we have had overcast skies with a mix of rain and snow making it look and feel like winter here in Colorado.

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  • Metro Parks,  quotes,  snow,  trees

    Our Individuality

    December 24, 2023
    A morning walk after a light snowfall at Blendon Woods (Ohio) – 2009

    “Really all we have to offer the world is the gift of our individuality. We can never be just like any other person. Our journey through life is an extremely personal contribution to the work of being human.”

    Jane Reichhold

    It’s Christmas Eve. Weather app suggested snow overnight but we awoke to overcast skies and a cold north wind but no snow. After my quiet-time I made my way to Mugs in Old Town for some journaling and a mocha. Met a young woman who is an artist and storyteller. I truly do like her work and the idea of storytelling. Her website is called Twelve Little Tales. Faye you may want to checkout some of her watercolors.

    What struck me about her was the passion she had for her art, and storytelling, and her energy to offer her gifts to the world. She epitomizes what Jane Reichhold says in her quote. She illustrates the individuality we are all given, our passion, that spark to create and give to this world. I found it exciting! When we choose to not be like other people and are able to let go of the voices of society attempting to tell us what and who are, let go of our self-doubts and fears, we find the gift of our individuality. Thank you Marna for sharing your gifts!

    The above image was taken in 2009 while I was living briefly in Columbus, Ohio. I was blessed to live near a wonderful area that was a part of the Metro Parks in Columbus called Blendon Woods. Hoping you all have a wonderful Christmas with family!!! 🌲 🎅 Not sure about you but it’s now time to binge on food.

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  • Mary Oliver,  Metro Parks,  quotes

    That Slow Seduction

    August 24, 2023
    Blendon Woods – May 2009

    I could not be a poet without the natural world. Someone else could. But not me. For me the door to the woods is the door to the temple.

    Mary Oliver

    I’m rather new to poetry, in both reading and writing. Primarily because I did not understand it, nor did I put the effort into learning what it was about and what it could teach me. It just wasn’t time yet in my life. Now it is. Some of that slow seduction could be spending more quality time in the natural world, or as Mary suggests the temple. I like how Maria Popova says it here. Having said that I want to thank all of you who read and maybe even understand my attempts at writing poetry. But not today!

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  • fall season,  leaves,  Metro Parks,  Plants,  quotes,  seasons

    Sometimes They’re Even Good!

    February 4, 2023
    Leaves found on a walk at Blendon Woods Metro Park – 2011

    While I often try to anticipate those things that may occur in my little world, there’s always a surprise or two, and sometimes they’re even good!

    Earl Moore

    Wanted to share these words of wisdom from a comment our friend Earl made on one of my posts. He is referring to surprises in life, those wanted and not wanted. I am currently finding surprises in my life that at first seem unwanted but in some ways have turned out to be good. He has reminded me of that. His words also reminded me of the fondness I have for those surprises we can find in our photography. For me they happen most often when I venture out in nature with my camera, open to what my heart can see and accept. While living in Ohio for two and a half years I was able to experience trees and plants I was not familiar with. I loved what I was seeing and experiencing for the first time. As I reflect back it was on these walks when I first began to ask the questions: What surprise is nature going to offer me today? What will I expect and accept? You never know, sometimes they’re even good!

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  • Avian,  Metro Parks

    Can You Find Them?

    March 1, 2015
    A Few Birds
    A Few Birds

    I know it’s a busy image but wait. I took his image a few years ago at the Blendon Woods Metro Park in Gahanna, Ohio. They have nature center for children (that’s us) with a viewing area for birds where they have placed feeders. I would sit along the windows, elbows on the shelf  and just watch. There are a total of 6 cardinals and one sparrow in the image. Can you find them?

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  • landscape,  Metro Parks

    Don’t Ask …

    January 24, 2011
    A Cold January Afternoon

    … me what I was doing out in Blendon Woods Park Yesterday afternoon when the temperature never rose above 20 degrees. I suspect it could have been a case of stir-crazy or insanity. Anyway, I took a short walk, long enough to get my hands and  feet cold and my heart rate up. However, I did like one image I took facing the late afternoon sun using a large aperture for the starburst effect.

    I have more packing to do today then ship a couple of boxes back to Colorado. The less I have in the car the easier it will be on me.

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  • Metro Parks

    What was it like?

    October 31, 2010

    A few years ago I needed new brakes installed on my truck. It was going to take a couple of hours so after dropping off the truck I walked down the street to a nearby coffee shop. As I walked along, I realized I was not in direct contact with the earth for that four-block walk. I was always on concrete or asphalt, never touching the earth. It also involved car exhaust, pedestrian lights and unnatural noises. Any and all plants around me were placed there by the designer. It caused me to wonder how much we have lost touch with nature?

    Most of us know about our National Parks but many of us take our natural areas for granted and in some cases don’t even realize they exit. We are lucky to have these places of wonder and beauty to explore and take in. Yet, many of us make plans to watch a movie on the new 54 inch HD screen, or meet up with friends to pound down a few micro-brews, or play a game on our computer or Game-boy or work on a project we brought home from the office. I’ve spent my time doing all of them. It just seems to me our society has moved away from nature, placing ourselves in heated and air-conditioned buildings, our own created worlds?

    I’m lucky to have the Metro Parks near my apartment here in the Columbus area. In 15 minutes I can be walking the trails of Blendon Woods Park or enjoying the flowers along the paths in Inniswood Gardens. They never seem to be crowded. I’m surprised how many people I meet walking or jogging the paths in our natural areas are plugged in and tuned in to their favorite music while missing the Meadowlark singing it’s distinct call, or the woodpecker hammering away on it’s favorite tree, or the chirping of the squirrels as they play their games of tag or the wind whispering through the trees.

    I like to spend time on a bench along one of the trails to listen and watch nature. I only have one channel to select from and the reception is excellent. The concerns of work, bills, wars, taxes, oil spills, all seem far away and in another world. I enjoy the natural areas near my apartment and, as some of you already know, I use them often to step away from the busy world. And another question that often comes to mind is: what would it have been like 200-300 years ago when there were no paths or concrete or asphalt?

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