Metro Five-0 Hikes at Clear Creek

The Columbus Metro Parks system has many parks and sponsors many programs, one of which is called Metro Five-0, activities for adults 50 and over. These activities run a wide gamut, from casual workshops on writing about nature to observing butterflies to canoeing and hiking.

Our favorite spot for nearby hilly hiking is Clear Creek Metro Park, just under an hour away. Through the Metro Five-0 program Joan and I can take guided weekday hikes into areas of Clear Creek that are unmarked and normally off-limits. So far I've been on three of these Metro Five-0 Clear Creek hikes, and Joan's been on more. I have enough photos to lightly document the last two.

Ice Cave/Jan 18
Here our Five-0 group is gathering on a chilly but sunny January 18th for the Ice Cave hike. This parking area is at the office for Clear Creek, the white building.

This hike generally has a broad trail, which in one spot blends into the landscape a bit, and has a couple of intersections. This photo is actually from the return leg, but it will suffice to illustrate.

Here we have arrived at the mouth of the small gorge where the ice cave lives.

We have stumbled into a perfect day for the ice cave. There is a steady drizzle of melt water, but the cold snap earlier in the week has left plenty of ice.

Pre-registration was required for this hike, which has a maximum number of participants, and you can understand why when people are maneuvering for a better look at the ice formations.

This is one of the views looking out from the cave into the light.

The combination of falling water and cold temperatures has laid a thick skin of ice over the sticks and stones.

This shot has a more accurate coloration.

When inspected more closely, the wet ice resembles a congealed flow of shiny glass.

Some small critter left his or her skull here.

Then it was time to hike back. The fellow in front of the group in this photo, wearing a cap, is Bob Neinast, or "Barefoot Bob". (Click on the photo to enlarge.)

Winnowing Rock
We returned for another Metro Five-0 hike on June 7th, this time to Winnowing Rock. This hike didn't require pre-registration, but the turnout was modest anyway. Here we have just departed from the parking area, crossing Clear Creek, which is muddy from heavy rain the night before, which might have suppressed the turnout.

We proceeded at a relaxed pace, observing the landscape and listening to the guide, Marcy, point out features and flora and answer our questions. Here we have paused to admire some blooming mountain laurel.

There was even more just down the road.

I zoomed in for a closeup.

Early on we passed a beaver dam.

This picture gets a little closer (click on the image to enlarge).

The damp environs of the first part of the trail supported ferns, whose spores Marcy is describing here, as well as the difference between spores and seeds. Seeds contain food as well as the plant embryo, spores do not.

There was also a lush crop of skunk cabbage, which fortunately bloomed long ago, in January and February.

One spot hosted some fire pinks.

The low-lying portion of the hike was near its end at Emily Lake, known to Google Maps as Benua Lake. The Beck and Benua families donated much of the land that became Clear Creek Metro Park.

From the dam visible in the above map, this is the view.

Eventually -- the skunk cabbage and fern photos were taken just beyond the lake -- the trail began to rise.

Along our way to winnowing rock were the remains of two cabins. The first was smashed by a tree that fell during Hurricane Ike's September 2008 visit to Ohio.

The pieces have been stored, as you can see to the left of the photo, with the hope of rebuilding the cabin. It hasn't happened yet.

A foundation is all that remains of the other cabin. Rumors say that this cabin hosted celebrities and wild parties many decades ago.

After a short bit of steeper climbing, we were at Winnowing Rock. Legend has it that farmers would come up to the rock to winnow their wheat, to separate the heavier wheat kernels from the lighter chaff. It sounds like a long way to go.

Here I have zoomed in on the rock at the far tip of the bluff.

After eating our snacks, it was time to head back. Now that everyone had become familiar with the route on the way up, Marcy allowed the hikers to return at their own pace. Some, who had places to be, went quickly. Some, including Joan and me, continued to take our time and enjoy the sights and the company. Here Susan pretends to be collecting a scat sample (real scat) for later analysis.

It took us almost four hours to cover four miles, and we enjoyed every minute.

Schnormeier Gardens

Schnormeier Gardens, just south of Gambier, Ohio, held its annual public Open House June 5th - 9th. Joan and I had never even heard of this gem until our neighbor Laura mentioned it a couple of years ago. Although I wasn't sure at first if I wanted to go, I'm glad I did! We attended on the first day, June 5th.

Started in 1996, the gardens of Ted and Anne Schnormeier have grown to 75 acres of lawn, numerous lakes and ponds, and nine garden areas. The history is fascinating, and the tasks were not easy or straightforward. I recommend reading about it here. The Schnormeier website is excellent, and I suggest following the links in this blog to each garden's extensive description. There are many corners of this marvel that I'm sure I did not discover on this first visit.

Google Maps doesn't know where Schnormeier Gardens is, by name, but it's easy to find. In this map it's everything to the left of Laymon Rd.

Here we are walking from the parking area (lawn) to the welcome center. That's the small structure at the bottom of the above map.

From there everything is accessible on foot; the brochure numbers the different gardens, but your route is of your own choosing. There are no trails except for the Woodland Trail. Almost everybody starts with #1, the Waterfalls Garden, just below the welcome center.

The waterfall is sheltered by trees, so my best picture of it came later in the day, when we approached from the other side.

By using a different exposure, a small sculpture is revealed in the shade of the trees. Over fifty sculptures have been placed throughout the Schnormeier Gardens; I did not even come close to taking pictures of them all. This one is titled "Kneeling Nude." (Click on any photo to see the enlarged version.)

Most visitors are immediately drawn to Swan Island.

From Swan Island, the entire expanse of the lake is visible, with the Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Schnormeier residence on the left.

Along the shore in the shade of the trees is a Japanese teahouse.

A volunteer wearing a kimono played host in the teahouse.

There are many formally presented sculptures  in the gardens as well, ones with a base and identifying plaque. We saw this one, Beginnings IV, as we approached garden #2, the Stream Garden.

We walked along the streamside briefly, and then decided to visit #5, the Chinese Cup Garden. The pavilion, resting above the two cup gardens, has a resident guardian dragon, Draco Teribillis. He or she was the first sculpture in the gardens (1996).

Note the armillary sphere on top of the pavilion.

Here also there was a host to explain the various features of the pavilion. The framing circles created a sensation of expansion when I looked through them, as through a giant porthole or lens.

Climbing the hill towards garden #3, the Serenity Garden, we came to this statue of Ann and Ted Schnormeier, honoring the occasion of their 50th anniversary.

At the crest of the Serenity Garden is a Japanese garden house, which looks out over five ponds, two waterfalls, and a bridge.

The front is dressed in reflective, or one-way, glass.

The interior exudes tranquility. I could see spending an entire afternoon up there, when the crowds were gone.

Here is a wide view from near the front of the garden house.

These ponds bore clusters of water lilies. We would see many more hues of water lily today.

Spotted through some of the rare conifers was the Buddha.

From here we crossed the field to the upper terminus of the Woodland Garden, #8.

The trail is easy to follow.

Metal silhouette sculptures inhabit the fringes of the trail, including deer, wolves, owls, raccoons, bear, and more, as well as tree faces. A checklist sheet lists them all, but Joan and I didn't make the effort to spot every one. In this photo we see both the hunter, a Native American, and his quarry, a deer.

Along the trail is a resting house, a grandfather and grandson project, as explained in this plaque.

The resting house presents a gentle face to the trail.

As we approached the Meadow Gardens, #7, we came across this bridge and statue.

Here is a closer look at an enigmatic lady. Has she begun to fall into the stream?

Soon, at the lower terminus of the Woodland Trail, we came to the back entrance of the Meadow Garden.

This is where I began to photograph water lilies in earnest. Pink ones ...

deeper hued ones ...

pale yellow ones ...

and metal/enamel ones.

But what really overloaded my eyeballs was this peony. I haven't done any image processing on this picture except to crop it, honest.

 Lurking nearby was this pensive figure, "Thought of a Past Tense."

One pond features a zig-zag bridge. Evil spirits travel in straight lines, so any such that are hot on your heels will fall into the water when you zig. Or zag.

This lady, "Affirmation of Rejection," inhabits the far side.

Here's looking back on the Meadow Gardens.

Then it was time to walk partway up the gentle slope to the left, to reach the Hosta Garden, #4. After years of preparation, over 2000 hostas were planted in 2008. There are two entrances through the low stone wall that circles the acre of hostas.

After walking through the sunny meadow, the hosta garden is cool and relaxing.

Then we came to the Schnormeier residence itself.

Actually, from the hosta garden, we first arrived at the back of the house, where we saw this artful slice of open sky illuminating a snug and strategically placed tree.

Plants and warriors keep vigil along the front of the house. Reflective glass is used in the residence as well as other structures, so there is no peeking inside.

At the southern edge of the house the stream of the Stream Garden, which originates up at the Serenity Garden, empties into the lake. Note the fish sculpture.

From this spot, looking towards Swan Island.

As we left the house for the other side of the lake, the top of the Chinese Pavilion was revealed emerging above the roof of the Schnormeier residence.

On the far side is the Quarry Garden, #9. When the gentleman in center, wearing the brimmed hat, was asked "Are you a volunteer?" the reply was, "Not exactly. I'm the landscape architect."

Here is a better look at the gentle waterfall.

We briefly revisited the Waterfall Garden, and then returned to our car and drove into Gambier for an excellent lunch at the Village Inn. There we ended up sitting next to the gentleman in the green T-shirt who appears in at least two of my photos, and his friend, and doubtless other Open House visitors that we didn't recognize. On our return drive we stopped at the Whit's outside Johnstown for some A#1 frozen custard, another tip from Laura, and the cap on a spectacular outing.

Schnormeier Gardens is highly recommended. Keep an eye open for the 2014 Open House dates.