Gorman Nature Center- Ohio

Jasper's grandmother took us to Gorman Nature Center in Mansfield for a ramble.  We explored all around the ponds, climbed the observation tower, and strolled through the woods looking for wonders.  The pond was full of bullfrog tadpoles, which are native to Ohio and thriving.  In the woods we met several mushroom foragers, eyes scanning the ground.  But just about the only fungi we found were enormous shelf fungi the size of dinner plates sprouting out of rotting logs.  

Dogwood.

Freshwater snail.

Honeysuckle.

Gigantic fungus.  Photo by Jasper.

Ragwort.

Canada goose.  Photo by Jasper.

Jasper and his Grandma.

Violet.

Wild rose.  Photo by Jasper.

Ohio Bird Sanctuary

Blue jay.

Jasper's grandmother took us to visit the Ohio Bird Sanctuary in Mansfield.  It was a delightful surprise.  

American kestrel.

This is a wildlife care center for injured wild birds, and there are 15 enclosures for birds which are healed but unable to be released.  The majority of these birds were presumed to have been hit by cars.  Two came from a falconer; one was sold to them as an educational bird and the other was donated because it was more interested in small animals than the larger game it was intended to hunt.  What makes this sanctuary especially cool is the large aviary they have for a variety of mostly small song birds which the public is invited to stroll through.  For a quarter, you can purchase a small cup of birdseed and live mealworms to feed to the birds.  When we entered, we were immediately greeted by a charming Baltimore oriole that perched on our hands to pick out the mealworms, and a crazed bantam hen that chased us around pecking at our jeans!  Eventually my Mom sat down on a bench and the hen came to visit in a calmer mood. Jasper began to pet it and to his surprise it laid an egg!  He thought this was hilarious!  We loved this aviary and wondered what other bird rescues do with their wild birds if they cannot be released. 

Cooper's hawk.

Jasper and the Baltimore oriole.

Grandma and the Baltimore oriole.

Baltimore oriole.

Rock pigeon.

Ring-necked pheasant.

Blue jay.

Male cardinal.

Cedar waxwing. 

Mourning dove.

Female cardinal.

Bantam hen and egg.

Kingwood Center- Ohio

Jasper's grandparents took us to Kingwood Center in Mansfield for a stroll.  It's a palatial mansion with formal gardens and a duck pond that are open to the public.  Of course the thing to do while you're there is to pretend it's home!  I took a few pictures and then Jasper was inspired to take lots and lots of pictures, especially in the greenhouses.  

Photo by Jasper.

Photo by Jasper.

Photo by Jasper.

Photo by Jasper.

Photo by Jasper.

Photo by Jasper.

Photo by Jasper.

Photo by Jasper.

Photo by Jasper.

Photo by Jasper.

Photo by Jasper.

Photo by Jasper.

Lowe Volk Nature Park- Ohio

Jasper's grandmother took us to Lowe Volk Nature Center in Crestline to ramble around in the gentle shade of the forest and look for wildflowers.  The Nature Center has some excellent exhibits of the natural history of the area, including tanks with many native reptiles and amphibians, and a display of stunning Ohio minerals.  A pond outside the nature center is home to 22 adult midland painted turtles. The Sandusky River flows through the park.   

Violets.

Jack-in-the-pulpit.

Bluets.

Eastern spring beauty.

Yellow violet.

Sweet William.

Buttercup.

Jasper's lovely Grandma.

White violets.

Honeysuckle.

Ants and eggs.

Drooping trillium.

Moss phlox.

Plant with striking red insect galls.

Honeysuckle.

Midland painted turtle.

Mysterious fish in the pond.