After dropping our cat off for a brief hospital stay, I stopped by Hinckley Lake for a hike and another effort at dragonfly photography. I was quite disappointed with my efforts on Sunday, coming way from that session with only a couple of acceptable pictures. So I walked the entire circumference of the lake stopping now and again to shoot images as opportunities arose. It wasn’t until I’d nearly completed the walk –about three-quarters of the way around– that I began to see a few dragonflies. I photographed one that perched for a while on a leaf of grass. Others stayed out of reach — too small and too far away for me to image properly. I noticed a large, dark variety liked to fly in figure-eight patterns in set territories and it occurred to me to try and capture dragonflies in flight. What the heck, it’s digital so I’m not wasting film! So I tried and tried and deleted a good number of blank or blurred frames in the field. What I got back, however, was astonishing to me and of better quality than I managed shooting still-life insects Sunday!
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It continues to be a stressful and tiring time. Our mothers are facing health issues. Our cat, Tasha, has reached a health crisis of her own — hyperthyroidism. There’s too much to do, and too little rest. Still, it’s possible to find a respite in nature. Wednesday morning, before heading off to work, I took a brief, solo photo hike along a portion of Chippewa Creek. Calm now after the spring’s torrents of rain, the stream flows gently over age-smoothed stone in a gorge carved deep into bedrock. The stream is canopied by the branches and leaves of old trees. Mosses and ferns grow in tiny trays of moist soil formed in the rockface. Despite the location, near a busy street and business center of town, the scene is calm and soothing to the soul. Just what I needed.
It’s been a challenging spring. There’s been a lot of stress and work dealing with the needs of our aging mothers, lousy weather, big projects running less than smooth, astronomy prevented by thick clouds and heavy rains. Once in a while we get a break. One such respite was a visit to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Ledges Area near Peninsula, Ohio. The soft light and mossy rocks were quite restful and, while we really didn’t hike, we did explore for a few minutes. It was literally a breath of fresh air!
We saw a news item about the Thursday dedication of a new area within the Lake Metroparks: Chair Factory Falls. Today was a beautiful day for a trip there so, after quick shopping for the week’s groceries, we headed out. The Falls turned out to be probably the most beautiful natural water feature I’ve seen in the Northeastern Ohio area and were a short walk from a convenient parking lot. We encountered a couple of people who warned us that the hike back out of the gorge was tough but worth the effort. They underestimated our vigor for while the path out was steep, it was an easy climb for the two of us and more than worth the effort. Of course the cameras came with us and we shot many photos but I’ll show only two here. The parking lot was adjacent to the Metroparks’ Old Stone School landmark. Stone walls, fallen leaves, and an antique water pump made for a rustic scene.
Today She Who Must Be Obeyed and I went on a minor grocery shopping trip. She said that, when we returned home, she would get some work done around the place… like cleaning out her car. Exposure to the glorious fall day, however, changed Her mind. She suggested a hike in the Brandywine Falls park, near Peninsula, Ohio.
Brandywine is a beautiful place where a natural waterfall flows over a stone bed, carving and smoothing the rock. A deep gorge extends downstream of the falls, shallow and safe for hiking, surrounded by woodland.
We spent a good long time in the woodland downstream of the falls, hiking the hilly earthen trails, and stopping frequently to take photos. There’s a lot to see if you slow down and look around.
Yes, She was seduced as I had been a day earlier. Her noble and ambitious plans were put aside for enjoyment of the day. Nothing done, again. Ha-ha!
Then again, as a philosopher* once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
*Ferris Bueller, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986.
- The Sun rises over a field of ripening soy on a beautiful autumn day in Northeastern Ohio.
I’ll blame She Who Must Be Obeyed. I innocently remarked that it was an absolutely beautiful morning. She replied, “Yes, a perfect morning to go to Hinckley Lake.” I had the day off (having worked last Sunday) but I had other activities in mind for the day. I headed to Hinckley anyway. Along the way I noticed how the low sun was setting the ripening soy fields aglow.
All of the seed-producing plants are finishing their job for the season. That includes the wild grasses that grow along the roads and streams. I found one grass seed head beautifully isolated against the plain background of a stream.
Hinckley Lake was a wonderland of light and color. Many trees wore yellows and reds. Many a leaf has already fallen to the ground. No large birds (other than buzzards) were to be seen. The greatest wildlife activity was from numerous chipmunks and squirrels scampering about the forest floor, apparently gathering seeds as food.
Too many sights. Too many photographs. Too brief was the magical light present.
Of course I got nothing done I had planned for the day.
She Who Must Be Obeyed sent me out on this cloudy and cool Sunday afternoon to buy crackers. We’ve been looking for our favorite brand –Wheatsworth– for some time now and we last found them at our favorite store: Heinen’s, Brecksville. No dice. The Teenagers were running the service desk today so I don’t know if the store no longer stocks them. I purchased a few other items and took a little walk. The shopping center is improbably perched on a piece of land that leads down into an amazing natural space: Chippewa Creek’s valley, carved from solid rock. I’d brought my little G11 camera “just in case” and was glad I did. I spent way more time photographing the rocks, mosses, ferns, and foliage than I’d spent shopping for crackers. I felt way better after having done so. Looking at one picture in particular was an experience: the rock face and its colors, striations, water stains, lichens, slime, plants, roots, and tumbled appearance… it’s crazy and beautiful.

This shockingly orange fungus was seen growing from the side of a fallen branch or log on the forest floor.
The morning was dark and dreary. We had a delicious homemade waffle breakfast and headed out for a bit of miscellaneous shopping. The day began to clear with puffy clouds and blue skies drawing us out so after lunch we headed to the Brecksville Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks System. One of the more beautiful areas, the northern trail runs along a deep, rocky river valley amidst ancient tall trees. The forest floor is littered with fallen branches, fern forests, and understory growth… and plenty of opportunities for nature photography. Unfortunately, I don’t yet carry a tripod with me on these walks. Fortunately, a few of my efforts turned out well despite the darkness and hand-holding my camera. Among the last shots of the day: a shockingly orange fungus growing from the side of a dark, moss-covered, rotting tree branch. Amazing sometimes what you’ll see on a walk in the woods.
It is Labor Day. We awoke to chilly temperatures and skies that turned from partly cloudy to overcast as we ate breakfast. She Who Must Be Obeyed suggested we check out the Cleveland Metroparks’ Lake-to-Lake Trail. The trail, which we had never visited, runs along the eastern edge of the Berea area and into Middleburg Heights.

One of the uniquely decorated wooden deck bridges on the Lake-to-Lake Trail, this one features metal cutouts of dragonflies, each identified with a plaque mounted to its supporting post.
We were delighted with the experience, though both a bit sore upon return. Putting in a total of 5.4 miles, we covered most of the trail from Lake Isaac north to Lake Abram and back with a very pleasant stop at an Aladdin’s Eatery (a lovely advantage of suburban trail hiking) for lunch.
We stopped many times along the way to photograph plants, flowers, and wildlife including a very cooperative Green Frog and red dragonfly (Ruby Meadowhawk?), residents of a tiny pond area. The trail is mostly asphalt paved with an extensive system of wooden boardwalks and bridges to carry visitors over wet areas.

A Green Frog watches warily but allowed surprisingly close encounters by two photographers and their macro-focusing cameras.
It was exciting and reassuring to see, from the trail, large expanses of marsh habitat undeveloped and preserved as natural areas in suburban Cleveland. And what a marvelous resource for area residents. Like us!
A lazy Sunday started off with a call from mother-in-law about a plumbing problem. She Who Must Be Obeyed tried to sort it out but the phone company then had problems connecting calls to mother's Area Code! Fortunately brother-in-law was able to pop over to his mom's and sort it out. Still, looks like more work for SWMBO lining up a plumber for repairs. Gad! Not a good way to start off the day.
After an otherwise easy morning we finally settled on a visit to the Medina County Park System's Alderfer-Oenslager Wildlife Sanctuary — really a park with a strong environmental theme. My "dragonfly summer" continued with activity there: numerous types of dragonfly zipping about. One insect in particular caught our eyes, though with some difficulty on our part. Not only were the dragonfly's wings near fully transparent, its body is in the same range of green as the reeds and other plants that line the pond it patrols. Standing mere inches from the beasie, it took effort to rediscover its location if we looked away for a moment. It is apparently an Eastern Pondhawk. I really must return there before dragonfly season ends!















