Saturday, July 18, 2015

Marblehead Peninsula, OH (7/18/2015)

Saturday, July 18, 2015
Good weather and cheap Groupon tickets sent us on our way to Marblehead Peninsula, OH.
We crossed the Sandusky Bay on the Thomas A Edison Memorial Bridge (1965). Edison was born in nearby Milan, OH.
We arrived at the African Safari Wildlife Park, which seems to be located in Danbury, OH, and presented our vouchers. We headed to the drive-thru area and were given a large plastic cup full of feed pellets. Obviously there are no carnivores in this park!
The animals converge on the cars almost immediately, and well before the red pole that is our clue as to when we can begin feeding the animals. Alpacas, llamas, guanacos, and Sika deer stuck their heads right in the open windows.
Llama at the car window
In separate areas away from the feeding were gemsboks and camels. A large Scottish Highland cattle approached us, whereas an even larger Ankole cattle lolled on the ground.
Scottish Highlander
It was strange that herds of animals besieged the cars, yet almost an equal number sat around with no interest in food. Do they work in shifts?
Llama, alpacas, and a guanaco
Next were bison, elk and fallow deer. They slobbered all over the car.
Bison
Elk
Crowd of animals at the car in front of us
An elk grabbed the whole cup away from Brynne (and you are told to let them have it!). That didn't stop the animals from trying to nose their way into the car.
Fallow deer
Fallow deer photobombing picture of all the fawns (KSS)
Zebras, giraffes, an eland, and a bongo were in separate enclosures, but the giraffes could reach over for carrots if one had purchased them.
A giraffe peeks through the sunroof
There was also a walk-thru area with a mixture of small mammals, reptiles, and birds.
Black-necked swan and Muscovy duck
We drove to Port Clinton to have lunch at McCarthy's Pub.
Port Clinton downtown
Dream Big/Catch of the Day (2011,
by Lauren Shaw and Megan Ziembowicz)
Port Clinton is the Walleye Capital of the World.
Wylie, the Walleye, who gets "dropped"
like the Times Square ball every New Year's Eve
I guess Port Clinton is also famous for the four Ps
We bypassed Lakeside Chautauqua, as there is an entrance fee during the summer season.
Next was the Marblehead Light (1822), the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the US side of Lake Erie.
Marblehead Light
Lightkeeper's House (1880)
The first lightkeeper's house (1822),
the oldest surviving home in Ottawa County, OH;
an example of an early American hall-and-parlor house
The first lightkeeper was Benajah Wolcott who maintained the light until he died in 1832. The US Government then appointed his wife, Rachel, who became the first female lighthouse keeper on the Great Lakes.
Near this house was the site of the first battle of the War of 1812 to be fought on Ohio soil.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Cleveland Garden Walk (7/11/2015)

Saturday, July 11, 2015
A sunny day with clear skies; perfect weather for a garden walk. This year we headed to the Detroit-Shoreway that claims to be one of the coolest and most diverse neighborhoods in Cleveland, OH.
Grace Avenue had three homes on the tour, and as many bonus homes because the neighbors help each other, and share those Canna x generalis/Burgundy-leaf Cannas!
Re-purposed salvaged rocks in tree lawn
Re-purposed high-top sneakers
"White picket oasis in the city" (KSS)
Albert Hart Orchard and Garden,
a community green space on Wakefield Avenue (KSS)
Albert Hart Orchard and Garden:
Giant cherries? (KSS)
Blackberries (KSS)
Houses on Franklin Boulevard (both 1890) (KSS)
Yard with arbor and "firewood storage"
Not sure what this is about (KSS)
Bee hives and rain barrel (KSS)
Interesting yard art
"Ettore's Zen Garden"
Buddleja davidii/Butterfly Bush (KSS)
Monarda sp/Horsemint of Bee Balm (KSS)
"Kids' play arbor" (KSS)
Isotoma fluviatilis/Blue Star Creeper and Ice Plant
Shrinking yard of grass (KSS)
Sedum sp (KSS)
Re-purposed swingset
Re-used plastic jugs (KSS)
There were many chicken coops (and chickens!) (KSS)
"The most colorful house around" (1914)
Then this is the most colorful garage (KSS)
Multi-level fountain
Flagstones (KSS)
Cogswell Hall (1913 as a home for girls,
now a home for low-income adults with disabilities,
with a 2009 LEED Silver-certified addition) (KSS)
Behind Cogswell Hall (KSS) 
Gutter seedling forest (KSS)
Lily seeds (KSS)
Blue glass wall (KSS)
Blue glass and blue glass slag (KSS)
6822 Franklin Blvd (1900), former Leimkuehler Funeral Home
6822 Franklin Blvd "before" picture of back yard (KSS)
6822 Franklin Blvd: Mural on garage wall
6822 Franklin Blvd: Garage (KSS)
6822 Franklin Blvd:
Fountain made from plow disc (KSS)
Celtic cross
6616 Franklin Boulevard (1910)
Sign left from recently demolished
Uncle Dee's Ice Cream store
6314 Franklin Boulevard (1900) (KSS)
6314 Franklin Blvd: Original door? (KSS)
Many, many vegetable gardens
Jade Rabbit of Moon Place (2011) by Beth Gregerson
Musical Rat (2008) by Milan Kecman
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'/Snowball Hydrangea
Labyrinth Garden with sculpture by John Jackson (KSS)
Lilium x Hybrid Oriental Trumpet 'Albany'
Blackbird arbor
Blackbird (KSS)
Hemerocallis sp/Double daylily
(KSS)
Koi pond
Koi
Fancy rain barrel
Re-purposed pallets (KSS)
Tree face on pallet (KSS)
Penny ball (KSS)
Hydrangea macrophylla normalis/Lacecap Hydrangea
Patio of former Pioneer Savings Bank on Detroit Avenue
Former Templin-Bradley Company Building (1916);
they sold Penney Packets of flower seeds (KSS)
Now the Templin Bradley Lofts with
Garden Mirrors (2015) by Steve O'Hearn (KSS)
Garden Mirrors "allows visitors to
to be part of the landscape"
Re-inventing the Templin-Bradley Co test gardens
Former St Mary's Romanian Orthodox Church (1905),
now part of Cleveland Public Theater
Biggest garden of the day (KSS)
Asian-theme bird bath
Even a garden shed and koi pond (KSS)
Wooden pig (KSS)
65th Street Pedestrian Tunnel to Edgewater Park (KSS)
Mosaic murals by Colleen Fraser (KSS)
More mosaic murals (KSS)
Edgewater Park on Lake Erie (KSS)
Bocce Ball Court on W 67 St
"Yard for entertaining" (KSS)
Re-purposed ammo box (KSS)
Railroad Garden with Bob W and Kent
Railroad Garden (KSS)
Railroad Garden (KSS)
Railroad Garden with aerial cable car (KSS)
"Dog-free garden with brick patio" (KSS)
Concrete art (KSS)
"Best front porch on the street" (KSS)
Nice rain barrel (KSS)
Grape arbor covering half the back yard (KSS)
Tiered garden (KSS)
We did not hit all 90 spots on this garden walk tour; maybe about 60!