Jax Stumpes: South Chagrin Reservation (5/24/2015)

Monday, May 25, 2015

South Chagrin Reservation (5/24/2015)

Sunday, May 24, 2015
Today's hike was in the South Chagrin Reservation. We followed Sulphur Springs Creek, first having to use stepping stones to cross the water.

Photo taken later from a bridge
looking down at where we crossed the creek

Small waterfalls

Water cascading down what looks like steps

Lots of stairs on this hike

We saw a couple of these 10' x 10' enclosures;
part of an earthworm exclusion experiment

Look About Lodge (1938, built by the Cleveland Natural Science Club)
made from more than 300 chestnut logs,
with three stone fireplaces

Next we drove north on Chagrin River Road, alongside the Chagrin River.

Stopped to see a marsh full of yellow iris
with a few cat tails

Iris pseudacorus/Yellow Flag Iris,
beautiful but a non-native invasive

Heard and saw frogs, probablyRana clamitans melanota/Northern Green Frogs

Monday, May 25, 2015
Happy Memorial Day in Shaker Heights!
We went to the Pancake Breakfast in Thornton Park, and checked out the facilities including a 50-meter pool, splash zone, current channel, water slides, and tot pool.

Swimming pool with the sledding hill behind it

There is also outdoor basketball, sand volleyball, tennis, batting cages, a skatepark, and a sledding hill, as well as an indoor skating rink.
We could hear marching music as the Shaker Heights High School band approached.

The band at the end of the Memorial Day Parade

We walked in the opposite direction of the parade, passing cheerleaders from both the high school and middle school, then Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, a few politicians, fewer military veterans, a few sports teams, dance schools, gymnastics groups, a few antique cars...