Field Outing

Took the family to Battelle Darby Metro Park today to see the work Andrew has done in the past 15 + years in restoring former farm fields to native prairie. The prairie was in peak and full bloom and we had an enjoyable day visiting the nature center and going to dinner at Ann and Tony's Italian Restaurant followed by a trip to Rita's Ice when we got back in town.

Common milkweed

Queen Anne's Lace

Purple Coneflower, Gray-headed Coneflower

James with a "flight" of ice from Rita's Italian ice.

Baby Catfish?

Baby catfish? Nope, it's a stonecat madtom that was captured by Andrew and me and released during a biotic survey at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. Catfish get much larger, but the maximum length of a stonecat is 6-in.

Flowers and Fish

Spent the day photographing prairie flowers, visiting Mac's Riffle and doing a biotic survey for darters at Darby Creek.

The Darby Accord-10 year Anniversary

Andrew doing a program for the Darby Accord.

On the Darby, celebrating 10 years of the Darby Accord. Small River Sucker here, which demonstrates good water quality.           

                            

Photos from Mary Ellen O'Shaughnessy and The Nature Conservancy.

On Location...

On location with WBNS-10TV doing a segment on dragonflies at Darby Creek Metro Park. Will air this fall as park of a tv special on the parks.

Fridays Off

Yay I have Friday's off during the summer.  Spend the morning at Darby walking the trail and looking at the work Andrew has been doing over the past couple years in the park.  Prairie flowers were starting to bloom and it was a nice morning.

Aquatics Program

Very passionate about his work and sharing his knowledge today with a group of park employees including the Director-Andrew at Darby Creek teaching aquatics.

Twayblade

Andrew photographed this uncommon orchid at one of the parks today.

Final Farewell

Some closure this weekend with a memorial hike on Fri. at Clear Creek and memorial celebration on Sat. at Darby for our good friend and Andrew's co-worker, Mac Albin. In honor of Mac, the Metro Parks has named the stream-side study site at Darby; Mac's Riffle. Inside the nature center, a plaque in his honor has been installed as a remembrance of the lifetime contributions he made as a field naturalist and aquatic ecologist to the Darby Creek and to all of Central Ohio and beyond.

Spring Canoe Outing

Beautiful day on Little Darby! Even took a swim.      

                           

A Moment to Relax

The calm before the storm of upcoming medical issues.  Out to Battelle Darby for an afternoon of relaxation before the upcoming week of surgeries....

Howard T with recommended reading for me

Woodland warriors

Showy orchis

Spring Outing

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks". John Muir
Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park