OUR NATURE CENTER and
An Enchanting Walk in the Woods--
Lady friend Jenny Lezak and I winked at the encroaching calendar and headed to the Gorman Nature Center for their recent “Summer Walk for Seniors” * gasp *. Turned out we were the sole participants on that hot, summer day.
It also turned out Staff Naturalist Jan Ferrell, was substituting for a recently injured Steve McKee, director of the center. Steve had taken a tumble while researching another hike he was preparing to lead a few weeks earlier.
Since it was Jenny’s first visit to the center’s spiffy new building, Jan was quick to agree to the three of us creating our own agenda for the day’s program, starting with a tour of their modern facility which was constructed on the cutting edge of environmental friendliness.
“Ceiling beams and all interior woodwork were fashioned from scrap lumber so absolutely no trees were cut for the building’s construction” Jan enthused. The toilets are the earth friendly, composting variety. The entryway floor is done with recycled car tires. Heating and cooling are geothermal. And on, and on.
All of those techniques are wrapped around the handsome meeting area in the top photo which attracts such groups for their meetings as the local Bassmasters fishing club and the Mid Ohio Bikers, the quiet variety of cyclists; folks that appreciate a building that salutes the environment just as their organizations do.
Jenny and I offered to move along that day and give Jan some unexpected free time, but, she instead proposed a pleasant compromise and the three of us wound up enjoying a delightful walk in the cool woods of their 150 acre grounds.
It wasn’t very long until we encountered a white tail deer relaxing in the shade of a downed tree across a dry creek bed. It watched us for a bit then drifted into some nearby brush while we went slowly on our way; four souls in harmony with the woods and each other for those tranquil moments.
We sampled some tasty berries and examined the pesky armament of the Nettle plants and kept a watchful eye for poison ivy as we passed deeper into the forest. Far up in the northeast corner of the heavy woods, silence overtook us.
Nothing but the sounds of nature pleased our ears.
Then, after an attempt here and an attempt there, Jan’s owl calling skills were rewarded; first by twittering flocks of mostly songbirds creating their version of a rally to assault the pesky “owl” they suddenly heard—but couldn’t find.
Then, far to the south, a male Barred Owl responded to Jan’s entreaty. She deepened her calls to more closely resemble the female of the species. And, their conversation continued.
But, it was clear the wise old male owl wasn’t on the move and Jan opined he may have been more interested in territorial matters than the attractive sounding “lady owl” with whom he had been conversing.
Jenny and I exchanged quiet eye smiles and were just a little sad when it was time to reverse course and head back down the wooded trail.
An Enchanting Walk in the Woods--
Lady friend Jenny Lezak and I winked at the encroaching calendar and headed to the Gorman Nature Center for their recent “Summer Walk for Seniors” * gasp *. Turned out we were the sole participants on that hot, summer day.
It also turned out Staff Naturalist Jan Ferrell, was substituting for a recently injured Steve McKee, director of the center. Steve had taken a tumble while researching another hike he was preparing to lead a few weeks earlier.
Since it was Jenny’s first visit to the center’s spiffy new building, Jan was quick to agree to the three of us creating our own agenda for the day’s program, starting with a tour of their modern facility which was constructed on the cutting edge of environmental friendliness.
“Ceiling beams and all interior woodwork were fashioned from scrap lumber so absolutely no trees were cut for the building’s construction” Jan enthused. The toilets are the earth friendly, composting variety. The entryway floor is done with recycled car tires. Heating and cooling are geothermal. And on, and on.
All of those techniques are wrapped around the handsome meeting area in the top photo which attracts such groups for their meetings as the local Bassmasters fishing club and the Mid Ohio Bikers, the quiet variety of cyclists; folks that appreciate a building that salutes the environment just as their organizations do.
Jenny and I offered to move along that day and give Jan some unexpected free time, but, she instead proposed a pleasant compromise and the three of us wound up enjoying a delightful walk in the cool woods of their 150 acre grounds.
It wasn’t very long until we encountered a white tail deer relaxing in the shade of a downed tree across a dry creek bed. It watched us for a bit then drifted into some nearby brush while we went slowly on our way; four souls in harmony with the woods and each other for those tranquil moments.
We sampled some tasty berries and examined the pesky armament of the Nettle plants and kept a watchful eye for poison ivy as we passed deeper into the forest. Far up in the northeast corner of the heavy woods, silence overtook us.
Nothing but the sounds of nature pleased our ears.
Then, after an attempt here and an attempt there, Jan’s owl calling skills were rewarded; first by twittering flocks of mostly songbirds creating their version of a rally to assault the pesky “owl” they suddenly heard—but couldn’t find.
Then, far to the south, a male Barred Owl responded to Jan’s entreaty. She deepened her calls to more closely resemble the female of the species. And, their conversation continued.
But, it was clear the wise old male owl wasn’t on the move and Jan opined he may have been more interested in territorial matters than the attractive sounding “lady owl” with whom he had been conversing.
Jenny and I exchanged quiet eye smiles and were just a little sad when it was time to reverse course and head back down the wooded trail.
Thanks Jan!
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