A brief trip to Rhododendron Cove

Today was a beautiful Indian Summer finale, presented in glorious technicolor. I spent a few hours outside this morning, at a wonderful state nature preserve known as Rhododendron Cove. It's located at the northern reaches of the Hocking Hills, in southern Fairfield County.

My companions were Lisa Sells, and her husband Steve. Both of them are accomplished photographers, and I wanted to tap their knowledge of SLR cameras and accoutrements. I learned a ton, and believe that I am ready to take the plunge into interchangeable lens. All of the photos that you've seen on this blog - those that I've taken, at least - are made with a Panasonic FZ50. It is a great camera, but I all too often bump up against its limits these days, and want some more sophisticated gear. So, perhaps before long, the quality of photos here will ramp up a notch or two.

Seeing some of Lisa's work, especially with macro subjects, is what finally put me over the edge and on the path to new gear. Check some of her work out RIGHT HERE.

Crisp blue skies provide a rich backdrop to the rugged sandstone cliffs at Rhododendron Cove. The name of this preserve stems from the profusion of Great Rhododendron, Rhododendron maximum, a bit of which can be seen in the upper right of the photo. This is a rarity in Ohio, but not here. Great drifts of the plant cascade through narrow box canyons.

Daunting cliffs and rocky promontories dominate Rhododendron Cove.

Fracture blocks, many of them the size of small ships, form torturous pathways through the sandstone. Interesting ferns and other saxicolous (rock-loving) plants festoon the rocks.

In the abyss, looking out. I'll take these rock canyons any day over those of big city downtowns, polluted and noisy.

We noted many interesting plants, and paused to make photos of these catkins of Black Birch, Betula lenta.

Strolling through the forest was akin to walking on marbles, as the acorn crop is spectacular this fall. Acorns + leaf cover + steep slopes makes one watch their step. Happy were the Blue Jays, though. These crested screamers love a good acorn, and were everywhere.

An interesting little member of the Heath Family, Teaberry or Wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens. You can nibble on this one; it tastes like wintergreen.

We spent some time in surrounding old fields, which take on a charm of their own in late fall. These orbicular cotton candy-like puffs are the fruit of a vining member of the Buttercup Family, Virgin's-bower, Clematis virginiana. It typically clambers over low vegetation; in this case, saplings of Box-elder, Acer negundo.

Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, was especially conspicuous. Its sculptured, waferlike seeds are sent aloft courtesy of those silken hairs - an excellent dispersal strategy.

We were pleased to see a number of Large Milkweed Bugs, Oncopeltus fasciatus, still occupying the plants in spite of their advanced senescence.

The mostly empty receptacles of Tall Ironweed, Vernonia gigantea. This is the big purple-flowered plant that thrives in old fields and pastures. Good-sized specimens will tower well over your head. There are a few other species of ironweed in Ohio, but you aren't too likely to cross their paths. This one is the default species, found abundantly in every Ohio county.

Often derided as a "weed", this Canada Goldenrod, Solidago canadensis, hosts an especially luxuriant plume of fruit. In my estimation, this goldenrod is one of the most important native plants of open successional old field habitats. Those seeds, which the plants hold fast well into winter, are heavily used by many species of seed-eating birds. American Tree Sparrows, winter visitors from the tundra, are especially fond of goldenrod fruit.

I hope that you were able to spend some time afield today. We won't have many days such as this one left.