Hiking with Doc

20210809 – Highlands Park

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Date: 08/09/2021 – Distance: 1.8 mi – Elapsed Time: 1.0 hr – Ascent: 33 ft – Descent: 43 ft – Difficulty: Very Easy

Highlands Park in Westerville, Ohio is a community park with a pool, sports fields, paved walking trails, and a beautiful wetland area. I hiked a few easy miles here after work and really enjoyed the wetland.

Sign at the entrance off of Spring Rd.
This smaller parking lot is less crowded than the one for the pool and sports fields.
Info about the watershed in this area.
The wetland is right next to the parking.
There is a fairly good sized pond with great wildflowers.
Iron Weed.
Swamp Rose hips.
Cup Plant.
Notice how the leaves form a cup at the stem.
Cup Plant.
The Pink one is Joe-Pye Weed.
Marsh Mallow.
Bald Cypress.
Bald Cypress.
Hard to see the roots protruding from the soil. Since they often grow in water, their roots stick up to get air. Called “knees.”
There is a boardwalk.
It’s a beautiful place.
You can see the knees better on this one.
Buttonbush.
Pickerel Weed.
Pickerel Weed.
Obedient Plant.
Broadleaf Arrowhead.
Broadleaf Arrowhead.
Cardinal Flower.
Swamp Milkweed.
This Maple tree looks stressed.
Bunny.
Common Boneset.
Common Boneset.
Sparganium Eurycarpum or Broadfruit Bur-Reed.
Joe-Pye Weed.
Prairie Dock.
Entrance to the pool.
Hemp Agrimony.
Concretions are formed when organic matter rots under mud, forms bubbles, then later fills in with minerals. They have a layered shell look. This one is about 4 feet in diameter.
Soccer fields.
Type of Buckeye. Maybe Aesculus Parviflora.
Baseball fields.
Tennis.
More soccer fields.
Coming back to the wetland.
Lots of friendly ducks. I think they get fed alot.
Nice place for an evening stroll.
I pulled out my lawn chair for a bit and these guys hung out with me.
Pretty colors.

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