Since we were at Scioto Trail State Park mid-May, there were so many wildflowers along the trails that I thought they merited their own post. Here's a look at some of the flowers that we saw, plus some of the living creatures that were near them.
Wildflowers
Animal life
While looking for wildflowers, the following little creatures also caught my eye.
Additional information
Bob's post, Scioto Trail State Read more ➜ May Wildflowers at Scioto Trail State Park
Since we were at Scioto Trail State Park mid-May, there were so many wildflowers along the trails that I thought they merited their own post. Here's a look at some of the flowers that we saw, plus some of the living creatures that were near them.
Wildflowers
Animal life
While looking for wildflowers, the following little creatures also caught my eye.
Additional information
Bob's post, Scioto Trail State Read more ➜ 
Years ago I went canoeing on the Little Miami River; the river serenely wound its way between the wooded river banks. But at Clifton Gorge, the Little Miami River is something altogether different; it plunges over falls and rapids between narrow cliffs of dolomite and shale. The river and surrounding cliffs are the main attractions of Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, a 268 acre preserve located adjacent to John Bryan State Park. The Little Miami River flows through both, with the nature preserve 
We only sampled a small part of the offerings at Caesar Creek State Park, but we liked what we saw! Caesar Creek caters to a diverse variety of interests. Whether you want to hike, camp, swim, fish, mountain bike, ride on a bridle trail, go boating, or even hunt fossils, Caesar Creek has it all.
The park is located just off I-71 between Columbus and Cleveland in Warren County. We visited the park after hiking at nearby Caesar Creek Gorge Nature Preserve.
The main feature of the 
The white flower above is known by several names: Indian pipe, Ghost plant and Corpse plant. Like squawroot, Indian pipe can't meet its own nutritional needs since it has no chlorophyll. It leads a parasitic life just as squawroot does.
While squawroot gets its nutrition by directly tapping into the roots of oak trees, Indian pipe gets its nutrition more indirectly. It's host organism is a fungus, a member of the Russulaceae family. This fungus gets its nutrition from tree roots. However 
The Emily Traphagen Preserve is part of Delaware County's Preservation Park system. There are two short trails in the park:
White Tail Loop (0.6 miles), and
Meadow Trail (0.5 miles)
Both trails are loops. As you might expect, Meadow Trail is a mown path. However the White Tail Loop is an improved dirt trail that passes through the woods and by a marsh area. From White Tail Loop there is a side trail to what's called the Pond Overlook. I spotted the red-shouldered hawk pictured