Despite some heavy rain over the previous thirty hours, we were determined to get in a hike. We started to hike the Chief Cornstalk Trail into a flood plane, but aborted that when both of us had slipped on the bare dirt path, nearly falling. We opted to look for higher ground. The start for the Pelewa trail promised that, with a series of steps built into a hillside.
Atop the grade the trail entered a mid-aged wood with surprisingly good footing. Large Sugar Maples and Chestnut Oaks were the feature of the woodland.
As is frequently the case, the wet weather appeared to boost the mushroom population.
Soon the trail opened onto a large meadow
We were a little premature to see much flowering in the meadow with only a few Deptford Pinks on display.
But we enjoyed the fast moving, cumulus clouds that danced above the broad expanse of the field.
The Pelewa Trail is the short trail in orange on the map below.
To lengthen this trail we opted to head onto the Serenity Trail, depicted in blue, which entered a wood that featured large white pines, all of the same age, that had been planted in rows. Pine needles blanketed the path and added a fresh scent to the setting. Were we on an abandoned Christmas tree farm?
Some of these pines were towering, topping one hundred feet in height.
But there were also some outstanding Chestnut Oaks along the route. The low horizontal branching of this tree suggests that in the past it was in an open field.
The trail name, Serenity, was an apt descriptive for this setting which we had to ourselves. Eventually the path met up with the Pelewa Trail and we descended back to the trailhead. Near the parking area we noted a glade of meadow flowers above a nearby stream that was rushing and muddied due to the recent rainfall.
This grouping of wildflowers in late June was like a sneak peak into the upcoming prairie season, as noted in the title photo and below. The pollinators, including a beautiful Monarch, entertained us as they flew from plant to plant.
Common Milkweed is a magnet for Bumble Bees.
A Gray-spotted Skipper on Coneflower. Note the detail of its eye disc.
The color pallet of the blossoms was outstanding.
Odds and Ends:
We noted some Wild Garlic on the edge of the trail in the meadow. This caused me to recall an article that I wrote about the natural history and lifecycle of Wild Garlic three years ago (see link below). In this photo, there is a collection of bulbets atop a stalk. This is the primary way that Wild Garlic reproduces, with the bulbets already beginning to grow a new plant while still attached to the old one. They will drop to the ground and send down roots through the bare soil or leaf litter. From a scientific point of view it is an interesting system in that each bulbet is a genetic clone of the parent plant, since no cross pollination and exchange of genes has taken place. It seems to be efficient because it does not rely on wind or other species for pollination, but risky as it is the exchange of DNA that provides genetic diversity and improved likelihood of surviving challenges. Wild Garlic will occasionally flower but that is not as successful at reproduction as the bulbet is.
In amongst the pines we came upon this somewhat small Box Turtle. While Box Turtles were a frequent encounter with nature during my childhood, their populations are declining due to habitat loss and roadway mortality. Although we are frequently in the outdoors, we do not see them that often. Just above the turtle in this photo is a white mushroom that had been chewed on. Mushrooms make up 15-55% of the Box Turtles diet, depending on the season.
Its sharp, horned beak is perfect for biting off a bit of the mushroom cap.
Turning over a Box Turtle will reveal its sex. This was a female, as males will have a concave surface that allows for mounting the female during mating. The underside of the turtle is called the plastron.
In summary, our hike on the Pelewa and Serenity Trails was a good outing. We were particularly struck by the outstanding trees, which might even be better appreciated in the winter. The Serenity Trail, perhaps paired with Nonhelema Trail that borders the meadow, would make an outstanding snow hike given the level terrain.
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Photo credits to Caroline Burns Grizzle.
Overview:
Location – 1979 Bebb Park Ln, Okeana, OH, 33 miles from downtown Cincinnati.
Facilities – At a nearby campground.
Trail Conditions – some gravel on the initial incline, others bare dirt.
Print Trail Map Link – https://www.yourmetroparks.net/docs/default-source/park-map/park-maps-2025/governor-bebb-trail-map.pdf?sfvrsn=4cff40ea_5
Benches – None.
Picnic Tables – numerous throughout the park.
Kids – Kids six and over should do well. The initial slope may be too much for younger kids.
Dogs – Welcomed on a leash.
Paired Hiking Trails – there are 5 other trails at Governor Bebb Park, ranging from 0.3 to 1.25 miles, so doing a collection of them is realistic.
Links:
https://www.yourmetroparks.net/parks/governor-bebb-metropark
Another beautiful trail!!
Thanks. Each outing offers something new.