Icy River

Around Ohio

Because of the extremely cold weather, the Scioto River was covered in a layer of ice and snow. The viewing deck shown below provides an excellent view out over the river. The last time I had been here, there were ducks swimming in the water. The sparkling river and chirping birds were nowhere to be seen on this bleak winter day.

Icy Scioto River

All signs of life were gone, except for a few footprints in the fallen snow. Nevertheless, the stillness and placidity of the scene seemed to add to the contrast of dark railings and brilliant snow.

Viewing Deck

Swan and Wolves

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This white swan was one of the few birds that could survive the winter at the zoo. It was sitting near a small pond. Although the pond was mostly covered in ice, it had a small hole at the center where the swan could get a drink.

White Swan

These wolves seemed quite at home in the snow. Their natural habitat in Canada and Alaska can get much colder than our mild winters.

Wolves

Reindeer

Around Ohio

Another cold-loving animal, and a famous one as well, is the reindeer. They seemed to be enjoying the cold weather just as much as the polar bear. While fourteen distinct subspecies of reindeer have been recognized, I doubt if I could tell them apart. However, their thick fur and large antlers set them apart from other deer species.

Reindeer

Bears

Around Ohio

Every year, the Columbus Zoo creates a luminous display of Christmas lights throughout the zoo. While these are best viewed at night, I planned my recent tour to include enough daylight hours to visit the animals as well. Some of the animals are moved elsewhere during the winter, but many of them remain at the zoo.

The brown bear below didn't seem to mind the cold weather at all. While I watched, it playfully rolled over on its back in the snow.

Brown Bear

Polar bears, such as the one below, are native to climates even colder than the day I visited the zoo. Their layers of thick fur insulate them from frigid air and ice-cold water. This bear almost looks as if it were grinning.

Polar Bear

Topiary Park: Ducks

Around Ohio

No pond would be complete without a flock of ducks to waddle around its perimeter. The majority of the ducks in this shot seem to be taking their midday nap. I also saw a few in the water, but their snoozing friends were too lazy to join them.

Napping Ducks 

This one duck, however, seemed quite alert when I approached. Maybe it was standing guard while the other ducks were resting.

The Guard

Topiary Park: Orange and Red

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Next to the petunias was a bed of bright orange marigolds. These flowers didn't seem to be suffering from the heat quite as much.

Marigolds

 

This next interesting clump of plants, about five feet tall, had unusual red-and-green-striped leaves with small red flowers at the top.

Stripes

Topiary Park: More Flowers

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The small pond near the middle of the park was a home for several shrub "boats," a small flock of ducks, and a much larger number of lily pads. This bright pink flower was one of the few blooming on the pond.

Water Lily

These petunias didn't look their best, as they seemed to be suffering from a lack of water. However, I thought the sunlight made an interesting pattern of shadows on the slightly wilted flowers.

Petunias

Topiary Park: Black-Eyed Susans

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Besides giant shrubs, the Topiary Park contains a wide variety of colorful flowers, most of which were in bloom at the time I visited. One particular patch of Black-Eyed Susans on a background of small red-leafed plants caught my eye.

Black-Eyed Susan

 

A recent lack of rain left some of the flowers slightly wilted, but most of them looked fresh. I found these near the small pond.

Green and Yellow

Topiary Park: Pond

Around Ohio

A small pond spotted with lily pads sat in the middle of the park, complete with a botanical boat and two people inside it. The water looked surprisingly clear, although I would have expected more algae.

Pond

On a patio near a small brick structure was this gardener tending his potted plant.

The Gardener

Topiary Park: Shrub Sculptures

Around Ohio

Among the shrub sculptures stood these two larger-than-life botanical figures. In their dress coats and top hats, they seem to be in formal Sunday attire.

Shrub Men

I found this monkey a bit unusual. It is visible in the original painting. But was it a pet, or a permanent resident of the park?

Monkey

Topiary Park

Around Ohio

Another interesting location near downtown Columbus is the Topiary Park. Besides a variety of flowers and trees, the park contains a number of shrubs meticulously conformed to shaped wire frames. The resulting shapes resemble a group of people enjoying a sunny day by a small pond.

The Topiary Park

The view of the park from this sign, as in the previous photo, resembles a painting by Georges Seurat, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The engraving below is a copy of the painting.

Painting

Rhodes Tower: Rooftops

Around Ohio

Besides other buildings, the observation area of the Rhodes Tower provides interesting views of the network of roads in downtown Columbus. The picture below almost qualifies as an aerial view, showing just how tall the Rhodes Tower is.

Rooftops

 

This delivery truck, barely discernible in the last photo, made me smile when I saw it. Its unusual rooftop artwork would be visible from offices in a number of downtown buildings.

Delivery Truck

Rhodes Tower: LeVeque Tower

Around Ohio

West of the Rhodes Tower sits another tall building—the LeVeque Tower. Built in 1927, it was the tallest building in Columbus until the completion of the Rhodes Tower. The upper part of the terra-cotta-tiled building is visible in this photo, just in front of the river.

 LeVeque Tower

Another interesting building, actually still under construction, was this one. I am not quite sure what those enormous cement columns are for. Maybe elevator shafts?

Construction Site

Rhodes Tower: Columbus

Around Ohio
 

In addition to the Statehouse, the Rhodes Tower provides aerial views of many other buildings in Columbus. This photo show the buildings and scenery east of the Rhodes Tower. The long vertical road is Broad Street.

Columbus East

 

Very close to the Rhodes Tower is the Scioto river. The two truss bridges seen below spanning the river support railroad tracks.

Scioto River

Rhodes Tower: Statehouse

Around Ohio

Across the street from the Ohio Statehouse sits the tallest building in Columbus—the Rhodes Tower. Its observation area on the 40th floor gives an impressive view of the buildings and streets around it.

This first picture shows what the Statehouse looks like from the air—or as it were, a very tall building.

Ohio Statehouse 

The Ohio flag I posted earlier was accompanied by a botanical version of the American flag. Several sets of these flags lie around the Statehouse grounds.

Flower Flags

Ohio Statehouse: Senate

Around Ohio

The other half of Ohio's bicameral legislature is the senate. Its meeting room's layout and furnishings copy those of the House of Representatives quite closely. The only difference I notice is the blue curtain behind the speaking platform. In the House of Representatives, the curtain is red.

Senate

The Statehouse's elaborate architecture can be seen throughout the building, as evidenced by these marble archways and staircases. Most of the Statehouse is built of limestone that came from a local quarry. In some places, fossils can be seen in the bare rock.

Staircases 

This botanical representation of the Ohio flag was in full bloom during my visit to the Statehouse.

Flower Flag

Ohio Statehouse: House of Representatives

Around Ohio

Another feature of the Ohio Statehouse is the room where the Ohio House of Representatives meets. It currently comprises ninety-nine seats, all of which are up for election every two years.

The House of Representatives has been meeting since Ohio became a state in 1803. However, the laptop computers visible on every desk have to be a more recent addition to the room's elaborate décor.

House of Representatives

 

The stained glass skylights and fancy light fixtures are only a few of the chamber's ornate features. A balcony running along three walls allows visitors to observe the House while it is in session.

 

Chandelier

Ohio Statehouse: State Seal

Around Ohio

As I mentioned in my last post, the roof of the cupola comprises an elaborate stained glass window. Although the roof sits high above the floor below, the zoom on my camera allowed me to make it appear larger in the picture.

Stained Glass Window

At the very center of the stained glass window is a detailed rendering of the Ohio State Seal. The scenic view in the seal is based on the area surrounding the Adena Mansion.

State Seal

Ohio Statehouse: Rotunda

Around  Ohio

One of the more important buildings in Columbus, the Ohio Statehouse serves as the most visible representation of the Ohio government. In addition, it exhibits some outstanding architecture and décor.

The majority of statehouses in the U.S. flaunt some kind of central dome or rotunda, in many shapes and sizes. The Ohio Statehouse centers around a rotunda, with a stained-glass representation of the Ohio State Seal at the very top of the cupola. During my visit, the rotunda's floorspace was set up with chairs for a wedding reception.

 

Rotunda

This photo shows the view up into the cupola. The innermost circle on the center stained glass window displays the Ohio State Seal.

Cupola