Cowan Lake: Sailboats

Around Ohio

On that gloomy Sunday afternoon, the lake was actually populated by a fleet of small sailboats, probably members of a local boating club. The boats circumnavigated an obstacle course marked out by orange buoys in the lake.

Sailboats

 

The sailboats seemed to racing at times. Such may be the activity the three boats below are preparing for.

Racing Sailboats

Cowan Lake 2

Around Ohio

At 700 acres, Cowan Lake provides plenty of space for boating. I decided to rent a small boat and explore the lake by water. A stiff breeze rippled the surface of the lake, making the ride a bit choppy at times.

Waves

An incessant cloud layer covered the sky for most of the day.

Cloud Cover

Cowan Lake

Around Ohio

Located in the southwestern part of Ohio, Cowan Lake State Park provides boaters and campers alike with beautiful scenery and plentiful fishing. Last fall I spent a few days in a cabin overlooking the lake. Even in gloomy weather, the lake has a beauty all its own.

Cowan Lake

The sun rose directly across the lake from my cabin, reflecting in the rippling water.

Morning Sun

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

Around Ohio

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

Around Ohio

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

Around Ohio

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