Places to go and things to see by Gypsy Bev

Archive for the ‘Gardens’ Category

Deck the Hall at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

Celebrate the holidays at Deck the Hall when you visit Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens from November 28 – December 30. While Deck the Hall began in 1988, every year is bigger and better. There’s always something new. You’ll be amazed at over 1.4 million lights throughout the estate in this magical Christmas wonderland. While it is lovely all year long, the holidays bring an extra glow that everyone will enjoy.

This lighted tunnel guides you through the grounds.

Many know Stan Hywet as a beautiful historic house in Akron. This was the original site of a stone quarry and gets its name from Old English, where Stan Hywet means stone quarry. This was the country estate of Frank A. Seiberling, one of the co-founders of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1898.

From hospitals and housing to parks and education, their family legacy of giving built a stronger, more connected community. At Stan Hywet, they carry on that spirit of generosity every day by preserving the home they created for the public good. Above the Manor House front door is a sign that reads “Non Nobis Solum” (Not for us Alone), a mantra Gertrude Seiberling included when Stan Hywet was being built and a mantra that continues to inspire all they do today.

Great Hall holds the beauty of an old-fashioned Christmas.

Your Deck the Hall ticket gives you access to a self-guided tour from 3-7:30 pm of the stunning Manor House with it’s dazzling winter-themed décor in twenty rooms. There are also many Christmas displays as each room has a special theme that often brings the beauty of nature inside. There’s even a Lego room that the kids especially enjoy.

Santa and Rudolph are favorites of children and the young at heart.

Visit Santa and Rudolph in the Carriage House Courtyard through December 23. They love to greet the children and have pictures taken with them. Stop in Molly’s Courtyard Cafe for cocoa, gingerbread cookies, beer, or wine and find some great gifts at Molly’s Shop. There’s a new digital Christmas tree on display here.

Molly’s Courtyard is a favorite stop for lights, snacks, and great gifts.

The ticket also gives you access to see all the outdoor lights, Gingerbread Land, and the Dazzle Light Show, an animated light show set to holiday music, in the Great Garden. Step outside into seventy acres of beauty where you are surrounded by the magic of the Christmas season. Twinkling lights around every bend of the walk are incredible.

Find a beautiful poinsettia tree inside Corbin Conservatory.

Corbin Conservatory was originally used by the Seiberling family to grow produce and plants. For Deck the Hall, it is filled with poinsettias of every color imaginable. Pick out your favorite color for a reminder of your visit when you return home.

The playground is always decorated with something the children will enjoy.

Homes of Nature / Children’s Playgarden is a favorite spot for youngsters with decorations that attract their attention. There is so much to explore here from the music of Harmony Hill, the barking of a St. Bernard at Joe’s Dig, or the Model A Ford with rubber tires to remind everyone of the former owner.

Special nights are planned throughout the season. Visit their website at https://stanhywet.org/events/deck-hall for detailed information.

  • Dinner, Ballet, and Deck the Hall features The Little Nutcracker presented by the Cleveland Ballet on December 3 and 4.
  • Dinner and Deck the Hall includes a festive holiday dinner in the Manor House Reception Hall on December 5, 10, 11, and 12.
Take home a poinsettia in your favorite color from the Conservatory.

Deck the Hall at 714 N. Portage Path, Akron is open Nov. 28 – 30, Dec. 4 – 7, 11 – 14, 18 – 23, 26 – 30. They are closed on December 24 and 25. Your visit can begin at 3pm with the last admission being 8 pm.

All tickets must be purchased in advance at stanhywet.org or by calling 330-315-3287. Many nights sell out so get your tickets early. Admission is $28 for adults and $15 for youths (3-17). Children two and under are free. Members of Stan Hywet receive a discount.

Once inside, you can remain on the grounds until 9pm. Parking is free in their Main Lot. When that lot fills, there will be auxiliary lots with shuttle service. Beverages, food, and strollers are not permitted inside the Manor House. There is an area just outside the Manor House to park strollers.

Walk through the sparkling lights to be surrounded by the holiday spirit.

Dress warmly as this celebration is a walking experience that takes you both inside and outside. If you want to see everything, allow yourself two to three hours to see this winter wonderland that sparkles with holiday cheer.

Families make Deck the Hall an annual tradition.

Many families have made Deck the Hall a family tradition. Take time from your busy schedule this year and make it part of your family’s celebration.

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Christmas, Family Fun, Gardens, Museums, Ohio

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Relax in the Beauty of Mission Oaks Garden

Welcome to Mission Oaks Garden.

Stroll through the beautiful Mission Oaks Gardens located in a residential area of Zanesville, Ohio at 424 Hunter Avenue – not far from Maple Avenue. Relax with Mother Nature in over seven acres of gardens.

The mission style house was built in 1925.

The peaceful setting acquired its name because the home had the appearance of a mission-house with mature white oaks in the ravine behind the house. According to legend, the house was built back in 1925 by a local businessman for a special lady, who was a party dress designer in the roaring twenties. Today the name, Mission Oaks, acquires a double meaning as they definitely have a mission: to provide and protect a little piece of nature for all to enjoy.

Take a leisurely walk through their gardens.

The garden’s history began in the late 1980s when Bert and Susan Hendley purchased the property. After a vacation in London in 1990 where they visited the Chelsea Flower Show, Susan suggested to Bert that it would be nice to have a beautiful garden at their new home, Bert followed through on that suggestion when they returned home. They restored the mission style house, surrounded it with beautiful plants, and developed gardens in a ravine below the home.

Forsythia and Redbuds welcome spring to the gardens.

Today, the Muskingum Valley Park District Headquarters Office is located on this property, where they showcase hundreds of rare and unusual plants including azaleas, rhododendrons, magnolias, and conifers. There are also two man-made waterfalls, a pond, a wetland bog, perennial garden, gazebo, and a creek bed.

A gazebo makes the perfect place to sit and relax surrounded by the sights and smells of the garden.

A gazebo is the perfect place to sit in the midst of the Perennial Garden and enjoy the blooms of the season. New blossoms open every week. You’ll find yourself encased in the smells of hyacinths and peonies or in the fall, chrysanthemums and sunflowers.

Get lost in nature as you walk through The Woodlands.

After you have had a leisurely walk in the upper gardens, it’s time to explore the rest of the acreage. Head down a steep flight of stairs or drive around to the rear entrance which is marked with stone pillars. It’s surprising to find all this beautiful nature in the middle of Zanesville.

This beautiful waterfall adds serenity to the lower level of the garden.

Once you enter the forested area, there are two pathways to choose. One leads to the Woodland Garden. Here you will find two small waterfalls, which flow over rocky hillsides into a small pond with elegant water lilies and lotuses blooming along the water’s edge. Comfortable wooden benches provide a great spot to relax while soaking up the ambiance of the scenic view.

Their Conifer Grove is one of the largest in Ohio.

The second path heads to the Conifer Garden. Their conifer garden is a highlight covering nearly two acres and displaying over 300 trees, many of them are not native to North America. It is one of the most renowned conifer gardens in the state. There are over 90 species present.

Olga’s Children’s Garden contains a Discovery Shed.

Mission Oaks Gardens has included many places that children will enjoy. Olga’s Children’s Garden is a fenced in area where they can explore nature in a Sensory Garden and enjoy a sandbox with a potting bench. Their Discovery Shed holds information about native flora and fauna.

The Enchanted Fairy Garden comes alive in May.

While the Enchanted Fairy Garden is open all year, it comes alive early in May when they celebrate National Public Gardens Day. Fairies and gnomes make their appearance in the garden from May through August. Then it is said that they spend the rest of the year in the warmth of Florida sunshine.

This stone pathway is always lined with flowers of the season.

Take a walk on paths that meander through the gardens and landscape. Explore on gravel, grassed, mulched, and brick walking paths as you enjoy being surrounded by the sights and smells of nature. From springtime until fall, you’ll feel a closeness to Mother Nature with the flowers of the season…from tulips to mums.

Enjoy everything from waterfalls to conifer forest at no cost to you or your friends. While it is free to explore, they do rely on donations to maintain its beauty. You are welcome on the grounds seven days a week from dawn to dusk to explore seven acres of nature right in the middle of a residential section of Zanesville. You will be surprised and pleased at the beauty present.

These redbuds were found just outside the MVPD office.

For more information and pictures, visit them on Facebook at Muskingum Valley Park District – Mission Oaks Gardens or on the website www.mvparkdistrict.org under Gardens.

Mission Oaks Gardens provides the perfect place to avoid the maddening crowds, relax in meditation, take a walk with Mother Nature, or just run away from home for the day. Many find it the perfect place for wedding or prom pictures.

Visit this hidden gem any time of the year!

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Gardens, Nature, Ohio, Uncategorized, Zanesville

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Deloris Ullmann Discovers Painting

Live your life and forget your age

Sometimes a hand reaches out and touches you in an unexpected way leading you on a new pathway. Such was the case with Deloris Ullmann, a retired educator from Shenandoah.

This painting shows her hometown of Mt. Ephraim many years ago.

Deloris grew up in Mt. Ephraim and started her education at a two-room school there before graduating from Sarahsville High School. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Ohio University and later her Master’s Degree from Marietta College.

Her family enjoyed music. Dallas Bond, front left, and her mother played on WILE in the late 40s.

In her younger years, Deloris was surrounded by a family that enjoyed music. Her parents organized “Dallas Bond and The Musical Farmers,” which was the first live musical group to air on radio station WILE in the late 40s. Deloris and her sisters also performed on WILE a few years later as “The Bond Sisters.” Because of that interest, Deloris can play piano, guitar, violin, and mandolin.

Deloris played guitar and sang at her retirement assembly.

She played guitar and sang “Love Letters in the Sand” at 4-H camp during Talent Night and played the fiddle with Jim’s Jammers at a Grange Banquet at Shenandoah High School. Even when she retired, she played the guitar and sang at her retirement assembly.

After retirement, a new path opened unexpectedly one day ten years ago when her neighbor Judy McKee, an art teacher from Shenandoah, came across the road for a visit. She asked Deloris, “Did you ever think of painting?”

Deloris smiled as she said, “I can’t even draw a circle.” Deloris said at that time the only thing she had ever painted was a paint-by-number picture.

Judy was persuasive and told her, “You can learn. I’ll give you lessons in my studio.”

She enjoys stopping along the road and painting an outdoor scene or whatever catches her eye.

Thus began a weekly encounter where Deloris learned something different every week. Judy had her try different paints – acrylic gouache wash, oils, and watercolors. They would take rides in the country and stop to paint a house, a church, a friendly animal, or flowers that caught their eye.

This painting is her favorite winter scene sharing one of her many barn pictures.

Barns became a favorite object for her paintings. They drove out Route 564 and she took pictures of all the barns along the road. Then from the photos, she painted pictures of those barns on 11×14 canvas.

This set of her cards share the series of barn pictures that she drew. Nice for a quick note to a friend!

Those paintings were also converted into cards that make delightful colorful notes to friends. It’s a creative way for more people to be able to enjoy her paintings.

Deloris remembered picnics at Coen’s Church grounds near Seneca Lake after it closed in the 1930s.

Something she especially enjoys is painting a scene from the past. It might be an old church or town that no longer exists. Recreating them from old pictures makes great paintings and great gifts.

She enjoyed painting Izzy, her sister’s dog.

While Deloris does sell her paintings, quite often she uses them as gifts to friends and family. When asked if she painted every day, Deloris shook her head, “I was taught to only paint when you feel like it. Never throw anything away. Let it set for a couple of days, then go back and add what is needed.”

Some of her paintings were displayed an at art guild show at Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center.

Her instructor, Judy, began painting at the age of four and participated in a local Art Guild. At one time, Judy encouraged Deloris to display her paintings with the guild when they had a show at Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center. Her paintings were also displayed in Art Market 649 in downtown Cambridge a few years back.

This painting shows their barn on Mud Run Road. Her paintings are filled with memories.

During this time, Deloris also wrote a book just for her family. The title of the book is “Two D’s in a Pod,” a clever way of mentioning her and her husband, Don. It is a collection of pictures and stories of their family from childhood on. It also includes many of her paintings.

In her spare time, she often plays piano at Mr. Ephraim Methodist Church. She recently sewed 100 aprons for an Eastern Star fund raiser. Don and Deloris also enjoy traveling. They have visited Germany several times, did a European tour, and have enjoyed many trips in the United States including Alaska and Hawaii.

Her teacher, Judy McKee, and Deloris enjoyed painting at the Guernsey County Library.

While Deloris discovered painting late in life, she finds it a wonderful relaxation. “Painting makes me really happy.”

This colorful painting of flowers reminded me of summertime.

Visit her Facebook page to see some of her paintings. If you would like to have Deloris paint something for you, send her a picture of your house, barn, animals, or flowers and her painting is sure to please you. Contact her at 740-509-1672 or drudou@gmail.com. Visit her website at http://www.delorisullmannart.com where most of her work is posted both old and new. Some items can be purchased online.

Age is just a number. The mind has the real potential for learning at any stage of life. Deloris Ullmann is proof of that.

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Art, Back Roads, Farming, Gardens, Ohio

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Grow & Show Garden Club Touches the Community in Many Ways

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

Creative ladies who enjoy gardening, flowers, and nature started the local Grow & Show Garden Club sixty-one years ago. As part of the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, their purpose is to stimulate knowledge and love of gardening among members, increase their interest in knowing, growing, and sharing, and to promote protection of our environment.

Members of Show and Grow Garden Club prepare to decorate the Downtown Branch of the library for Christmas. Pictured are Kay Bennett, Kat Bennett, JoEllen Hayes, Marti Reed, and Sue Cowden.

One of their first projects was a flower show downtown. Area residents have fond memories of the beautiful Guernsey County Fair booths and the Christmas wreaths they used to display.

The committee working on the Scarecrow named Garden Goddess Antheia-Flora included Paula Shockley, Marti Reed, Kat Bennett, and JoEllen Hayes.

Today they enjoy decorating for many occasions. Just recently they took part in the Scarecrow on Parade Decorating Contest at the Great Guernsey Trail. They built a ten-foot-tall scarecrow with grasses for the skirt, a wreath collar, and a hat decorated with plants and flowers. After the contest, they moved the scarecrow to the Guernsey County Senior Center so it could still brighten someone’s day

They decorate two fireplaces each year with greenery and Christmas decor.

One project at this season of the year is decorating the Downtown Branch of the Guernsey County Library for Christmas with a Victorian touch to honor the popular Dickens Victorian Village. The library display continues through November and December.

Charles Dickens writes beside the Christmas tree decorated with handmade Victorian angels.

The tree is decorated with handmade Victorian angels. Marti Reed’s grandmother made the doilies and the club members turned them into angels. Marti’s grandmother always took her to the library so she thought it fitting her doilies would end up there. Large wreaths hang above two fireplaces and the mantles are covered with greenery and touches of the holiday. The 12 Days of Christmas vignettes appear in the windows.

Next time you visit the library, take time to appreciate the work involved in creating a holiday venue.

A special Easter Egg tree is part of the holiday decorations during the Easter season.

But that’s only one season of decorations for the group at the library. Another time they enjoy decorating is at Easter. At that time, they have stuffed animals and an Easter egg tree. Fluffy yellow chicks and bunnies of all sizes rest on the shelves and windowsills.

The first week of December, Grow & Show holds a Gingerbread House workshop for their members at Crossroads Library. Wonder if their gingerbread houses have plants or flowers around them.

Members take time to visit Cardinal Place each month where they take candy and treat bags to the residents while visiting them. They hope to expand this to other care facilities in the future.

A tree was planted for Sue on her 50 years of being a member. Pictured are Cheryl Lowry-Miller, Kat Bennett, Sue Cowden, Marti Reed, and Pat Graven.

The garden club plants and helps maintain trees that are dedicated in someone’s memory or just to honor someone special. There are two gardens where they plant trees. One is Shafer Park in East Cambridge while the other is a donated park at the corner of Beatty Ave and Clark St.

Jo Lucas has not only a beautiful flower garden but many fruit trees. At this time, she placed parachutes over them to protect the fruit from the birds.

They hold one public meeting related to gardening each year at the Cambridge Senior Center. This year the topic will be Gardening for Pollinators. Light hors d’oeuvres and a selection of desserts will be available. Reservations must be made for this March 26 meeting. Cost is $15.

Kat Bennett, Violet Scott, and Pat Graven explain using straw bales for planting.

Every year in May, they hold a Mother’s Day Garden Sale the Saturday before Mother’s Day where you can find some beautiful plants or flowers for mom. This year the event will be on May 10 at the Cambridge City Park Big Pavilion from 8-12.

Indoor plants are also a joy. Pat Graven has a green house in her bathroom.

Purchasing a couple hanging baskets to beautify downtown Cambridge is one of their projects. Some of their members also participate in watering the baskets throughout the summer months.

Much work has been done on the Great Guernsey Trail by members. They have contributed benches, trees, and flowers as well as helped with the Butterfly Garden. Plans are now being made for another display of plants there.

As you can tell, their community is very important to the members and many projects revolve around the beautification of Cambridge.

Bonnie Perkins has a beautiful koi pond in her yard surrounded by a variety of plants and flowers.

Grow & Show Garden Club meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at Crossroads Library at 1:00. Programs are always garden-related. A couple of times a year, the group visits a member’s garden. Some of them include waterfalls surrounded by plants, while others might have plants inside or a garden or orchard for their own food. Perhaps they might also visit a greenhouse or apple orchard. New members are always welcome so if you have an interest in gardening, stop by for a meeting..

These busy ladies know how to have fun while making the world a more beautiful place!

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Art, Gardens, Nature, Ohio, Organizations, Uncategorized

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A Simpler Thyme in the Kitchen

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” ~Hippocrates

Kitchens are where families spend quality time, share stories, and enjoy each other’s company. This is the place where memories of favorite foods transport us back to a simpler day.

Julia Brown’s idea for an herbal cookbook has been brewing for several years. Often at her workshops, she would serve a special herbal snack and people would say, “We need the recipe for that.” Many recipes were not even written down as grandmothers especially just put things together.

Another workshop talked about herbs from the Bible and their use then and now.

She recalls many recipes that her family used over the years to bring joy to their kitchen table. She did find a binder of her mother’s recipes a few years ago so that was a starting point. However, even following the recipe, the food didn’t taste exactly like mom’s. This required some experimenting, tasting, and revising to get things at their best and most of all adding that secret ingredient – love.

That was the beginning of collecting recipes from her mother, grandmothers, and other family members to use in a special cookbook – some she has spiced up just a little. This year she published her first cookbook, “A Simpler Thyme in the Kitchen.”

Amy Casey, Julia Brown, and Olivia Stock combined their talents for the book and have had several book signings.

Julia, the author, had a couple of friends help her with the setup of this book so it is not only filled with wonderful recipes but also has great photographs and illustrations. Olivia Stock, designer and photographer, took pictures of many of the recipes while Amy Casey, watercolor artist, drew illustrations throughout the book. When you combine the talents of these three ladies, you have a delightful book that is a showpiece.

The herb education cabin is a great place for workshops or for an overnight stay.

Julia has been interested in herbs for many years and has become a Certified Master Herbalist. Her family supports her love of herbs and their use on the table as well as for medicinal purposes. She has a small herbal education cabin, which you can also rent for an overnight stay. It’s located at 51953 County Rd. 186, Fresno.

The atmosphere inside the cabin is a great place for learning or relaxation.

In the cabin or in her garden, she shows the connection of farm-to-table and table-to-soul lifestyle during her workshops, which she holds a couple of times each month. Some workshops are make ‘n take, where participants might make a room spray, herbal essence, or her special Fire Cider. Other times she might focus on a particular herb and tell its medicinal and culinary uses. Visit her on Facebook under “A Simpler Thyme” for dates and more information on her programs.

Julia guides participants in the steps to make Fire Cider, a great remedy for a sore throat.

In today’s world, Julia said, “We have a society of convenience. People want things that are easy to heat. However, there is satisfaction from something homemade as it comes from the heart.”

After yoga class, the group enjoyed visiting one of her many herb gardens.

She also feels, “More people are planting little gardens now or even planting tomatoes in pots with the cost of food rising,” It seems we are going back to a time when growing our own food is becoming more popular. Many are even planting fruit trees and berries as an added source of good nutrition.

Talking to her, you can tell how excited she is about growing and preparing food that is nutritious and delicious. Her fervor for the use of herbs for culinary and medicinal uses has led her to write her first book.

Some of Amy’s illustrations can be found in almost every section of the book.

The first section of “A Simpler Thyme in the Kitchen” describes the beneficial properties of some popular herbs such as thyme of course, basil, garlic, and rosemary. Thyme is a herb that helps support the immune system and also has an anti-fungal and disinfectant property. During WWI and WWII, ladies would embroider thyme and its flowers on handkerchiefs to give to their beloved soldiers as a reminder of their courage and bravery.

The book is divided into sections for each season of the year. Spring Thyme, Summer Thyme…you get the idea. All of the recipes include some of those favorite herbs.

For example, Spring Thyme’s recipes for Zucchini Frittata with Mint & Basil or Marinated “Dandy” Greens are sure to please your family. Her edible salad bowl will certainly surprise your guests!

Summer Thyme includes a Shepherds Pie with an Herbal Flare and a Stuffed Pepper Soup. Between the recipes, you will find many interesting facts about Garden Folk Lore and Food for Thought.

Olivia’s photographs bring color and appeal throughout the herbal recipe book.

Autumn recipes include Pumpkin Soup, Jalapeno Cornbread, and Dinner in a Pumpkin. Find out interesting facts about those carved pumpkins at Halloween. Do you know why they call it a “Jack”-o-lantern?

Winter Thyme lists recipes for Hot Muller Wassail, Christmas Honey & Thyme Cookies, or Grandma Edna’s Spiced Christmas Beets. Learn more about Christmas legends regarding hanging Christmas stockings, putting a wreath on your front door, and why we kiss under the mistletoe.

If you would like to purchase a book, contact Julia Brown by messaging her on their Facebook page, or you can email her at brownjulia00@yahoo.com. She is also having several book signings, which are unique as they include speaking, signing, and sharing herbal snacks.

As you can tell, this book is more than a recipe book with beautiful photographs and illustrations. It is filled with delightful ancestral knowledge, wisdom, and recipes thanks to three ladies who used their God-given skills, talents, and strengths to make this cookbook a reality.

It’s thyme to make some memories in the kitchen!

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Art, Gardens, health, Nature, Ohio, Uncategorized

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Burley Clay Products Add Beauty to Your Home

Burley Clay Products is located in Roseville in the old McCoy Pottery building,

Their passion is pottery! Burley Clay Products is the only company in the United States that still makes ceramic birdbaths, which are their number one selling item. However, they make other things that will surprise you.

Hand-painted birdbaths are a popular item.

Burley Clay began in 1923 on Maysville Pike in Zanesville when brothers, Zane and Dr. Samuel Burley, became interested in the clay industry. In 1984, the business was sold to Steven McCann, who began looking for a larger facility when in 1998 McCoy Pottery closed its doors and walked away leaving everything inside the plant as it was when work finished that day.

When McCoy closed, they left everything behind just as it was at closing time,

After much cleaning and removal of items, Burley Clay opened their factory at the old McCoy Pottery plant in Roseville in 2000, according to Vice-President Rick Emmert, who began his Burley Clay career in 1987 as an engineer. Rick had a long-time interest in clay as his grandfather owned a ceramic factory in the area and Rick often went to work with him. That led him to a degree in ceramic engineering from Ohio State University.

This WWI propeller was used to dry the pottery gradually at their Maysville plant,

Rick continues to have a deep interest in ceramics and enjoys the creative process. “I think it’s cool to make things from clay.” On the wall in his office, a WWI surplus propeller reminds him of the early days of Burley Clay when it was at the Maysville Pike facility. A dozen of these propellers ran during the night to dry the clay gradually.

This saddle is used in chimneys to reduce pollution and is made daily,

The item his grandfather made is still being made at Burley Clay today. It is a ceramic piece, called a saddle, that is used in industrial towers to help stop pollution. These are made mechanically today by the thousands and they currently have orders that carry them through next January. A popular item!

A fingerprint pad is made for foreign airports,

A fingerprint pad has become important for use in foreign airports. Another item used at airports around the world is an earplug that regulates air pressure while flying. Burley Clay makes the ceramic part while another company finishes the rubber addition. They have thousands of molds that they work with.

Burley Clay gave new life to this old McCoy kiln – “The Cadillac of Kilns.”

One machine, an Allied model, from McCoy Pottery days is still in use after recent repair. It is a unique round kiln that operates 24/7 on a continuous track firing pottery as it goes. It is known as the “Cadillac of Kilns” and produces about 5000 pieces a week.

They feel fortunate there’s a clay field just about a mile from their current facility. This clay was dropped there long ago by a glacier that moved through this section of Ohio. Vein #3 is about 30′ down and provides the fire clay they need. When mined, the clay looks like very hard rocks before they weather it. Then it is mixed into a liquid so they have a slab of clay to work with.

A Burley Clay employee, Cody Beisser, is jiggering a bird bath bowl.

Approximately 70 people run the plant today. Some retire and miss the action so much they return to work. Many have grown up playing as children in the factories of McCoy or Burley when their parents worked there. Family tradition plays a big role in their success. The birdbaths and planters are still all made by hand. Rick admitted, “We still like to do things the old-fashioned way.”

Vice-President Rick Emmert enjoys the creative process and takes pride in their products.

Today, you can buy things in their store at Burley Clay or at one of the stores they supply. Their products are sold all over the country mostly in mom-and-pop stores or nurseries. Items can also be ordered from their website and shipped directly to your home. They ship to about forty states, most of them being in the northeast.

Quality handmade items for the garden are made here.

Burley Clay is well known in the area for its community involvement. Many festivities will find a Burley Clay Birdbath or Planter contributed as part of the raffles or prizes. This also provides a great advertisement for their products.

This year the 56th Crooksville-Roseville Pottery Show will be held at the Roseville Village Park in front of the Burley Clay offices on July 14-16, 2022. Not only will you see fine pottery on display, but can enjoy pottery pitch, the beer garden, and helicopter rides (weather permitting). Check out their Facebook page for up-to-date information.

Their showroom is open all year long.

You know their product is a great one since they have been in business since 1923. Next year they will celebrate their 100th anniversary. Creating a place of beauty and peace for your home is their goal. Enhance your garden with products made in this area.

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Art, Festivals, Gardens, Ohio, Uncategorized, Zanesville

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Clary Gardens Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Welcome to Clary Gardens in Coshocton, Ohio.

Visit Coshocton as Clary Garden Foundation celebrates its 20th year on their beautiful hillside landscape. The foundation began to encourage the community to develop a botanical garden that would be a place to learn more about horticulture, local history, and the arts.

A local florist, Elizabeth Clary, purchased the 20 acres to memorialize her late husband, Lawrence, in what was to become Clary Gardens. The Clary family had operated a greenhouse in Coshocton for over 100 years and were famous for sending their red roses by rail all over the United States. Over the years, Elizabeth added weeping redbuds, yellow magnolia trees, geraniums, tulips, and 30 varieties of roses to the developing garden.

Ohio Rose & Star quilt pattern can be found here as part of a Coshocton County Quilt Barn Tour.

In honor of the family’s rose business, the Clary Garden barn has become part of the Coshocton County Heritage Quilt Barn Tour. An Ohio Rose & Star quilt pattern has graced the side of their barn since 2003.

You know the place is special the minute you drive through the gate. The setting is beautiful and well maintained. There is no charge for visiting from 8 am to 7 pm daily. The garden is supported by the generosity of the Clary Garden Foundation members.

Spring blossoms add extra beauty early in the year.

“Under the Big Top” has been the theme for 2021 to celebrate their growth over the last 20 years. Floral displays were red, white, and gold – circus colors. There was even a Ringmaster and animals on-site to attract old and young alike.

In the summer months, they have a Nature Program for Children which includes a science adventure and outdoor activity. Grow your own garden! Learn about the plants in the woods.

Field trips teach children to explore and enjoy nature.

An assortment of trails makes it possible for people of all ages to find that special place for a walk in nature. Their half-mile Woodland Loop includes some fascinating geological features and is a local favorite. Your dog is welcome as long as you pick up after your furry friend.

These gates open to a scenic path that leads down to a beautiful amphitheater.

For a very reasonable price, you can have a guided tour of the facility from March through October 31. There are several possibilities on their 20-acre grounds depending on the amount of time and energy you have to spend. These include interesting topics like Time Travel Tour, Woodlands Rock, Stop and Smell the Roses, and the list goes on.

Follow the path through the Rose Garden or relax in the gazebo.

Follow the path through the rose garden or take a rest in the rose garden gazebo. Just below the rose garden, you enter that special amphitheater that has been voted the number one outdoor wedding venue in Ohio.

Theatre in the Ravine provides the perfect place for weddings and concerts.

The Theatre in the Ravine is a very popular spot at Clary Gardens. This sandstone amphitheater is built into the hillside, which overlooks a tranquil stream and wooded area. It’s a wonderful place for concerts, weddings, and theater presentations as it seats over 200 people and has electric hook-up on its natural stage. Two plays have already been scheduled for this summer.

Receptions and public events are held in the tent behind the Compton House.

Receptions and meetings are currently being held in a large tent beside the 1850s red Compton House with beautiful table settings available. This summer they plan to replace the tent by constructing an open-air pavilion on the stamped concrete pad for wedding receptions and other private events.

Choose the Garden House for your next private get-together. Built around 1850, the house has two main rooms separated by a kitchen and is available for rent during the season.

Relax at the Spring House as you listen to the sounds of soothing water as it flows from the historic Spring House. It’s a magical place near the Iris Pond and woodland trails.

The Children’s Garden features wooden balance beams, beanpole tipis, and a crawl-through tunnel that resembles a caterpillar. Children enjoy coming here to learn more about nature. They often take off their shoes and wade in the shallow creek learning to identify salamanders and crawfish.

Enjoy being surrounded by butterflies at the Traveling Butterfly Exhibit.

A special Traveling Butterfly Exhibit comes to the garden nearly every year and gives viewers a chance to walk among the live butterflies as they flutter about. Perhaps you will be lucky enough to have one land on you. Enhance your chances of having a butterfly landing by feeding them some nectar.

The gardens are in their early stages of development and every year sees new additions. Plans for the future include a walkway connecting Clary Gardens and the nearby Caldersburg Cemetery to historic Roscoe Village, which is very close by. This will lead more people to explore both places.

Before visiting the gardens, check out their schedule at www.clarygardens.org as the gardens are sometimes closed for part of the day during weddings and special events.

Clary Gardens holds beauty in nature each season of the year.

Clary Gardens at 588 W. Chestnut Street in Coshocton is a place to enjoy peace and harmony with nature. Every season creates a different view so you might want to return throughout the year.

Clary Gardens are located in Coshocton, Ohio at 588 W. Chestnut Street just around the bend south of Roscoe Village. Watch for the entrance sign on the right-hand side.

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Gardens, History, Nature, Ohio, Uncategorized

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Springtime Walk at Secrest Arboretum

Enjoy floral paths with paved walkways throughout the arboretum.

Springtime! Nature awakens from her winter nap to display lovely shades of green, blossoming trees, and springtime flowers. It’s the perfect time for a walk outside to soak up the sun while enjoying the Spring Show.

Edmund Secrest founded the arboretum in 1908.

One place perfect for this adventure is Secrest Arboretum located on the campus of Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster. The arboretum was established in 1909 by Edmund Secrest, the first state forester in Ohio and director of the Experiment Station from 1938-1948. Although it is a research arboretum over 10,000 people visit in annually.

Kids enjoy climbing in this natural play area.

This arboretum was designed with adults and children in mind. While adults will enjoy the trees and plants, children have been given play areas in the midst of the natural world.

This slide is a big attraction for kids of all ages and extra slippery on a burlap sack!

Fortress at the Hogs-back is a place for kids of all ages. Kids enjoy climbing over the rocks, walking through cement storm drain pipes, and best of all, going down the huge slide in the side of a hill. That slide is even big enough for adults to enjoy!

Blossoming crabapple, redbud, and cherry trees highlight the grounds in springtime.

Training programs and evaluation of new plants are provided to Ohio Nursery, landscaping organizations, and Master Gardeners. But the grounds are a beautiful and peaceful place for a walk any season of the year.

Attractive metal artwork appears outside the Visitors’ Center.

Stop at the Orientation Center where outside there’s a map of the grounds showing the different trails to take and information about the arboretum. This 110 acre facility is a living laboratory for research, teaching and learning. There are over 2,500 varieties, species, and cultivars of plants to learn about.

A special research project involves finding the best coneflowers for our area.

Visit their new research project, a Coneflower (Echinacea) Garden with over 100 varieties of coneflowers. There are colors from white and pink to red and yellow. Here they are determining the best coneflowers to grow in our area.

Flowers appear everywhere. There are 15 different theme gardens so you will be sure to find something you enjoy. There’s Gayle’s Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden, Ohio’s Native Garden, and Million Flower Pathway to give you an idea of what is available. The Garden of Roses of Legend and Romance might become a favorite.

The main reason the Native Garden is so important is that it provides food for our native butterflies, birds, bees, and all wildlife. They have done an outstanding job of labeling the plants and trees so you can have information for perhaps a new plant for your garden.

A hillside amphitheater is a great place for weddings and concerts.

John Streeter Garden Amphitheater is a great place for weddings, concerts, and theater productions. The sandstone steps make a perfect entrance for the bride while guests can sit on the sandstone seats. Several musical events have been scheduled for this summer. Check their website at www.secrest.osu.edu for more information.

Frequent benches provide a place to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Along the way you will find giant frogs, tortoises, and pieces of metal artwork in the form of butterflies, birds, and flowers. There’s also a pavilion for picnics, and benches throughout for visitors to rest or just enjoy the scenery and the scent of the flowers.

Springtime blossoms added beauty throughout the arboretum.

Friends of the Secrest Arboretum are responsible for funding, volunteering, keeping the grounds looking wonderful, and scheduling educational and musical events. They have played an important role in developing Secrest into a national and international treasure.

Beauty awaits around every corner.

The arboretum is open from dawn to dusk 365 days a year. Easiest access is to place 2122 Williams Road, Wooster in your GPS, then follow the signs that lead to the arboretum.

Stroll their paved walks through forests and meadows to discover what plants would be best for your home. It’ s a great place for a family outing any season of the year!

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Family Fun, Gardens, Nature, Ohio, Uncategorized

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Spring Time Arrives at McDaniel’s Greenhouse

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

~Audrey Hepburn

McDaniel's Soon

It’s time to pick up a beautiful hanging basket or some plants for your garden.

Springtime brings thoughts of gardens. Vegetable or flower, take your choice. Both are good for the soul.

     Some gardeners begin their plants from seed, but most prefer to stop by the local greenhouse and pick up plants that have had a loving tender start.

McDaniel's Annuals (2)

You’ll find great variety and quality at McDaniel’s Greenhouse.

     Quality plants can easily be found at McDaniel’s Greenhouse in Rix Mills just outside of New Concord. Their plants are reasonably priced and always have a healthy start. The greenhouse was started by Larry and Jeaneen McDaniel in 1973. Jeaneen was a teacher and when her family began, she wanted a way to stay home with them yet contribute to the family income. At that time she had one glass greenhouse called Posy Pot. It grew and grew!

McDaniels' Rachael and Bryce

Bryce and Rachael McDaniel work year around in the world of plants.

     Now their son Bryce and his wife, Rachael, have taken over the operation. It’s a real family affair with their sons also participating. They are always helpful in giving suggestions for plants that you might like and even help get them to your car if you have too many to carry!

McDaniel's Rachel and shopping cart

Rachael’s artistic background has her creating a shopping cart that is overflowing with succulents.

     Bryce grew up in the greenhouse so he learned from his parents how to care for the plants. Rachael said she was not a gardener until she met Bryce fifteen years ago. She was an art major and you can tell from arrangements at the greenhouse that she’s putting that talent to good use. She still keeps Jeaneen’s notes though to guide her through the season.

McDaniel's Succulent Area

This succulent area even has a play area.

     Some of their plants were started last fall from cuttings of healthy mother plants. These would include succulents, ornamental begonias, and coleus. The McDaniel family makes this look so easy with all their experience. They cut the branches from a mother plant, then simply stick them in good soil. When the moisture is properly maintained, soon small roots appear. It’s almost magical.

McDaniel's New Greenhouse

The newest greenhouse contains their collection of succulent plants.

     Succulents have become a favorite since Bryce took an interest in them about eight years ago. They’re not only colorful and some appear unusual, but they require very little care. Most succulents survive even when neglected.

McDaniels Jay and Misty Travis

Jay and Misty Travis place purchased plant plugs in trays.

     Some popular plants have patents so greenhouses can not grow new plants from cuttings. They have to purchase them as seeds or plugs from a supplier. They arrive as very small plants, but with some loving tender care will be ready to re-pot for hanging baskets, custom orders, or for sale as individual plants.

McDaniel's Hanging Baskets (2)

Soon the greenhouses will overflow with beautiful plants.

     One day recently, the McDaniel’s family planted over 300 Dahlias, and 1200 plant plugs were placed in trays. They walk miles every day as they work in the greenhouse. While hanging baskets are watered with a sprinkling system, the rest of the plants are hand-watered with hoses using cistern water to avoid chemicals. Watering takes six hours every day but it’s a great chance for them to keep a close eye on all the plants.

McDaniel's Early Hanging Baskets

In early March, plants were in their beginning stages.

     A few years ago they installed heated floors in a section of their greenhouse where they are doing the seedlings and cuttings. By using a wood burner, the floor temperature stays about 70 degrees, the perfect temperature for the young plants.

McDaniel's Fun Planters

Attractive settings appear throughout the greenhouses.

     Something new that has been added is a potting table where people can have some assistance in potting their own plants. Children, as well as adults, enjoy this activity.

McDaniels's Hanging Basket

Pick up a ready to hang basket or perhaps fill one of your own.

     McDaniel’s Greenhouse has many requests for custom orders so it’s vitally important that the plants peak at just the right time. That takes special timing! Customer containers are brought to be filled with instructions regarding plants and colors.

McDaniel's Fall Workshop (2)

Workshops have been added to their events during many seasons.

     Workshops began in 2019 and will be held throughout the year as soon as possible so check their Facebook page for some interesting events including Succulents, Christmas Pine, and Lavender. This fall they will be growing their own mums.

McDaniel's Entrance

A piece of spouting filled with attractive plants tops the doorway to this greenhouse.

     When asked what they do for relaxation, Rachael said they go to the boys’ soccer games, track meets, and basketball games, where Bryce helps coach. Once in a while, they get a chance to go camping and kayaking. You can tell family is of top importance.

McDaniels May flowers

Hardy flowers can be found at McDaniel’s that will last all summer long.

     Check out their website http://www.mcdanielsgreenhouse.com or their Facebook page for the latest updates. Call in your orders at 740-872-6143 or email them at mcdanielsgreenhouse@gmail.com. They will offer extended hours of 9 am – 5 pm for the season. Spring has not been canceled.

     Plan to stop by and pick up a special flower for yourself or a friend. See all the colorful flowers and plants that are sure to make you welcome the gardening season with a smile as you anticipate the results.

McDaniel’s Greenhouse is located at 2725 Rix Mills Road – County Hwy 55 – off Route 40 west of New Concord. You can’t miss the greenhouses when you come into Rix Mills. Visit their website at www.mcdanielsgreenhouse.com

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Gardens, Nature, Ohio, Uncategorized

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Rise and Shine with Lisa Bell

Invest in your health!

Bell Barn

Their barn has become a symbol of her bakery business.

Bell Farmstead Bakery & Products came about as a result of Lisa Bell’s chronic stomach issues. While she tried the advice of many doctors, nothing seemed to relieve her problem. Then in 2014, she met a holistic doctor that had a bit of different advice.

Bell- Strawberry Oat Muffin

People like these strawberry oat muffins so well they buy them by the dozen.

   This doctor suggested she try a gluten free diet for a couple of weeks just to see how she felt. That meant that she was to eat no products with grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. Within three days, she felt better than she had ever felt; however, it took a year for complete healing and recovery. Her husband decided to try the diet with her and found he too felt much better.

   While Lisa started her gluten free business due to her own severe health issues, now she is helping others overcome this problem.  One of the first things they need to do is visit their doctor and schedule a test for Celiac, an immune reaction to eating gluten that damages the small intestine lining and prevents absorption of nutrients.

Bell - eggs, fried potatoes, Zucchini applesaue bread toasted with butter

This gluten free breakfast of eggs, fried potatoes, and toasted applesauuce bread looks mighty appealing.

   Once she found the gluten free diet made her feel so much better, her problem was finding tasty gluten free products. There weren’t any bakeries that offered anything gluten free and what she found in stores was dry, made with preservatives, using mega white rice flour and tapioca starch.  To correct this problem, Bell Farmstead Bakery & Products was born in 2016.

Bell Banana Nut Bread

Get to the Farmer’s Market early if you want some of Lisa’s banana nut bread.

   It became important to Lisa to not only have the products taste better but she wanted them to have nutritional value. She studied the ancient grains that our ancestors would have grown and used, such as amaranth, sorghum, and millet. Then she experimented with flaxseed meal, coconut, almond, and garbanzo bean flours. These flours are what bring the unique flavor and texture to her products.

   Most of the recipes used in her baked goods are ones she has created herself by trial and error for her family. She discovered that by using organic and non-gmo ingredients, products were not only healthier but also more flavorable.

Lisa and chicken

Her chickens provide the perfect eggs for her baked goods.

   Her chickens are even fed organic food. They start out with a feed ordered from Virginia that has no soy and then graduate to layer feed, which has no soy or wheat content. Any extras are organic produce that is grown by Lisa. After all, these eggs are what she uses in her baked goods.

Bell Pancake Mix

Bell pancake mix is Husband tested, Husband approved!

   Lisa is also president of the Cambridge Rise and Shine Farmer’s Market. This market only accepts homegrown produce, herbs, flowers, and plants as well as handcrafted goods. They cannot be purchased in bulk from an auction house but must be from the farmer’s garden. Here you get a chance to talk to the farmers that have produced the crops and get their suggestions for using them.

   Her products are sold at Rise & Shine Farmers’ Market, which is open every Friday morning May through October at the Southgate Hotel parking lot in Cambridge. Her products cater to those with food allergies and are all corn, soy, xanthan gum, gluten, and peanut free. Wheat, rye, or barley are not allowed in any of her products. Many people feel better when they avoid these foods.

Bell - Lisa in her herbs

Lisa can often be found working in her herb garden.

   Correct care of gardens and fields is of utmost importance. Chemical spraying of crops before or after planting contributes harmful substances to the body. Simply, you can’t digest poison! So the importance of pure crops is high on the list.

Lisa at Market Place SFF

Lisa was at one time chairman of the Marketplace for Salt Fork Festival.

   She also participates in the River City Farmers’ Markets in Marietta every other week. In past years, she also has organized the Marketplace for the Salt Fork Arts & Crafts Festival. Each market seems to bring new experiences such as hot sunshine, rain, wind, and even snow has been encountered.

Bell Apple Cinnamon Oat Muffins   Every week Lisa bakes something a little different for the Farmers’ Market crowd. A few of those treats from past weeks have included Zucchini Applesauce Bread, Rhubarb Mint Pie, and Apricot Date Scones. Something delicious always appears from her ovens.

Lisa - Wedding Cake

This gluten free wedding cake  looks and tastes delicious.

   There’s a wide assortment of breads, muffins, and pies available. Try some of her buckwheat or oat flax ginger pancake mixes. About a half dozen different oatmeal mixes include Raisin Cinnamon, Cranberry Almond Ginger, and Plum Vanilla. When talking with her recently, she was baking a vegan birthday cake and has also done wedding cakes.

Lisa - Organic Strawberry Patch

This organic strawberry patch provides fresh fruit for her baked goods.

   Lisa established her bakery because she doesn’t believe that being Celiac or having a food intolerance or allergy should prevent a person from having a tasty meal or a scrumptious dessert. Her goal is to create products that taste awesome and have nutritious value. Good nutrition is the key to a healthy immune system.

Lisa - Paloma chicken coop

Lisa served as local chief humane officer for livestock. Her animals are an important part of her life.

   When asked what advice she would give others, Lisa says without hesitation, “Invest in your health by eating healthy, get plenty of fresh air and sunshine, and practice grounding each day. Have faith in God and let Him be in charge of your life.” Grounding, or earthing, is the process of placing your bare feet on the ground for at least fifteen minutes a day to reconnect your body with the earth’s energy.

Bell Commercial   Right now, Lisa and her husband, Rick, are refurbishing a second house on their property to use as a commercial bakery. This is a very exciting endeavor and promises to give Lisa a place to experiment with her recipes while having a showroom where she can sell her products.

Bell Cooking Outdoors

Cooking outdoors is a year-round favorite for her family.

   She proudly states, “Everything I create is with a purpose and good intention not just for my family, but for you and your family also.” Contact Lisa at Bell Farmstead Bakery at 740-680-1866 or email her at bellfarmstead@yahoo.com. Visit her website at www.bellfarmsteadgfbakery.com .

   If you are having stomach problems and fatigue, Lisa would suggest that you have your doctor run a test for Celiac. Let her know your allergy and food intolerances and Lisa will gladly help you find some delicious foods to add to your diet.

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Cambridge, Farming, Gardens, Ohio, Uncategorized

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