Dawes Arboretum

Looking for a place to see the changing leaves? The Japanese Garden at Dawes Arboretum is always a serene setting, and the gold and auburn leaves reflecting off the water are striking. The 1,800 acre arboretum is 35 miles east of Columbus and is an amazing place to visit any time of the year.

Wind Power

Check out the Buckeye Wind Project. If their proposal is approved, they will be installing 70 wind turbines in Champaign County. The turbines would power close to 50,000 homes. The Buckeye Wind Project is being developed by a New York company called EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc. The company has received over $42 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act renewable energy program.

Healthy Children, Healthy Weights

The preschoolers at Innis Elementary School planted lettuce seeds with amazing results. The seeds and training to the teachers was provided by Healthy Children, Healthy Weights - a program that will soon lose it's funding from the state of Ohio. The initiative was to encourage home gardens and sustainability. The kids also recently received a transplanting pot, dirt and tomato seeds to take home over summer break.

Topiary Park

The Topiary Park is one of Columbus' most beautiful urban parks. The topiaries are a replica of french painter Georges Seurat's famous painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte." It is a surreal experience to walk through the scene from this painting.

The Agora

Chamomile Tea

When the day is over, I reach for a cup of chamomile tea. This fresh, whole flower tea came from A Touch of Earth at the North Market in Columbus. There many possible benefits of German chamomile including sedative, bone building, anti-inflammatory, and antiestrogen effects. (naturaldatabase.com)

Magnolia groves

There are few things more breath-taking during the spring then huge, vibrant magnolia blossoms. There are two magnolia groves I know of in central Ohio. The one here is at Goodale Park, near the brewery district of Columbus. The other is at Dawe's Arboretum of Rt 70. Hope you have been noticing the beauty of spring and get to see some magnolia trees!

Planting...It's time!

It's April already...a good time to start some seeds and get digging outside. That is, if you haven't already started. There are some urban farmers here in Columbus who already have their spring crop coming up and will be ready for the first harvest soon. I have store bought cauliflower and broccoli in the ground and peas planted. Hopefully the Worthington farmers market this weekend will have some greens for sale. I'm awaiting the taste of fresh Ohio food.