Highbanks is an interesting park located in Delaware county north of Columbus, and is part of the Metro parks system. One of its highlights is the Indian earthworks that are on a high bluff overlooking the river. Two Adena mounds are also located within the park. Those look like simple small mounds, but the earthwork on the bluff is a circular ridge that sparks imaginary speculations as you walk along the trail.
This park is full of wildflowers, the largest number of which seem to bloom in the spring, but I took some shots of a few of the ones (some blooming, some berried)showing color in this late season. When I used to cross country ski we would go to this park – fun times :)
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TC, I believe the white flower is Eupatorium rugosum or white snakeroot which is described as growing on ” shaded upland sites ” which this was.
What looks quite pink in the picture is actually purple, Joe Pye or iron weed -a deep purple in nature (not digitally-although I should have adjusted the color). The blue flowers might be Campanula americana, but I am very unsure of that ID.
The common goldenrod arches in one of the photos and thistles, including what seems to be the Cirsium vulgare , abound in the meadow areas. Teasels, too, but I didn’t take any pictures of them.
The red berries are Jack-in-a-Pulpit. The white berries I come to find out are white baneberry, aka “doll’s eyes”, Actaea pachypoda. My husband wondered if they could be eaten… but with a name like baneberry, I would think not.
The yellow spike could be Solidago uliginosa, swamp goldenrod, but again not confident in the identification. And there were what I think are Helianthus divaricatus, woodland sunflowers, in the clearings. I have another picture of them which I might post- it was a pretty sight, breaking the sometimes monotonous green and dull browns of the late summer woods.
Hope you enjoyed walking through with me.
One last picture. This one is of the shale creeks that are so common in this part of Ohio. Just like the ones we played in in Glen Echo and Whetstone, isn’t it, Joanne?
Thanks for the reminder about Highbanks. I lived in Columbus for over 18 years and more previously when I was in college. Had many nice walks in Highbanks. Never knew there were Indian mounds there though. Nice collection of late summer wild flowers.
highbanks was a new park when i lived up there. a favorite
“country” destination-up the
olentangy river,long before
delaware area became built-up
extension of the big city….
“the Creek” is one of my fondest
memories of those kid-years.
thanks for the pictures and
the memory-tweak!