Natural Beauty

We biked over to Lexington today. Along the way Ken spotted this Great Blue Heron fishing in the Clear Fork. Success! It caught a fish, and we got to watch it shaking its head around coaxing the meal down its throat.

We also spotted a couple of woodchucks scurrying into the woods, but they didn't pose for a photo! We did see another unusual sight--this one not exactly a natural beauty. As we approached a spot of dayglo orange ahead on the path, we realized that it was a man doing pushups crosswise on the path. He stood up when we got near, and we stopped to chat with him. He said that he runs the trail and does 500 pushups as part of his run. That boggles the mind. He is 44 and was hospitalized with pneumonia in January. He decided to work on getting healthier, and he went from 260 lbs. to 210 lbs. I guess running and pushups are good for your health!

After the bike ride we decided to visit the Wade Botanical Gardens. We went there in 2015 on our last trip to this area. The gardens are a part of the Wade & Gatton Nurseries, and they are a real labor of love--love for daylillies and hostas, that is. The owners have developed many varieties of hostas themselves. The gardens include over 2,300 varieties of Hostas and over 1,500 varieties of Daylilies along with other perennials, conifers, shade and ornamental trees, etc.

Here's an excerpt from the Ohio Magazine May 2012 issue (http://tinyurl.com/ybgwe9dw)

At Wade & Gatton, hostas rule. Van and Shirley Wade grow 2,500 varieties at their 84-year-old nursery, and busloads of hosta fans from around the world travel to what they call “hosta heaven.” They’re drawn to the Wades’ amazing collection of these easy-to-grow, shade-loving perennials known for their beautiful foliage in varying sizes, shapes and colors. You’ll find mini hostas with quarter-sized blue leaves, larger ones with ruffled chartreuse leaves and even giant varieties with 6-foot spans and bold variegated leaves. In fact, Van has introduced 100 hosta hybrids, including “Van Wade,” “Van Wade Blue” and 80 others.
Begin your tour outside the Wades’ 1880s Victorian home, then wander through the hillside and woodland gardens filled with this diverse species. Grab a clipboard and take notes of your favorites, then visit the hoop houses to purchase ones to take home. With so many options, it’s best to make selections as you go or you’ll lose track of where you’ve spotted something. Look for hosta “Liberty” — the 2012 Hosta of the Year. Besides hostas, you’ll find 1,500 varieties of daylilies along with other perennials, conifers and trees. Before you go, make sure you have a chance to meet Van to shake his hand or pose for a picture. (He’s known to include a free hosta with new visitors’ purchases.)
“They’re the friendship plant,” he says about hostas, which are easy to divide and share. “And there’s nothing more fun than giving somebody one unexpectedly with hopes they’ll reciprocate one day.”