A Park for All Seasons

Although I haven't posted an update here in a while, we've been to Mill Creek Park at least a couple of dozen times since my last post. After all, it's only a 15- to 20-minute drive from our house depending on traffic. Almost always, we make a pit stop at the visitor center; sometimes, we stop at Lanterman's Mill, Newport Wetlands and/or the golf course as well. Always, we find new and interesting things to photograph. Mill Creek Park is, after all, a park for all seasons.

In the early spring, we take in all the beautiful tulips that line the pathways in Fellows Riverside Gardens. Later, we watched for peonies and daylilies there too. In the summer, the Rose Garden, with its colorful array of blooms, calls our name -- again and again. When we're not roaming round the roses, we head for the bed of some of the largest dahlias I've ever seen out behind the visitor center. And in the fall, nothing is more beautiful than the golds, reds and oranges that appear on the trees -- a signal, unfortunately, that winter won't be far behind. The wetlands begins to don coats of rich browns and tans, and the Lily Pond is drenched in reflections from the surrounding trees.

By the middle of October, all the beautiful dahlias had disappeared, and the roses were disappearing fast. So when we decided to take a run through the park on Oct. 1, it was with no expectation of seeing flowers outside the pots and arrangements always on display inside the visitor center. Imagine my surprise, then, to find quite a number of roses growing strong in the Rose Garden! Yes, most were past their prime, but as any country music fan knows, there's something special about a faded rose from days gone by.

By early November, most of the park is braced for what's to come; and early December brings Christmas at the Mill, weekends of fun, events and the chance to buy gifts for friends and loved ones. Some years, the ground is blanketed with snow, and the bright red ribbons and greenery transform the mill and covered bridge an almost magical look. So far this year, the snow has held off, but nothing has been spared to transform the visitor center into a winter wonderland. There's a play area where the kiddies can roam wide-eyed and not worry about touching things; the gift shop is filled with shimmery, glimmery goodies and intricately decorated Christmas trees are on display upstairs and down. The Garden Cafe puts on holiday airs (not to mention dozens of red and white poinsettias and amaryllis scattered throughout the entire center) and, when we visited on Dec. 12, an exhibit titled "The International Year of Natural Fibres 2009 was lighting up the Weller Gallery.

In January, we choose our entries in the annual nature photography contest with great care; the following month, we take delight in seeing the work of dozens of talented photographers (crossing our fingers that a few of ours will be among them) in the Weller Gallery exhibit. At some point, we're likely to make a pass through the MetroFarm Park in Canfield, especially if there's snow on the ground and the sun is out.

For right now, though, it's a mostly waiting game. Even though our family is smaller this year -- my wonderful father passed away in June at the age of 96, and our son Scott is spending time with his fiance in South Africa till mid-January -- the hustle and bustle of the holidays will come between us and our treasured visits to the park. But once the snow flies, which could happen at any given moment, we'll be back to see doggie footprints on an otherwise snow-covered, and pristine, hiking trail. Or, we'll spy a handful of still-colorful fall leaves imprisoned in the ice on Lake Glacier or a small pond. And we'll look forward to the awakening of spring, when the cycle begins anew!