Jack and I continue our quest to hike all 23 parks in Medina County. Plus – much to Jack’s dismay, I bought a book called 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Cleveland! Onward! Yesterday’s hike took us to beautiful Allardale. Stan and Ester Allard donated 336 acres of their farm to the Medina County Park District in 1992. The farm had been in their family for 3 generations, since 1877. Their donation guaranteed that at least some of the rolling landscape would remain undeveloped. Allardale has been recognized several times as an outstanding example of forestry and land conservation. In the 1930’s this farm was among the first to practice soil-saving techniques such as contour strip farming and erosion control using pines and spruces planted along steep hillsides. Since then, at least 100,000 trees have been planted!!!!! There are established collections of black walnut, red and white oak, white pine and a variety of others. Ohio wild flowers were still blooming brightly in August, the sky was blue, the birds were singing, butterflies danced happily and we had a great hike!!
An old sawmill
Fern flourishing in the shade
Sun-dappled trees
Rolling meadow
Corn field
Allard farmstead
with an ivy-covered silo
Several gas wells on the property – hmmm..
maybe that’s why they could afford to donate!
