The Beauty Around Us

Bob and I spent this past Saturday (August 9th) at Mill Creek Park, a metropolitan park located in Youngstown, Ohio.  Our first stop was at Fellows Riverside Gardens.  When our visit to Fellows Riverside Gardens ended, we rode around the west side of Lake Glacier to Lily Pond.  In today’s blog post I will share photographs that I took at Lake Newport and of a Suspension Bridge.  After lunch we returned to the park and stopped at Lake Newport and a Suspension Bridge.  Our last stop in Mill Creek Park was at Lanterman’s Mill.

Lanterman’s Mill

Lanterman’s Mill was built in 1845-1846 by German Lanterman and Samuel Kimberly.
It was restored in 1982-1985.

A covered bridge, which you can see in the distance in the photograph displayed above, crosses Mill Creek.

Lanterman’s Mill Covered Bridge

On my first visit to Lanterman’s Mill in July 2013 with my friend, Marge, we were able to tour only the main and upper floors of the mill, as the water wheel (located on the bottom level) was being worked on during our visit.  The observation deck overlooking Mill Creek was also closed.  Progress has been made since last year’s visit.

The observation deck is now open.

During our visit on Saturday, Bob and I were able to tour all floors of the mill.

Bob took this photograph of the wheel on the bottom floor.

The water wheel, however, still requires repairs and was non-operational.

We enjoyed our visit to Mill Creek Park.  I would like to return one day, perhaps in the Autumn.  The colors of Autumn in the park would be beautiful indeed!

Bob and I spent this past Saturday (August 9th) at Mill Creek Park, a metropolitan park located in Youngstown, Ohio.  Our first stop was at Fellows Riverside Gardens.  When our visit to Fellows Riverside Gardens ended, we rode around the west side of Lake Glacier to Lily Pond.  In today’s blog post I will share photographs that I took at Lake Newport and of a Suspension Bridge.

Boat Launch on Lake Newport

Lake Newport Boat Launch

The Suspension Bridge, located on Valley Drive, was erected in 1895.  The bridge was designed by Charles Fowler of the Youngstown Bridge Company.  The Suspension Bridge spans Mill Creek and measures 86 feet long and 32 feet wide. It has been called the Silver Bridge, the Cinderella Bridge, the Castle Bridge, and the Walt Disney Bridge.

The Suspension Bridge was crossed frequently, while we were there.

Soon after our arrival at the bridge, a wedding party arrived.  I had hoped to capture a candid photograph of the bride and groom on the bridge; however, I didn’t get the opportunity.  Bob and I sat at our vantage point, watching the wedding photographer set up and take photographs.  It became apparent that people who wanted to cross the bridge were looking to Bob and me for direction as to whether or not to cross the bridge.  We didn’t want to direct traffic, so we left!

Our final stop at Mill Creek Park was at Lanterman’s Mill, the subject of my next blog post.

Bob and I spent this past Saturday (August 9th) at Mill Creek Park, a metropolitan park located in Youngstown, Ohio.  Our first stop was at Fellows Riverside Gardens, which I blogged about yesterday.  Mill Creek Park contains three man-made lakes, a pond and a wetland.  When our visit to Fellows Riverside Gardens ended, we rode around the west side of Lake Glacier to Lily Pond.

This is Lake Glacier, as viewed from Fellows Riverside Gardens.

As I took this picture, I heard falling water.  I looked but didn’t see a waterfall anywhere.  As we began our ride around Lake Glacier, I spotted the waterfall!

Lake Glacier dam

We spent a few minutes at the Lake Glacier Dam and then continued our ride in Mill Creek Park to Lily Pond.  Lily Pond is the oldest man-made body of water in Mill Creek Park.  It was created in 1896 by damming a natural spring.  We enjoyed this 3 1/4 acre pond by taking a walk around the 1/3-mile Lily Pond Circle Trail.

Lily Pond

Lily Pond

Lily Pond

Lily Pond

It is very easy to leave Mill Creek Park and enter a residential area.  That is what happened when we departed Lily Pond.  We found our way back to the park on U.S. Route 62, near where there a bridge crossing Mill Creek provides a wonderful view of Lanterman’s Mill.

Lanternman’s Mill

I didn’t like the sun’s position at the time we stopped, so we decided to eat lunch and return to Lanterman’s Mill later in the afternoon.

We lunch at Thano’s Family Restaurant in Canfield, which was only a few miles from Mill Creek Park.  My friend, Marge, and I ate at this restaurant last year when we visited Mill Creek Park. Marge and I enjoyed lunch there at that time.  Bob and I enjoyed lunch there as well.  I highly recommend this restaurant, if you are in the area!

In my next blog post I will share a few more photographs of Mill Creek Park sights and save photographs of Lanterman’s Mill for my final blog post of our visit to Mill Creek Park.

Bob and I spent this past Saturday (August 9th) at Mill Creek Park.  Mill Creek Park, which encompasses more than 2900 acres, is a metropolitan park located in Youngstown, Ohio.  It was Bob’s first visit to the park.  I had visited the park one time before, a little more than a year ago, with my friend Marge.  During our visit in July 2013, Marge and I concentrated on two park sights — the historic Lanterman’s Mill and the suspension bridge that spans Mill Creek.  Bob and I visited those two park sights, but we visited other park sights as well.  Our first stop was at the northern end of Mill Creek Park, at Fellows Riverside Gardens.

Fellows Riverside Gardens is a twelve-acre public display garden that features a landscape of diverse and colorful plant displays and flowers, as well as scenic vistas.  We arrived at the gardens at approximately 8:30 AM.  We spent the next 1 1/2 hours exploring the grounds.

The first garden that we entered was the DeYor Concourse, located at the back entrance of the D.D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center.

DeYor Concourse

We then followed a path along the right side of the concourse through the Shade Garden.

Shade Garden

The path through the Shade Garden brought us to the Seasonal Celebration Plaza.

Seasonal Celebration Plaza
Sommer Fountain

From Seasonal Celebration Plaza we followed a walkway through the Perennial Garden to the South Terrace.

Perennial Garden

From the South Terrace there is a magnificent view of Lake Glacier.

The Kidston Pavilion is located on the South Terrace.
Yew and boxwood hedges enclose the Rose Garden.

The Kidston Pavilion provides a unique setting for weddings, as does the Gazebo located a short distance away.

Gazebo

From the gazebo you can see Sommer Fountain, located in the Seasonal Celebration Plaza.

From the North Terrace you can see the Kidston Pavilion on the South Terrace.

From the North Terrace we wandered back toward the parking area, where we visited the Dahlia Garden and the Family Garden.

Dahlia Garden

Bee on Dahlia

Scarecrows lined the fence enclosing the Family Garden.

Entrance to Family Garden
Our granddaughters would have had fun in Family Garden.

Family Garden

Family Garden

Bob and I enjoyed our visit to Fellows Riverside Gardens very much.  The gardens are lovely in the Summer and would be just as beautiful during the Spring, Fall and Winter months.  I would like to make a return trip in each season.

I have more photographs to share from our visit to Mill Creek Park.  Stay tuned for additional blog posts!