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®

AUGUST 2021

Reconnected New lakefront connections now open

Take Flight at the Zoo Eagle Zip Adventure now open

Summer Microadventures Five great day trips to take this month

Eagle Zip Adventure at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo A LETTER FROM BRIAN ZIMMERMAN CONTENTS New Ways to Connect with Nature Happy August! This summer has been packed with adventure. 2 Letter from Brian & We’ve opened several new trails including the Red Line Greenway, Naturalist-Led Programs Whiskey Island Trail, Wendy Park Bridge and the Lake Erie Water Trail, The Noshery at Huntington Reservation, Brighton Park at 3 Hellbenders Brookside Reservation, The Lindsey Family Play Space at Edgewater Park and the Eagle Zip Adventure at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo! 4 Naturalist’s Almanac & While new trails are improving access and opportunities to Peering at the Perseids experience our Emerald Necklace, we’re also adding new ways for people to connect with nature once they arrive. 5 Lady Bugs or Lady Beetles & Wolf Spiders August is abuzz with opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy the final weeks of summer. Sleep outdoors under the stars at the Squire’s Castle Family Campout in North 6 Capital Improvement Chagrin or enjoy the family-friendly Backyard Nature Bash at West Creek. Wendy Park & Whiskey Island This month’s Emerald Necklace outlines all of the new adventures you can experience within Cleveland Metroparks. It’s also a field guide for the natural phenomena you can 7 Zoo News witness during your next visit including birds, insects, reptiles, wildflowers and even the Perseid meteor shower. 8 Nature Shop & If you haven’t yet made it out to this year’s Asian Lantern Festival, there’s only a few Upcoming Eventss weeks left to do so! Through our partnership with Meijer, this year’s festival is an all- new show, with over 1,000 unique large-scale lanterns, live performances on the Fifth 9 Golf & Swimming Third Bank Stage and culturally-inspired cuisine. Finally, as you head out to explore our more than 24,000 acres, take advantage of our 10 Top 5 Microadventuress free mobile app. We continue to roll out new features to make exploration easier than ever. And now you can access golf tee time bookings using the app! 11 Vibrant Vines & I’ll see you out there! Puffball Mushrooms

12 Directory & Map

Brian Zimmerman Click or touch a section above to access Cleveland Metroparks CEO it directly. Click on the home button (example shown here) at the top corner of each page to return here.

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Thursdays – Sundays Through Sunday, September 5 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.

• New lantern displays Buy your tickets in advance • Live performances and save! • Authentic cuisine FutureForWildlife.org/lanterns

2 Emerald Necklace August 2021 | Vol. 70 #8 FEATURE ARTICLE

Hellbenders, Snot Otters or Allegheny Alligators

idden under large rocks in clean, While hellbenders cannot be found within cool, fast-moving rivers and streams Cleveland Metroparks, they are in Ohio, Hin the eastern United States lurks our with the largest population found in Little largest amphibian. Known by many aliases Beaver Creek in Columbiana County. – snot otter, Allegheny alligator, grampus, lasagna lizard – our largest salamander, Sizable Salamanders Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, is perhaps Growing up to two feet in length and known best by its most common name: weighing up to five and a half pounds, the skin, hellbenders are able to produce and the hellbender. This reclusive relative of hellbender is the third largest salamander secrete a slime through their skin coating our more commonly seen salamanders in the world, behind only its cousins the their entire body. This slime makes the (redback, spotted, two-lined, etc.) requires Chinese giant salamander (which can grow hellbender difficult to grasp, and has a a very specific habitat to survive. Fully to almost six feet in length and weigh foul taste, allowing the hellbender to aquatic, it is sensitive to pollution and low over 60 pounds) and the Japanese giant escape potential predation. oxygen conditions, and thus is only found salamander (which can grow to five feet in in clean, cool, and fast-moving waters, with length and weigh over 50 pounds). Being Helping Hellbenders very little sedimentation. They can be found dorsoventrally flattened (“squished” from Though the range of the hellbender from New York to Georgia, mostly along the the top and bottom), hellbenders squirm expands across much of the Eastern Appalachian Mountain range, but can be their stout, soft bodies under large rocks to United States, increased urbanization has found as far west as Oklahoma. hide from predators. A nocturnal species, led to habitat degradation and has caused hellbenders emerge from underneath their a sharp decline in hellbender populations. rocks to hunt crayfish, other invertebrates, Thankfully, there are multiple organi­ and small fish. Mottled browns and tans, zations around the country, and a few with wavy folds of skin along its sides here in Ohio that are working to help. allow it to camouflage against the rocky The Ohio Hellbender Partnership is a substrates of streams and rivers. The wavy collection of organizations (the U.S. Fish folds of skin on the hellbender give it a and Wildlife Service, Ohio Division of greater surface area, allowing for more Wildlife, the Ohio EPA, multiple colleges Underwater view of hellbender oxygen exchange with the surrounding and universities, multiple zoos and more), water. Besides breathing through their that are working to conserve land, and raise and reintroduce hellbenders into streams. You too can help the hellbender and the overall quality of our streams by reducing the amount of stormwater coming from your property by implementing stormwater management features like rain barrels, rain gardens and bioswales. All of these features can be observed outdoors at the Watershed Stewardship Center in Cleveland Metroparks West Creek Reservation. Matt Knittel, Naturalist Hellbender – the largest salamander in the U.S. Watershed Stewardship Center

clevelandmetroparks.com 3 NATURALIST’S ALMANAC

August is alive with anticipation eep summer has arrived as August Bird Migration is Underway begins the turning point towards Late summer marks the end of breeding Dfall. Daylight shortens, insti- season for most birds, except for cedar gating flocks of migrating blackbirds to waxwings and American goldfinches, which congregate in large numbers. Bats begin are hard at work preparing nests and raising to disperse from maternity colonies and Common buckeye young in the heat of the year. The dawn chorus the first southerly migration of shore- of songbirds such as warblers, flycatchers, birds, warblers and orioles begins. Insect tanagers and grosbeaks has quieted, except diversity explodes with butterflies, moths, for red-eyed vireos singing high in the canopy dragonflies and damselflies leading the of lush forests. While it seems early, fall colorful parade in field and forest. August migration is already underway, as blackbird evenings provide a peek at the Perseid Black saddlebag flocks gather in fields and shorebirds return to meteor shower, particularly during the first wetlands and marshes. two weeks of the month. The opportunity to witness shooting stars while listening to Pollinating & Serenading Insects a concert of katydids, crickets and grass- The fields and wetlands are alive with the hoppers is a show not to be missed. American buzzing and fluttering of fantastic pollinating insects: bees and butterflies. Skimmers, Eastern milksnake goldfinch darners, bluets, spreadwings, baskettails, saddlebags and other unique odonates are busy foraging on the wing and laying eggs in ponds and lakes. Common buckeyes, one of the most brilliant of butterflies, can be found on sunny paths through meadows. Cicadas, Peering at the Perseids grasshoppers, crickets and katydids fill the afternoons, evenings and starlit nights with Summer is an amazing time to get out at night, when the loud serenades. temperatures are cooler, and the sky is filled with stars. Mid-August nights are especially magical because of the annual Perseid meteor Tall Towering Wildflowers shower, which is undoubtedly the best meteor shower of the year. The Perseid meteor is named after Perseus, the constellation and Greek The rich soil nutrients found in floodplain mythological hero. Meteors have been seen around this northern forests allow some of the tallest wildflowers constellation for over 2,000 years. in Cleveland Metroparks to thrive. Yellows of wingstem, green-headed coneflower and cup The swift and vivid meteors frequently leave long lines of light and plant can grow over ten feet tall, which are color behind them as they pass through Earth’s atmosphere. The highlighted with the lavenders of the shorter Perseids are one of the most productive meteor showers with 50- wild bergamot and wood sage. These insect- 100 meteors seen per hour. This summer light show is also known pollinated plants are great places to search for its fireballs, which are made of larger particles and create larger for predators, such as assassin bugs and crab explosions of light and color that last longer than an average meteor. spiders waiting patiently for their next meal. Where are the best places to view this spectacle? Dark skies with little light are not a necessity, but highly encouraged. South Chagrin, Warm Up To Reptiles North Chagrin, Brecksville, Bradley Woods, Hinckley and Huntington On cool mornings, native non-venomous reservations are wonderful locations to view the Perseids and their snakes can be seen on rock and log piles fireballs. Cleveland Metroparks reservations are open daily until 11 basking in the sun’s warming rays. There are p.m. and nighttime hikes and meteor watching is encouraged. The no harmful snakes in Cleveland Metroparks. next time you are looking for a new family experience in August, Brilliantly patterned milksnakes, gartersnakes check out the Perseids! and watersnakes are the most often found residents. Musk and painted turtles can be Natalie Schroder, Naturalist seen basking on floating logs in wetlands as Watershed Stewardship Center they soak up the morning’s sunshine.

Photo by Jen Goellnitz, Fairview Park 4 Emerald Necklace August 2021 INSIDE OUR PARKS August is alive with anticipation Ladybugs or Lady Beetles: What’s in a Name? Photos by Jen Goellnitz, Fairview Park id you know lady bugs are actually not bugs, but beetles? • Asian lady beetles can provide DThe difference in name may seem some benefit to gardens, but they are fashion...while they are still alive. insignificant, but when you examine how invasive and compete against or often these insects catch and consume their There are several types of lady beetles to kill native lady beetles. Additionally, prey, true bugs (order: Hemiptera) and search for. Many are native, and a few have they can become a creature to dread beetles (order: Coleoptera) are worlds been introduced: once large numbers find their way into apart. While not all bugs and lady beetles your home, searching for their winter • Convergent lady beetles are among the are predatory, the hunting individuals hideaways in carpets and firewood. Lady most common across the United States, of these two insect groups are both beetles can be challenging to identify at devouring any aphid or mite that crosses very skilled at what they do. first glance. A good insect guide and a their path. Predatory bugs use piercing mouth hand lens is a great way to get started, parts to inject a digestive saliva • Pink spotted lady beetles are an but if you find you need help with an that breaks down the innards of excellent predator of aphids and other identification, be sure to ask a naturalist their prey, which is then sucked out. garden pests, but they also forage for for guidance. Predatory lady beetles catch and pollen, making them a notable pollinator Jake Kudrna, Naturalist chew their soft-bodied prey in brutal for your garden. CanalWay Center

to take them outside. First, get a cup and piece of paper. Then, place the Wolf Spiders: cup upside down over the spider. Small Creature, Next, slowly slide the paper under the cup so that the spider is trapped Big Impact inside. After that, pick up the cup with s summer winds down and we transition into the paper pressed over the opening. Finally, carry outside and release the fall, some of our smallest animal building a web and waiting patiently, spider close to the ground. friends may accidentally wander wolf spiders track down their prey. Wolf A into our homes in search of spiders hunt a wide variety of things If you ever have questions about a warmer temperatures. A common including ants and mosquitoes. In spider you find indoors or outdoors, wanderer that may alarm some are Ohio, there are over 600 known species please reach out to a Cleveland wolf spiders. Do not fear! While some of spiders, 57 of those are types of Metroparks naturalist and we will do may be quite large, they do not pose a wolf spiders. Despite their small size, our best to help you! threat to humans. When you encounter spiders are an extremely important Emma Strick, Naturalist a wolf spider on the trail or in your predator. Spiders are also important as Rocky River Nature Center home, take a deep breathe, then food for larger species like birds and consider their importance before you amphibians. decide how to respond. Hopefully after learning more about Wolf spiders are in the biological these small eight-legged friends, you family Lycosidae, which comes from can look upon them more fondly and the Latin word “lycosa,” meaning wolf. understand their importance in our They get their name from the method ecosystem. If you find one in your in which they hunt. Rather than home, consider using the cup method Wolf spider

clevelandmetroparks.com 5 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

Wendy Park Bridge & Whiskey Island Trail Transform Access to Lakefront Parks

leveland Metroparks officially Whiskey Island Trail Bridges Gap Trail to Canal Basin Park, Rivergate Park, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit opened the Wendy Park Bridge and The Whiskey Island Trail completes a Authority (RTA) Waterfront Line Rapid CWhiskey Island Trail in late June, the missing link between Edgewater Park to Transit, eLCee2 Water Taxi and downtown two final pieces in the transformational Wendy Park on Whiskey Island with 1.2 Cleveland. $16.45 million “Re-Connecting Cleveland” miles of all purpose trail. The trail provides federal Transportation Investment Gener- a safe, off-road connection with great Cleveland Metroparks, in partnership ating Economic Recovery (TIGER) trails views of the active Port of Cleveland’s Bulk with The Trust for Public Land and LAND project. The now complete transportation Terminal as well as several interpretive studio, applied for and secured a TIGER network of 4+ miles of interconnected spaces that share the rich history of grant in 2016 from the U.S. Department bike and pedestrian trails along with Cleveland’s lakefront. Prior to the new of Transportation that supported $7.95 the signature Wendy Park Bridge links trail, walkers, joggers and cyclists traveling million of the project’s overall cost. In more than 66,000 Cleveland residents to between Edgewater Park, Whiskey Island addition to the TIGER grant, funds for centers of employment, schools, parks, and Wendy Park were required to share a the overall $16.45 million Re-Connecting and commerce and provides a new link narrow stretch of roadway with blind turns, Cleveland project were secured from between downtown Cleveland and its cars, buses, trucks, boat trailers and more. the Wendy Park Foundation, The Trust lakefront. for Public Land, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds facilitated Wendy Park Bridge Connection through Northeast Ohio Areawide The Wendy Park Bridge links the Cleveland Coordinating Agency (NOACA), Clean Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail to Ohio Trails Fund, State of Ohio, LAND Wendy Park on Whiskey Island and Lake studio and Cleveland Metroparks funds. Erie. The 500-foot-long bridge extends over the Norfolk-Southern railroad National Recognition tracks and provides a new link between The project has already been recognized downtown Cleveland and Cleveland nationally by the National Parks and Metroparks lakefront parks. The bridge Whiskey Island Trail Recreation Association (NRPA) for its features a 12-foot-wide deck providing a impact in breaking down transportation new trail connection for both pedestrians Red Line Greenway barriers and connecting residents to and bicyclists and improved access to The Re-Connecting Cleveland project parks. Cleveland Metroparks is due to Wendy Park, Whiskey Island, the former also included the recently opened Red accept the Innovation in Social Equity historic coast guard station and Edgewater Line Greenway, a nearly two-mile paved Award at the NRPA National Conference Park. all-purpose trail that links the Cleveland in September. Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail to two RTA Red Line Rapid Transit stations, and provides six neighborhood connections from West 65th Street to downtown Cleveland. It also included the completed Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway Connector that links the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail to the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway and the Canal Basin Park Connector that links the Ribbon cutting at Wendy Park Bridge Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link New educational displays at Wendy Park

6 Emerald Necklace August 2021 ZOO NEWS

platform, reaching speeds up to 35 miles ave you ever wondered what it feels per hour. Guests will feel like an eagle Soar about the zoo like to fly like an eagle? The Eagle Zip soaring through the air on this exhilarating Adventure ride takes guests to new ride. on the Eagle Zip Adventure H heights above Cleveland Metroparks Zoo This family-friendly experience accom­ and Waterfowl Lake. modates two riders per car. Minimum rider On this tandem zip ride, guests board on height is 42” with a paying adult or 48” the ride platform next to the historic Wade taller to ride alone. For information, visit Hall. Once seated and strapped in, they are FutureForWildlife.org/EagleZipAdventure. pulled backwards over Waterfowl Lake and up 150 feet above the Zoo, offering views all the way to downtown Cleveland! After pausing at the top for a moment, riders are released for a thrilling 700- Tandem zip ride now at the Zoo foot zip ride back down to the starting Asian Lantern Festival is Back!

leveland Metroparks Zoo’s can look forward to an entirely new record-breaking Asian Lantern experience this year with more than CFestival presented by Meijer 70 large-scale illuminated displays is back for its fourth year! Guests featuring over 1,000 individual lanterns. This year’s festival also includes live acrobatic performances on the Fifth Third Bank Stage including foot juggling, contortion and more. Guests can also shop at the Asian craft market, and taste a robust Playful panda bears lighted exhibit variety of culturally-inspired cuisine, including local favorites Li Wah, King through Sunday evenings 6:30 p.m. to Wah and more. The limited time, 10:30 p.m. through September 5. New Taj Mahal display after-hours event will run Thursday Visit FutureForWildlife.org/lanterns.

Use the Cleveland Metroparks mobile app to Find Your Patio this summer. Take in views of Lake Erie at The Noshery and Sunset Picnic Plaza at Huntington Beach, or e55 on the Lake and at Edgewater Beach House in Lakefront Reservation. For up-to-date information on Cleveland Metroparks restaurants and concessions Download Cleveland Metroparks mobile app visit clevelandmetroparks.com/dining. The Noshery and Sunset Picnic Plaza at Huntington

clevelandmetroparks.com 7 Visit our Nature Shops for an expanded selection of merchandise. For hours and locations visit clevelandmetroparks.com/shop.

Edgewater Beach JULY SPECIAL AUGUST SPECIAL SEPTEMBER SPECIAL Nature Shop Cleveland 216-954-3408 ext 3. Open Daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Hinckley Lake Boathouse & Store Hinckley Township 330-278-2160 Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Weekends & Holidays Americana 50% Off Find Your Path 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. $ Cleveland Metroparks Bike Tees North Chagrin Hat 20 Nature Shop $ Bandana $ ea. Mayfield Village Tee 22 $ 22 440-449-0511 Sale 5 Open Fri. – Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Offer valid 7/1/21 – 7/31/21. Offer valid 9/1/21 – 9/30/21. Offer valid 8/1/21 – 8/31/21. While supplies last. While supplies last. While supplies last. Rocky River Shop online at Shop online at Shop online at clevelandmetroparks.com/shop Nature Shop clevelandmetroparks.com/shop clevelandmetroparks.com/shop North Olmsted 440-734-7576 Open Fri. – Sun. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Stay up-to-date with our Watershed Stewardship summer water rentals. Visit Center Nature Shop our website for locations, Parma rates, reservations, and more! 440-253-2170 Open Fri. – Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visit clevelandmetroparks.com/WaterRentals for the latest rental information Shop online for park apparel and monthly specials at clevelandmetroparks.com/shop

Squire’s Castle Backyard Family Campout Nature Bash Saturday, August 7, 6 p.m. – Saturday, August 14 Sunday, August 8, 11 a.m. Noon – 4 p.m. Squire’s Castle Area • North Chagrin Reservation Join us for an overnight adventure and sleep outdoors Watershed Stewardship Center under the stars! Your family camping experience will create West Creek Reservation’s backyard is a great place for a family- memories of a campfire with s’mores, hikes, and tips for friendly outdoor fest! Learn how to improve your backyard your next camping adventure. Visit the website for more habitat for wildlife while enjoying nature-blitz activity stations, our popular “Go-Native” plant sale, free wagon rides, live music information and to register. by the Swamp Rattlers & local food carts. All ages with registered & participating adult Free admission and parking. $10 per person (includes breakfast) Sponsored by ACME Fresh Food Market. In Partnership with Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and West Creek Conservancy.

8 Emerald Necklace August 2021 Golf Courses

Book Your Tee Time Today! Upcoming Golf Events Big Met Little Met/Mastick Woods Stableford Novice Learn-N-Play 440-331-1070 | Fairview Park 18 Hole Championship Competition August 18 – Sept. 22 Sunday, August 8 Saturday, August 21 Novice Learn –N- Play is Little Met See if you are the best golfer at This may be the only event designed for golfers with 216-941-9672 | Cleveland Little Met & Mastick Woods Golf where bigger numbers a basic golf swing but Courses; this event is open all are better. This event is a in need of golf course players! Come out and play! Enjoy Point Quota competition. experience. Class meets on Manakiki this friendly, competitive event. The course is ready if you Wednesdays for six weeks. 440-942-2500 | Willoughby Hills 2 p.m. are; this event is part of 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Meet at Little Met Clubhouse the Player of the Year Meet at Washington Mastick Woods Ages: All Tournament Series. Clubhouse Fee: $35 per team 12 p.m. Ages: Adult 216-267-5626 | Cleveland Register online Meet at Seneca Clubhouse Fee: $160 Ages: All Register online Seneca Moonlight Golf Fee: $60 440-526-0043 | Broadview Hts. Friday, August 20 Register online Play 9 holes of golf under the Shawnee Hills stars with special glow in the dark golf balls and accessories! 440-232-7184 | Bedford 8:00 p.m. Meet at Mastick Woods Sleepy Hollow Clubhouse Guarded Swimming Areas 440-526-4285 | Brecksville Ages: All ages, juniors must be accompanied Cleveland Metroparks offers a wide variety of water recreation Washington by an adult including swimming, boating, fishing and more throughout Fee: $30 the Park District. Lifeguards are on duty during posted dates 216-641-1864 | Newburgh Hts. Register online and times at these guarded swimming areas. Hinckley Lake Spillway Visit clevelandmetroparks.com/golf for a Hinckley Reservation, Hinckley Township complete list of events and to register. Guarded Fri. – Sun.: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday, June 5 – Sun., August 8 Huntington Beach SAVE THE DATE! Huntington Reservation, Bay Village Guarded Daily: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday, June 5 – Sun., August 8 Weekends only: Saturday, August 14 – Monday Sept. 6 Ledge Pool & Recreation Area 18th Century Festival Hinckley Reservation, Hinckley Township (daily pool admission fee or season pass access) Sunday, September 26 Open Daily: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. weather permitting 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, June 5 – Sun., August 15 Meadows Picnic Area Wallace Lake Mill Stream Run Reservation, Berea Brecksville Reservation Guarded Fri. – Sun.: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Celebrate the return of the annual Cleveland Metroparks Saturday, June 5 – Sun., August 8 “FallFest: 18th Century Festival.” Enjoy a variety of old-time, Edgewater Beach pioneer life skills, such as candle Lakefront Reservation, Cleveland dipping. See an American Guarded Daily: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Revolution encampment Saturday, June 5 – Sun., August 8 with formation drills and Weekends only: Saturday, August 14 – Monday Sept. 6 other demonstrations by the Brigade of the American Villa Angela Beach Revolution. Full details listed on Euclid Creek Reservation, Cleveland clevelandmetroparks.com. Guarded Daily: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Free admission and parking. Saturday, June 5 – Sun., August 8

clevelandmetroparks.com 9 OUTDOOR RECREATION Top Microadventures 5 in Cleveland Metroparks microadventure is a short adventure and ending at Deer Lick Cave in Brecksville close to home that is relatively Reservation. Despite its name, the Little Asimple and low cost, yet provides Loop is still 250+ miles. It could be the Kayaker and stand up paddleboarder the fun, thrill and excitement of a bigger source of a checklist of microadventures adventure. It can be accomplished done in sections. Map out your Buckeye 1.8 miles of APT adjacent to the mountain before or after work, or perhaps over a Trail microadventures using the Guthook bike trails. Make it a family adventure. long weekend. This summer, Cleveland app or Buckeye Trail paper maps. Even if the kids aren’t quite ready for Metroparks is the perfect place to create natural surface trails, take turns looping memorable microadventures, either by Paddling for Ice Cream the APT with the kids, while the other yourself or with family and friends. The Nothing beats the summer heat person hits the singletrack. Enjoy a picnic depth of a microadventure is up to the 2 like ice cream before, during, afterwards! individual pursuing it. Here are our top five or after a paddling trip. For a flatwater recommendations. adventure best suited for beginners or The 2021 Trail Challenge those seeking a calm, serene adventure, 4 presented by Cigna The Buckeye Trail check out Hinckley Lake. Paddle a lap For a list of additional 1 Over 1,440 miles long, the around the lake, and then stop in the microadventures, look no further Buckeye Trail circles Ohio Hinckley Lake Boathouse & Store for an than the 2021 Trail Challenge. 30 trails passing through five Cleveland Metroparks ice cream dessert. Rentals are available at throughout all 18 reservations have reservations along the way. Follow the 2” clevelandmetroparks.com/waterrentals. been chosen for your next adventure. x 6” baby-blue blazes to create an exciting For paddlers who are comfortable in It’s up to you to choose the type of microadventure that is the right length for various wind and wave conditions, check trail (natural surface, paved, or water), you. For a short excursion, pick a section of out the Lake Erie Water Trail. Starting at distance (.3-11.8 miles), and activity. Find the Buckeye Trail (labeled on the Cleveland Wendy Park, paddle east to E. 55th Marina out more at clevelandmetroparks.com/ Metroparks maps), and then use other or west to Edgewater Beach for some ice trailchallenge. trails to create a fun loop. For a longer cream before paddling back. Let the wind adventure, follow the blue blazes through determine your direction! Remember, start Create Your Own or Join us for each of the five reservations: Hinckley, your trip into the wind for an easier return. a Program Brecksville, Bedford, South Chagrin, and 5 North Chagrin. Consider an overnight With over 24,000 acres and 300+ adventure along the Buckeye Trail at the miles of trails, the perfect microadventure Ottawa Overlook Backcountry Sites in is waiting for you. Look for ways to Brecksville Reservation. For an extended combine your favorite activity with microadventure, consider completing the fun stops along the way. If you need Little Loop of the Buckeye Trail starting help getting started, use the Cleveland Metroparks free mobile app or website to find naturalist led and Outdoor Recreation programs designed to teach you skills Mountain biking necessary for your next microadventure! Rachel Nagle, Manager Riding your Bike Outdoor Recreation From mountain bike trails to over 3 100 miles of paved all purpose trails (APT), the possibilities are endless. Check out the Bedford Singletrack and West Creek Mountain Bike trails for Buckeye Trail marker beginner-friendly routes. West Creek has

10 Emerald Necklace August 2021 INSIDE OUR PARKS Vibrant Vines: Wild Cucumber and Virgin’s Bower

ines are often called upon when a trellis, tree, or fence, so their placement in gardener wants to cover a trellis or a yard should be carefully considered. Both Varbor with vibrant flowers. Often are well adapted to our Northeast Ohio non-native plant s are selected for this task, climate and are hardy once established. but pollinators such as bees and butterflies These native vines are not commonly seen usually prefer native plant species. Two at local garden centers, so searching native great native vine options to try instead are plant nurseries and online sources will be wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata) and more productive. virgin’s bower (Clematis virginiana). While not as showy as non-native clematis, our Important Role in Nature native virgin’s bower has abundant flowers These rambling vines bloom in mid- Wild cucumber that are extremely attractive to humans, summer to fall when insect pollinators native bees and other pollinators. Wild are abundant. Wild cucumber and virgin’s cucumber has maple-like leaves and spiny, bower will attract a variety of native wasps, inedible pods that form after its star-like, bees, butterflies, moths and beetles that whitish flowers have bloomed. An annual will visit the abundant flowers for nectar. plant, it self-seeds prolifically. Virgin’s bower is a host plant for the caterpillars of a clearwing moth species Vigorous Growers (Alcathoe caudata). Planting one of these Sunny woodland edges, fence rows, and native vines in your garden will ensure stream banks are favored habitats of these abundant nectar for tiny pollinators and two vines in nature. The sweet fragrance add natural beauty to your landscape. of wild cucumber blossoms may alert Jeff Riebe, Naturalist passersby to its presence. These vines can North Chagrin Nature Center be aggressive and quick to clamber up a Virgin’s bower Puffballs and Their Smokey Trick Animal traffic, rain or even a slight body of a puffball won’t hurt the fungus breeze can produce this visible poof. As organism itself but in fact aides in spore spores float off, they hopefully land in a dispersal. suitable place to grow such as the forest n a late summer or early autumn There are many kinds of puffballs including floor or on a rotten stump. The spores stroll after a rain, you may spot the star-shaped earthstar, the bumpy will grow into the bulk of what most something quite special. Scattered brown pigskin, the clustered stump O fungi really are: an underground, root- on the forest floor lay mushrooms of many puffballs, or even the volleyball-like giant like structure called mycelium. Think of a shapes and sizes. One unusual, yet easily puffballs. Although most puffballs are fungus like an apple tree: the mycelium identified specimen is the puffball. Puffballs harmless, some are poisonous for humans is like the tree, and the mushrooms are are fascinating mushrooms that appear in to eat. For both safety and conservation like the apples. So poking the fruiting a variety of species but share a telltale trait. reasons, leave puffballs and other fungi Nudge or poke these round, fleshy orbs you find in Cleveland Metroparks where and if the mushroom is mature, poof! -- you found them. They are important food what looks like a cloud of smoke emerges. for slugs, turtles, deer, and perhaps even What you are witnessing is not smoke, flying squirrels. So, the next time you see a however, but reproductive spores, the way spherical mushroom, find a stick, give the mature mushrooms spread their genetics ball a nudge, and enjoy the show. out into the world. Before maturity, the Carmen Schwab, Naturalist puffball mushroom will be solid and North Chagrin Nature Center somewhat hard. Puffball Mushrooms

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