During the Easter holiday, our family got together at the beautiful Ottawa Metro Park in Lima, Ohio. A half-way point for our family members who live in Ohio and Michigan.
With temperatures in the mid-50’s to 60’s, sunshine that finally came out in the afternoon, and a good variety of birds to see and hear, we enjoyed a nice meal and celebration together.
Taking a walk around the park, we were surprised to find a flock of singing Eastern Bluebirds, which led to our discovery of Evans Arboretum at the park.
Evans Arboretum
Named in honor of John R. Evans, who worked as legal counsel to establish the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District (which Ottawa Metro Park is part of), Evans Arboretum has a historic loop containing direct descendants of historic and famous trees.
The loop combines American history with natural history honoring the military and American Presidents as well as notable people and events including:
- Nathan Hale, patriot, soldier, and spy for the Continental Army during the American Revolution
- Gettysburg Address, given by President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War
- Amelia Earhart, aviator, author, and the first woman to fly across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
I learned the Mark Twain Cave Bur Oak is located at the entrance to Simon’s Cave in Hannibal, Missouri. Which was the boyhood home of Samuel Clemens, who wrote as Mark Twain.
The cave inspired Twain’s famous book, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
With my interest in history, I loved walking the loop to learn more about the trees and the people they honor.
While it was too early in the season for the trees to have leaves and flowers, I can’t wait to visit the park again to see the trees in flower as well as see them in their colorful fall leaf foilage.
