Trying to Escape the Rain!

Crossvine

Wild Hyacinth

Tough times in Appalachia

Gavin Power Plant

Showy Orchid

Traveled to West Virginia today, specifically Mason County, which is across the Ohio River from Gallipolis, Ohio.  I stressed for awhile whether to go.  The percent chance of rain in WV was 70%, while at home in Ohio it was 50%.  Looks like I chose wisely to leave, in that while in West Virginia I got briefly sprinkled on a couple times, in Ohio it was a constant rain.

What I was specifically looking for in WV was Crossvine, named such because the pith inside the stem is shaped like a cross.  Unfortunately I didn't learn this until after I got home, otherwise I would've taken a picture of it!  Crossvine in Ohio is very rare.  I had a good lead on the location of the plant in Leon, West Virginia.  Actually, as you see in the pic above, the vine covered nearly the entire cliff!

While I traveled all that way for Crossvine, I assumed I would see some other interesting things as well.  While what I mostly saw was weedy alien species, I did come across a HUGE patch of Wild Hyacinth.  The HUGE patch had to have included 500 plants I estimate.  I did not let the fact that I could barely squeeze my Jeep between the road and the guardrail discourage me from stopping and taking a million pictures.  Toadshade Trillium and Wild Larkspur were also common at the site.

The abandoned, broken building I parked my Jeep in front of for the Crossvine visit reminded me of how rough life in Appalchia can be.  Jobs can be very hard to find.  Many of the people who live in Appalachia live in rural settings.  Economic downturns can be especially rough on this part of the country.  Increasing fuel prices can be rough as well.  Since most people are rural, fuel is required to get anywhere, to a job, to the doctor, or even the grocery store.  I have to wonder how many people lost their jobs when this small tractor store closed its doors.

I pulled off at a small park in Cheshire, Ohio, home of the Gavin power plant.  Not being an expert on power plants, I don't know what all of this stuff is pumping out of the stacks, perhaps it is nothing more awful than water vapor.  I just found it interesting, perhaps ironic, maybe disturbing that west of the power plant was this quaint little park complete with jungle gym.  Makes you wonder what the kids are sucking into their lungs when they are playing.  Normally, wind in Ohio moves from west to east.  I just happened to catch a day where the weather was out of the south.  Normally, the stuff coming out of the stacks would be blowing directly to the playground.

Finally, I made a brief side trip to Big Pine Road in Hocking County, Ohio.  I had had several people tell me that Showy Orchid was blooming.  The one spot I had routinely observed this beauty before was the equestrian loop of the Buckeye Trail.  Today the loop was a muddy mess!  I went another mile or so down the road to Conkle's Hollow, and sure enough found my orchid.  Now I do not have to stress over possibly missing it!