Summerfest Ruminations and Woodland Jaunts

I’m once more back into the fray–no wait, I mean back in Ohio–which feels like the exact opposite of the New York fray I just left. 

Originally I was headed to Columbus, but the divine influences of the weather deities saw fit to delay and ultimately diverted my JFK departure on a more northerly path and thus I found myself in the Land of Cleves. 

It’s Summerfest time here in the suburbs of Ridgeville and Fairview Park areas of Cleveland, and that means parades, street fairs, carnival, marching bands, bucking broncos, Ferris wheels, cotton candy, balloon darts and funnel cakes. I was lucky to catch one of these iconic Midwest cultural affairs this week as things ramp up into the July 4 festivities.

I was also pleasantly surprised to run into a group of Tamangs from Nepal who had a momo tent at Summerfest. I just happened to be wearing my ICI Kathmandu 2016 shirt, so it was perfect timing. Had a nice order of chicken and veggie momos as well, but forgot to get a photo with them before we left.

At the same time, being back in Ohio means easier access to the lovely green world, which offers a nice respite from the hot weather and perpetual indoor air conditioning that makes up most of urban America. As this is the perfect time for a lot of early summer plants, I’ve seen more of my friends sassafras, wild sorrel, blackberries and red raspberries, jack in the pulpit, mayapples, trillium, and spicebush (with some nice green fruit in development). 

Here are some highlight pictures from these most recent adventures in Ohio.