The Old Mill and the Fellowes Garden

71°f/21°C, clear. Still no rain. 

The Hambledon Grist Mill in Mill Creek Park in Youngstown, Ohio was another place found through a Facebook group called Ohio Road Trips. Like covered bridges, these old mills speak of a bygone era, a time that may seem simple to us, yet I imagine that to those living it back then, life was as complicated as ours is today. While they may not have had to deal with the complexities of our current technology, think how difficult and frustrating it would have been if a part broke in this mill! Or if you had to learn to run it, or had to haul for miles the grain you grew, to be made into meal or flour for your bread! The trip itself might not be so bad, depending on the weather, but there were horses to be raised, fed, housed, a wagon to keep in repair (and wooden wheels, surely they broke sometimes?), rough roads...not so simple as it seems on the surface.

And yet, looking at this scene, does it not seem peaceful, even serene? Imagine back in its heyday, wagons coming and going, the roar of the water, creaking and noise of the mill as it crushed the grain, voices, horses stomping.

Today the mill is still in operation, although currently it is waiting for parts for repair, made by the one guy who still makes them. So we did not get any stone ground flour, darn it. 

We opted not to take the tour,  since we would not see the mill running, but I had a nice chat with the Miller, who talked about Youngstown and its struggle to find a new economic direction now that most heavy industry has left the area.

Just past the mill, another covered bridge! Again I was hearing the rattle of wagons, crossing the plank floor to the mill. Easy to visualize in such a setting.

What is surprisingly about this park is that it is located right beside a very busy urban area. The freeway we took to the park actually borders on edge and a busy two-lane runs along the other. The mill itself is just off a very busy road which must be crossed to get from the parking area to the mill. Thank goodness for crossing lights!

But driving down through the park along the scenic creek is a real treat, and if I lived in that area I would be there every day.  It felt like a little slice of West Virginia had been transplanted to this unlikely location. The park is long and narrow, about 11 miles end to end, but only a half mile to a mile wide at its widest point, I think. There are several little waterfalls that look like they might have also been millraces, picnic areas, hiking trails, a marshy area that looks like it could have beavers living there, and then at the far end from the mill, we found our next stop, the Fellowes Gardens.

But first, we had to cross this very cool bridge!

I felt like we were approaching the castle, but where was our royal coach? Sadly we had only our trusty, dusty Toyota van, so there was no fanfare to greet us, and no castle, but there was a gorgeous visitor's center, complete with gift shop, café, and most importantly,  maps of the garden. So Larry relaxed in the center while I explored the gardens.

I would have liked to take these steps down to the lower gardens, but the heat was affecting me too, so I will have to see them next time 

The shade gardens, however, were very inviting! As you can see, they are past their prime, and the continued heat and lack of rain has affected the hostas.

Entrance to the rose garden.

I always enjoy rose gardens, and this formal layout was very pleasing.

The gardens are free for all to visit, and what beauty they contained! By this time, though, it was hot as blazes, Larry was tired from driving (he had to drive as he is a terrible navigator and I couldn't do both in that congested area), and I was amazing to delete photos from my phone because I was running out of storage. (Must get a card, and download some to my laptop, soon.)

So because of all the above issues, I didn't spend as long as I would have liked in the gardens. It was near 90° so I tried to stay in the shady areas, and did not go down to the lower gardens along the creek. There was so much to see that I realized another trip will be necessary, perhaps in the spring when I think these gardens will be at their best. Like most of the area, lack of rain has had an effect here, but it was still just beautiful,  and I came away with ideas for plants I "need" for my own gardens.

Yes, summer at the Fellowes Gardens is certainly sweet.