Ohio, Land of Trees, Fields and Vultures
I feel like celebrating Ohio. Ohio, that, like most of the country, voted on Tuesday to re-elect President Obama.
We were in central Ohio a few weeks ago. It is a land of farms and fields.
Fields of horses.
Fields of grain.
And fields of I know not what.
It’s a land of country roads.

On the road out of Gambier, Ohio.
And magnificent trees,
stunning in the mid-October turning of their leaves.
It’s a land of old graveyards along the roadside,
with graves guarded by lambs.
A smaller graveyard nestled on the campus of Kenyon College.

Kenyon College Cemetery
Nearby, crows gathered atop a college building.
Oh, okay. They’re not real crows.
They are beautifully alive sculptures that capture both the lively individuality of crows and their complex social interactions.
The crows were created by Kenyon graduate Peter Woytuk, whose work with animals, including crows, has been seen all over New York City, including in front of the subway station at 72nd Street and Broadway (click photo to visit article).
Ohio also revealed itself as the Land of Vultures. We saw scores of turkey vultures like the one below, circling high and swooping low, over roads, fields, barns, and campus. (We also saw hawks, but I don’t know what they were.)
I imagine the leaves are mostly gone by now. So let’s take one more look at Ohio in mid-October glory.

The Middle Path at Kenyon College.
Tags: Central Ohio in fall, crows on Kenyon campus, Gambier, Kenyon College campus, Ohio, Ohio fall color
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January 28, 2013 at 10:45 pm
The top photo with the red barns is so wonderful. I want a copy. The entire post is a marvel too.Almost missed this Ohio treasure until tonight. Must keep up with Out Walking The Dog!
November 20, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Beautiful photos of my beloved midwest. Can’t get enough of those fall colors. Wondering when the first snow will happen!
November 20, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed the photos. It was very beautiful, indeed!
November 19, 2012 at 5:25 pm
I like the photos of the side mirrors.
November 20, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Thank you! I like those, too.
November 18, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Beautiful shots.
November 18, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Thank you, and thanks for stopping by. I look forward to seeing more of your Ohio photographs.
November 9, 2012 at 11:04 pm
I happened to come back to this post a second time and I just read all the nice things other people have said about Ohio in the comments. Makes a nice change from telling people I’m from Ohio and having them reply “I’m sorry.” (This has happened. Twice.) Yeah, the Buckeye State pretty much rocks.
November 10, 2012 at 9:59 am
Rebecca, I know how you feel. I lived in Texas for 16 years, and the stock responses to the very word “Texas” from our east coast friends, family and acquaintances was often pretty appalling. Glad to share a little Buckeye love.
November 9, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures.
November 10, 2012 at 9:58 am
Thanks, Donna. Hope those Boxer babies are thriving.
November 9, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Ah, beautiful. Makes me more fond of the old buckeye state.
November 10, 2012 at 9:57 am
Yes, it was really gorgeous – and so far ahead of NYC in terms of fall color. Not that we’re getting much fall color this year. I think our poor trees are very confused by the weather!
November 9, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Ever been in Hinckley Ohio for Buzzard Day? They’re actually vultures–there are no true buzzards in North America. The town celebrates when the vultures return from migration. Gotta love a state that welcomes the vultures back every year.
November 10, 2012 at 9:56 am
Maggie, Buzzard Day sounds like my kind of celebration. I had no idea – will have to look into it. I’m wondering if the vultures were still migrating when I saw them, or if this is just Central Ohio’s normal vulture load. Do you know?
November 9, 2012 at 11:43 am
Wonderful celebration of a great US state – one that recognized that we all need to come together. Great shots Melissa – a delightful trip – thanks so much for sharing. Really loved this post.
November 10, 2012 at 9:53 am
Thanks, Barbara.
November 9, 2012 at 11:09 am
Thanks Ohio, from the rest of the world :)
As with the UK, your election campaign and US politics makes me generally pessimistic about the future and alarmed by some of the extreme views held and pandered to by mainstream politicians. I guess all we, the 99%, can do is campaign where we see injustice and self-interest and hope that in the future, politicians are able to see further than the short term election cycle and strive to make the planet a better place for all its inhabitants and not just the fortunate few.
BTW, lovely autumnal pictures Mel :)
November 9, 2012 at 11:47 am
Second that!
November 10, 2012 at 9:54 am
Ha! From UK to Africa, the international set has spoken!
November 10, 2012 at 9:52 am
I couldn’t agree more, Mark. The election was encouraging, but the real challenge and the whole point is governance. And governance is going to be a challenge, and sometimes a game of inches, with so many Paul Ryan-esque types battling every move – not to mention the wonderful John Boehner. It still boggles my mind sometimes to think how far to the right the country has moved over the past few decades.
November 9, 2012 at 10:53 am
Beautiful photos, Melissa.
November 10, 2012 at 9:47 am
Thank you, Karol!
November 9, 2012 at 10:47 am
My home! Thanks for taking me back. I may live in Wisconsin now but Wednesday morning I was definitely sharing high-fives with some fellow displaced Ohioans. Ohio gets it done. :)