Fernweh, An Ache for Distant Places

Glenwood Gardens is a park and nature center in north Cincinnati between the Woodlawn and Winton Woods communities.

When you first arrive, stop in the Cotswald Visitors Center and Nature’s Niche shop. You can pick up a park map, water, gifts and souvenirs, or visit public restrooms.

There are a few different overlooks and formal gardens leading to the start of the Garden Loop trail.

Cotswald Overlook sits above what used to be a giant farm for cattle, corn, and soybeans. It was owned by the Burchenal family from the 1930s up until both spouses passed away and donated the land to Hamilton County Park District in 1993.

Hamilton County Parks District is now Ohio’s Great Parks system, comparable to  Dayton’s Five Rivers Metro Parks and other park groups in and near Miami Valley.

I really enjoyed the different exhibits about Ohio’s most common and beloved trees, and a guide on how to identify them.

As you wind your way through the trail, look out for fallen buckeyes, black walnuts, seed pods, and other fun items for a closer look.

Glenwood Gardens currently has a total of 335 acres that traverse through a forest, wetlands, and a massive prairie.

The gardens are also home to ancient mounds built by the Adena and Hopewell people during the Woodland Era. These date back to 500 BC-350 AD and are quite common in southwestern Ohio.

Woodland people were called “Mound Builders” because of their custom to build and bury their dead in such mounds. Some of those at Glenwood Gardens are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The one-mile long Garden Loop and the 1.6-miles long Wetland Loop are both well-marked and mostly paved, but bikes, scooters, and skates are not allowed.

This keeps the trails pretty quiet and serene, where one can walk or mediate in motion without constant fear of getting rolled down.

An observant eye will notice right away that there are many well-worn paths away from the pavement.

I followed a couple of the shorter ones and was delighted by all the beautiful foliage. Visiting mid-October to early November is a safe bet to watch the leaves change colours and to avoid any lingering snakes.

There is a really lovely stone bridge near the beginning of the trail. I took the trail backwards (of course I did) so to me this was near the beginning, but others will encounter it near the end of their journey on the Garden Loop.

Another bridge with wrought iron walls crosses the West Fork of Mill Creek.

This was my favourite spot in the park. The bridge was built with stone dug out of the existing bedrock here in the park, and you can even see fossils embedded into the formed bricks.

Cincinnati is particularly known for its high number of Orovician fossils, a precursor to modern corals and clams. They date back to around 450 million years ago when what became Cincinnati was still underwater.

I found some cool trail markers and infographs while wandering around in the woods. The coolest find of all was this burial marker for the Burchenal couple who gifted their property to become the Glenwood Gardens.

Highland Discovery Gardens are the main draw for children, but they welcome to all ages.

Twelve acres of different themed gardens invite visitors to interact with and learn about nature. Some of the gardens include the Music Garden, Frog & Toad Garden, Trolley Garden with moving model trains, Wizard Garden, a Butterfly Garden, and others.

In the area for a while? Follow me to Cincinnati’s Krohn Conservatory and to Dayton’s RiverScape and Wegerzyn MetroParks!

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