monday's mulling: aullwood garden metropark

I follow the Five Rivers MetroParks on Social Media and enjoy the account because it's no drama, non-political, and informative. The other day a post popped up saying that the bluebells at Aullwood were in peak bloom. Aullwood is such a beautiful park and it was a beautiful spring day and my friend called and said, "It's such a beautiful day...wanna do something?" The plan came together.

Aullwood Garden MetroPark is one of the Miami Valley's most historic garden parks with a picturesque prairie, an old-growth forest with centuries-old trees, and a fragrant Lilac Lawn. It is located at the former home of conservationists John and Marie Aull.

Marie Aull has been called the godmother of the environmental movement in Dayton and the Miami Valley. Along with her husband John, she nurtured their woodland bordering the Stillwater River into a beautiful, peaceful landscape of flowers. This land they named Aullwood became Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, and was later given to the public. It was one of the first nature centers in the Midwest and has served as a model for other preserves across the country. Marie Aull lived from 1897 to 2002—her 105-year life touched an incredible three centuries. In 1957, she made history by establishing the Midwest’s first National Audubon Society nature center.

A bur oak stands close to the trailhead. The red arrow on the photo points to how high the water rose during the 1913 Great Dayton Flood. The Stillwater River is on the the right hand side of the photo. Right now it blends into the landscape because it's dirty brown from the recent flooding.

My friend and I came to see the bluebells and we weren't disappointed. Calmness and serenity surrounded us as we hiked around the grounds.

 In 1977 the Aull house, its private garden and a $300,000 endowment were given to Five Rivers MetroParks; in 2000 a new education wing was named for her; and in 2002 Aull died at age 105, her ashes spread at Aullwood, alongside her husband, beneath a 500-year-old sycamore tree.

Today, Marie Aull’s legacy lives on amongst the woods and wildflowers and animals of Aullwood. She saw life’s value and wanted to protect it and in the end, perhaps that is all that really matters. 

"This is a valley where nothing ever happens, where people simply live, where there is sun and slow peacefulness of day following day."

WALK GENTLY

AND MAY SOME OF ITS PEACE BE YOURS