Bellbrook Black-eyed Susans at Sunset No. 1

The Story:      Under the stewardship of the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Park District, park managers convert a family’s gift to the community back to a tallgrass prairie that once populated Ohio’s lands. In this image, the leaves of Black-eye Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) mimic the sun rays in this golden hour view near Bellbrook, Ohio. The Rest of the Story:  I live a couple thousand feet from this Ohio tallgrass prairie.  In about 2016, this field was a family farm that had been sold to the Bellbrook Sugarcreek Park District.  To close the deal, the family accepted a slightly lower price and funds to purchase the land arose from many sources striving to protect the lands that run along the Little Miami River.   Because the previous farmers were gentle with fertilizers, the soil was ready for overseeding with native wildflowers in Ohio.  Between the overseeding and the favorable spring rains, this tall grass prairie exploded with a super bloom of Black-eyed Susans.  The spectacle was so significant, that the local news outlets carried the event via its venues.  I produce the sun stars in camera where they routinely serve as my calling card.  On this day, I liked how the flower petals emulated the light diffraction produced by my lens.   Sublocation:   Morris Reserve City, State:      Bellbrook, Ohio Year:                2019   Print Legacy: 2024  – A framed giclee canvas print was donated to Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Area Chamber of Commerce as a prize to their community scholarship fundraiser 2020  – Cover Image of the Bellbrook Sugarcreek Area Chamber Business Directory This room visualization depicts my original photography as displayed in an AI-generated room. The art print features a summer sunset over Morris Reserve (Bellbrook, Ohio) during a super bloom of Black-eyed Susans. This room visualization was generated through FreePick with their permission and license, while I retain the copyright of the displayed art print.