Picture yourself, in the middle of winter in Ohio, sitting under a large tropical banana tree watching a huge stalk of bananas just starting to ripen.

The Lorain County Metro Parks newest attraction, the Miller Nature Preserve, in Avon, has huge banana trees, palm trees, and other exotic plants, highlighted by a panoply of over two-hundred orchids of every color and description. Avon was chosen as the location for the new nature preserve to commemorate the large number of commercial gardens and nurseries that once flourished in northeast Lorain County.

Opened just eight months ago, in May of 2011, the 5000-square foot Conservatory contains seven different plant and tree collections, located in three different climate-controlled areas, ranging from jungle palms to a desert landscape

The jewel of the nature center is a unique display of orchids from all over the world.  It is the work of Dr. Ibrahim Eren, of Brownhelm, who has been collecting and raising orchids most of his life.

Park Manager Linda Paull pointed out that the exhibits are constantly changing. “ For example, Dr. Eren who provides the orchid collection, is here almost daily exchanging orchids that have bloomed for those just starting to blossom, so we always have something fresh to see and enjoy.”

Another is the Bonsai Tree collection that is in a separate part of the conservatory.  “The local Bonsai Tree Club, who supplies the miniature trees for the exhibit, brings new examples almost weekly, so what you see today will be different in the coming weeks.”……You can read the rest of this story in the Saturday, January 28 edition of the Plain Dealer or on their website at www.cleveland.com