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Wildflowers at Selma Steele Nature Preserve

MODERATE HIKE
T.C Steele State Historic Site Visitors Center | 4220 T.C. Steele Road, Nashville, IN 47448

Wildflower author Kay Yatskievych will lead a 2 ½ to 3-hour MODERATE wildflower walk in and around this lovely state nature preserve. Limited to 20 people, masks encouraged; registration required by April 20 at noon.

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Wildflowers at Selma Steele Nature Preserve

RUGGED HIKE
T.C Steele State Historic Site Visitors Center | 4220 T.C. Steele Road, Nashville, IN 47448

DNR Nature Preserves Assistant Director and Ecologist Tom Swinford will lead a 3-hour RUGGED wildflower walk in and around this lovely state nature preserve. NO LIMIT; NO REGISTRATION – JUST SHOW UP!

9:30 A.M.

Salt Creek Hillside Hike

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office | 1620 Monroe Dam Court, Bloomington, IN 47401

Explore a limestone hillside abundant with twinleaf and trilliums, then venture down into a creek valley known for producing white-flowering Virginia bluebells with Jill Vance, Interpretive Naturalist for Monroe Lake. This 2-hour off-trail hike will ramble down a moderately-sloping hill into the floodplain next to the creek, so wear shoes with good tread. Limited to 20 people; registration required by April 20 at noon.

11:00 A.M.

Journey to Kelp Village

Brown County State Park | 1801 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN 47448
Meet at Strahl Lake parking lot *Park entrance fee applies

Adventure with State Park Naturalist Eli Major and plant guru David Mow to the site of an old village dating back to the late 1800s. Add new and amazing flowers to our list as we find old home sites using plants and flowers, planted by the early settlers, as our guide. Be prepared for a MODERATE 2-hour trek of about 4.5 miles round trip.  Limited to 25 people; registration required by April 20 at noon.

1:00 P.M.

Butterflies at Allens Creek

Allens Creek State Recreational Site | 6391 Allens Creek Road, Bloomington, IN 47401
Meet in upper parking lot

Jeff Belth author of Butterflies of Indiana, a Field Guide, and retired Monroe Co. Parks & Rec Naturalist Sandy Belth will lead a 1 ½-hour MODERATE walk to identify butterflies and larval host plants important to these “flying flowers.” Limited to 15 people, MASKS REQUIRED; registration required by April 20 at noon.

3:30 P.M.

Kent Farm Trek

Kent Farm | 8475 E Kent Rd, Bloomington, IN 47401
Park in grass next to the largest outbuilding

Wildflowers and wildlife abound at the Kent Farm unit of the Indiana University Research & Teaching Preserve.  Join IU biologist Mark Sheehan for a RUGGED 3-hour, 1.3-mile loop through rich Salt Creek bottomland, up a wooded ridge crowned with chestnut oak, and back.  Mark will stress wildflower and tree identification and work in as much forest ecology as he can. Limited to 15 people, MASKS REQUIRED; registration required by April 20 at noon.

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Hot Hills, Cool Valleys

Brown County State Park Saddle Barn | 1801 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN 47448
Meet at Saddle Barn *Park entrance fee applies

Search for wildflowers, ferns and fascinating fungi (edible and otherwise) as you explore ridge tops and valleys with Interpretive Naturalist David Mow.  For this 2-hour, MODERATE hike through the northernmost section of Brown County State Park. Limited to 25 people; registration required by April 20 at noon.

5:00 P.M.

Birding by Kayak

Crooked Creek State Recreational Site | T.C. Steele Road
Meet at boat ramp

Join birding guide David Rupp of IndiGo Birding Nature Tours for a 2-hour, slow evening paddle. Participants will search for birds such as the great blue heron, wood duck, and the beautiful prothonotary warbler, with emphasis on identifying some birds by their songs. Beginning kayakers and birders welcome. Limited to 10 people; registration required by April 20 at noon.

Bring your own kayak or canoe OR rent one for a $25 fee (6 rental kayaks available, first-come first-served; select this option during registration and bring cash/check for kayak rental to the program).

Saturday, April 23, 2022

7:30 A.M.

Early Birds at Stone Head Nature Preserve

Stone Head Nature Preserve | 4643-5013 W Bellsville Pike, Nashville, IN 47448
Meet in parking area behind the house

Join Mike Kelley and Jeff Riegel president and vice president of the Stone Head Conservancy, for an EASY, 2 ½-hour stroll through part of the beautiful, 138-acre Stone Head Nature Preserve.  High rubber boots are recommended for walking through the Zimmerman Wetland Bird Habitat in search of some of the 176 species of documented birds.  Limited to 15 people, masks encouraged; registration required by April 20 at noon.

10:00 A.M.

Creek Walk

Brown County State Park Ogle Lake | 1801 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN 47448
Meet at Ogle Lake parking lot *Park entrance fee applies

Join “Moment of Science” radio personality Don Glass and naturalist and botanical illustrator Gillian Harris for a 2-hour EASY walk along a stream in the Schooner Valley. Participants will identify a variety of wildflowers that flourish in and around the park’s creeks and valleys. Limited to 20 people, masks encouraged; registration required by April 20 at noon.

11:00 A.M.

Gardening with Natives

Brown County State Park Nature Center | 1801 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN 47448
Meet at Nature Center *Park gate fee applies

Spend some time with INPS Native Seed Communities Coordinator Bill Daniels and Park Naturalist Eli Major as they talk about the new Interpretive Gardens at the Brown County State Park Nature Center. Learn ways to use native plants in your garden beds at home, creating beautiful garden beds and great pollinator habitats! We will even give you tips on native plants that deer don’t like, plants that tolerate the shade, and plants that grow in difficult soils. No limit on attendance, but registration required by April 20 at noon.

12:00 P.M. – 4 P.M.

Arts of the Earth Day

T.C Steele State Historic Site Visitors Center | 4220 T.C. Steele Road, Nashville, IN 47448

Spend the afternoon outdoors at Impressionist painter T.C. Steele’s hilltop home on this free outdoor visit day, from 12 – 4 p.m. Explore the blooming gardens, grounds, and hiking trails at the site, and watch the artists at work as painters and carvers will be at work en plein air! NO LIMIT; NO REGISTRATION – JUST SHOW UP!

For the kids, from 1 – 2 p.m.: a Teddy Bears’ Picnic! Bring your best friend in their finest for story time and old-fashioned games and activities beside the formal garden, $4/child. Lemonade and cookies will be served. Limited to 20 children with tickets available online or day-of (if space remains) in the Singing Winds Visitor Center at T.C. Steele.

1:00 P.M.

Ogle Hollow Hike

Brown County State Park, Trailhead #5 | 1801 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN 4744
Meet at Trailhead #5 *Park entrance fee applies

Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve is one of the richest coves in Brown County, with a profusion of wildflowers, ferns and the rare yellowwood tree.  State Park Naturalist Eli Major and Naturalist Interpreter David Mow will lead a 2-hour MODERATE hike into the hollow, identifying plants and migrating songbirds.  Limited to 25 people; registration required by April 20 at noon.

3:30 P.M.

Weed Wrangle for Wildflowers

Brown County State Park, Horse Camp | 1801 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN 4744
Meet at northwest end of Horse Camp *Park entrance fee applies

Show your love for native plants by removing one of their enemies: invasive garlic mustard!  Join Brown County State Park Naturalist Eli Major for a Brown County Native Woodlands Project Weed Wrangle Indiana® workday.  It’s a national event that highlights the need for hands-on invasive species management.  Wear appropriate clothes for work:  gloves, long pants and sturdy, closed-toe shoes. NO LIMIT; NO REGISTRATION – JUST SHOW UP!

7:00 P.M.

Evening Program: Wildflower Counts and Carroll Ritter program & book signing, Magnificent Trees of Indiana

T.C Steele State Historic Site Visitors Center | 4220 T.C. Steele Road, Nashville, IN 47448

Join us as wildflower author Kay Yatskievych summarizes the 2022 wildflower count, followed by a program from the new Magnificent Trees of Indiana author Carroll Ritter. Get your book signed and mingle with fellow Forayers at this 1-hour program. Suggested donation $5 at the door. Limited to 40 people, masks encouraged; registration required by April 20 at noon.

Sunday, April 24, 2022

9:00 A.M.

Wildflowers at Selma Steele Nature Preserve

MODERATE HIKE
T.C. Steele State Historic Site Visitors Center | 4220 T.C. Steele Road, Nashville, IN 47448

Wildflower author Kay Yatskievych will lead a 2 ½ to 3-hour MODERATE wildflower walk in and around this lovely state nature preserve.  Limited to 20 people, masks encouraged; registration required by April 20 at noon. 

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Porter West Ramble

Eco Logic | 8685 W. Vernal Pike, Bloomington, IN 47404
Meet in parking lot

This Sycamore Land Trust preserve features carpets of wildflowers beneath large oaks and hickories, sinkholes, and interesting rock outcroppings. Join naturalist Gillian Harris and Sycamore Education Director Mary Welz for a 2 ½-hour MODERATE walk through this property in western Monroe County. Some uphill walking. Limited to 20 people; registration required by April 20 at noon.

10:00 A.M.

Low Gap Back Country

Morgan Monroe State Forest | 6220 Forest Road, Martinsville, IN 46151
Meet at Low Gap parking lot on Low Gap Road

Join Naturalist Interpreter David Mow in exploring the Morgan-Monroe State Forest.  This 2 ½-hour, approximately 2 mile RUGGED hike will be off-trail, following the creeks, and will skirt the Low Gap Nature Preserve. We will make several creek crossings so appropriate foot-ware is a must. Limited to 25 people, masks encouraged; registration required by April 20 at noon.

1:00 P.M.

Wander the Wilderness

Paynetown State Recreation Area | 4850 State Hwy 446, Bloomington, IN 47401
Meet at parking lot behind property office

Nearly one square mile in size, this preserve helps form a huge block of contiguous forest, protected for wildflowers, Explore Hoosier National Forest’s Hayes Trail in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness with botanist Cheryl Coon. Bring lunch and water for this 4-hour RUGGED hike. Attendees will carpool/caravan from the meeting location to the hike starting point. Limited to 18 people, masks encouraged; registration required by April 20 at noon.

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Salt Creek Saunter

Meet at Pat Reilly Drive Municipal Parking Lot | Nashville, IN 47448

Join Brown County State Park naturalist Eli Major for a 1-hour EASY and ADA accessible walk along Salt Creek. Help identify wildflowers and plants as we discuss streamside ecology and land management. Learn about the Salt Creek Trail and its future developments connecting downtown Nashville with Indiana’s very own Brown County State Park. NO LIMIT; NO REGISTRATION – JUST SHOW UP!

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For more information on Wildflower Foray email Eli Major, Brown County State Park Naturalist.