Wildflower Weekend 2024
&
KNPS BotanyBlitz 2024
|Wildflower Weekend Schedule|BotanyBlitz 2024|Kick Off Hikes|Partner Events|
Join with other nature lovers, families, community scientists, amateur naturalists, and professional botanists, from across the Commonwealth, as we explore the beauty and diversity of our native plant communities in April in Kentucky.
This year Wildflower Weekend 2024, on April 12th-14th, will be held at Natural Bridge SRP & the Red River Gorge. We plan to now alternate Wildflower Weekend locations between Natural Bridge SRP in even numbered years and other Kentucky parks in odd numbered years.
Beginning Wildflower Week we will host a number of BotanyBlitz Kick Off Hikes in natural areas across the Commonwealth. The Kick Off Hikes will begin the online, week-long BotanyBlitz on iNaturalist. The hikes and the botany blitz will be opportunities to broaden our spring wildflower scope to the entire state of Kentucky and allow us to highlight natural areas across the state!
Wildflower Weekend 2024
at Natural Bridge SRP
KNPS’ 2024 Wildflower Weekend is scheduled for April 12, 13, & 14 The weekend will offer wildflower hikes Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, led by some of the best botanists in the state. These hikes will explore the region’s rich natural history and resources in and around Natural Bridge and the red River Gorge. Friday evening there will be a social gathering to meet your fellow native plant enthusiasts. On Saturday night we will have our Spring Membership Meeting (open to everyone, members and friends) and several botanical talks.
This year we are celebrating 35 years of Wildflower Weekend! Naturalists and nature lovers from all across Kentucky have been gathering in the spirit of botanical appreciation, fellowship and education at Wildflower Weekend since May 1989! We are proud to host this year’s event at Natural Bridge SRP, the original location of the very first KNPS Wildflower Weekend.
This event is open to the public and kid-friendly. Admission is $10 for adults, $3 for ages 13-17, and free for ages 12 & under.
Attendees will be able pre-register for both the event as well as guided hikes. This will better help us with planning the most enjoyable experience for everyone. Pre-registration will be opened online several weeks before Wildflower Weekend. Members of KNPS will be allowed to register before the registration is opened to the general public.
Be sure to check out the complete schedule of events below: Wildflower Weekend Schedule
BotanyBlitz 2024
on iNaturalist
Leading up to Wildflower Weekend will be our week long BotanyBlitz, which will run from Saturday, April 6, through Sunday, April 14, and be hosted on the iNaturalist website. A BotanyBlitz is a community-science event that focuses on finding and identifying as many plant species as possible within a designated location and time period.
Beginning on Saturday, April 6, we are encouraging everyone to visit parks and natural areas throughout the Commonwealth, to find and photograph native plants (with an emphasis on those in bloom), and upload them to our BotanyBlitz 2024 project hosted on the iNaturalist website.
At the end of the week, we will have a map and totals by numbers, species, and by each person of all the great collections we found! Additionally, expert botanists and people with a keen identifying eye will be able to add comments to your specimens on why they agree or disagree with a certain identification, so we can learn better ways to ID plants in the future.
BotanyBlitz Kick Off Hikes
To kick off BotanyBlitz 2024 and Wildflower Week, on Saturday, April 6, we will host a series of Kick Off Hikes in parks and natural areas across the Commonwealth. These easy nature walks will be led by local botanizers who know the native plant species that will be encountered in each area. As the Kick Off hikes are meant to start the BotanyBlitz project, we are hoping that folks who plan to participate will sign up for an iNaturalist account (if they don’t already have one) and join the BotanyBlitz 2024 project.
10:00 AM EDT Pine Creek Barrens Nature Preserve, Shepherdsville KY: 1.5 miles, easy loop trail. Join Kentucky Native Plant society member Alan Abbott on a spring barrens walk through the preserve, just a short drive from Louisville, KY. Meet and park in the Pine Creek Barrens parking area (1264 Pine Creek Trail, Shepherdsville, KY 40165).
10:00 AM EDT St. Anne Woods and Wetlands, Melbourne KY: 0.7 miles, easy walk, loop trail. Join Northern Kentucky University professor, Dr. Maggie Whitson, on this walk through the wetlands and floodplain of the Ohio River. Meet and park at the NKU Research and Education Fields Station (99 Harrison Ct., Melbourne, KY 41059), participants will then carpool over to the small St. Anne’s trailhead parking area two blocks away. Hike length is an easy 1.5 miles through mostly flat bottomland forest, trails may be muddy so please choose footwear accordingly. Restrooms available at the Field Station. To view trail information, visit https://www.nku.edu/academics/artsci/about/centers/refs/st–anne-wetlands—public-tour.html
8:00 AM CDT Hematite Lake Trail, Land Between the Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area, Eddyville KY: 2.5 miles, easy walk, loop trail. Walk with Murray State graduate student Gage Barnes along the banks of Hematite Lake and see a mix of woodland and aquatic loving plant species. Meet and park at the Hematite Lake Trailhead (Forest Service Rd 176 Eddyville, KY 42038) for a 2.5 mile easy loop trail. Restrooms available nearby at the Woodlands Nature Station (open at 10am) or a short drive north to the North Welcome Station (open at 9am). A general map of LBL can be found here: https://www.landbetweenthelakes.com/maps/docs/2015LBLGeneralMap.pdf
10:00 AM EDT Lower Howard’s Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve: 2 miles, moderate hike that descends 300 ft in elevation, then ascends again. Meet hike leader Karis Pumphrey at 1925 Athens-Boonesboro Road, Winchester, KY 40391 (0.7 miles north of Hall’s on the River.) Hike length is about 2 miles of moderate difficulty, there is a long steep hill to climb, but plenty of flowers to stop and examine along the way if you need to catch your breath. Restrooms are available on site. To view photos and learn more about Lower Howard’s Creek, visit https://www.lowerhowardscreek.org/
10:00AM CDT Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park. Meet Park Naturalists Haley Joseph and Anna Neely at the Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park lodge (20781 Pennyrile Lodge Rd, Dawson Springs, KY). We will first explore wildflowers along the Clifty Creek Trail (0.25 miles), hikers can then decide if they’d like to continue for a longer hike on the Lake Trail, which loops around Pennyrile Lake (total of ~3 miles). Restrooms available at the Lodge. To view a PDF of the park map, scroll to the bottom of this page and click “Documents” https://parks.ky.gov/parks/find-a-park/pennyrile-forest-state-resort-park-7798, then select “Park Map.”
10:00 AM CDT Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park: 1.5 miles, easy to moderate hike. Meet Park Naturalist Coti Groce at the covered shelter picnic area at end of Picnic Shelter Road (36.646226, -85.280217) to hike the out-and-back trail from the shelter to the back entrance of Cindy Cave. Hike length will be about 1.5 miles, this trail is easy to moderate. On the return trip from the cave, participants will have the option to go off-trail a bit where the terrain will be slightly steeper and we will be adjacent to a large cliff. Restrooms available at the picnic shelter. To view a PDF of the park map, scroll to the bottom of this page and click “Documents” https://parks.ky.gov/explore/dale-hollow-lake-state-resort-park-7787, then select “Park Map.”
9:00 AM CDT Mammoth Cave National Park: 1.75 miles, moderately difficult. Approximately 50 stairs. Meet hike leaders Steve & Janet Kistler, Carol Friedman, and Tricia Sepulvida at the Cedar Sink Trail trailhead (37.15545, -86.16057). Hikers will see dry open woodland at the start of the trail, followed by descent into a very large sink area, which is moist and loaded with flowers. Hike length will be about 1.75 miles, this trail is moderate difficulty – There is a staircase down into the sink of approximately 50 stairs, with an elevation change of approximately 75 feet. Hikers can exit the sink the same way, or continue in a loop and get back up to starting elevation via stairs and a hilly trail. Facilities: port-a-johns are available at the trailhead, indoor restrooms are at the Caver’s Camp Store on Mammoth Cave Parkway, about 4 miles away. Park maps can be obtained for free at the Mammoth Cave visitor center, or viewed online: https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/maps.html.
Click Here to Register for a Kick Off Hike
Wildflower Weekend Schedule of Hikes and Events
Download the WW2024 Schedule of Hikes and Events in PDF Format
All hikes will meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge at Natural Bridge SRP. Attendees will meet hike leaders to get directions, and to coordinate carpooling & caravanning to trailheads. Hike leaders and KNPS representatives will be there 15 mins before a hike is scheduled to leave. Hike times listed are the times that the hike is meant to leave from the Hemlock Lodge.
In case you miss your hike’s meet up time: Hike trails and trail heads are listed. All hikes will meet at the Hemlock Lodge regardless of the trail head listed. Planning to meet your hiking group at the trail head instead of at the lodge may cause you to miss your hike or go on the wrong trail. There is little cell phone service in the Red River Gorge area, so contacting your hiking group in the event you are late may be impossible.
Friday, April 12th – Afternoon Hikes
12:00PM – Master Naturalist Hike, Rachel Cook, Rough Trail
This hike is exclusive to individuals currently in the Kentucky Master Naturalist Volunteer Program.
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is a moderately difficult, 2.0 mile hike with a 430 foot ascent. Trailhead is at the Rt 715 Parking Area (37.801846, -83.591285). Trailhead is an ~25 minute drive from Natural Bridge SRP.
Join OKNP botanist Rachel Cook on this wildflower walk through the rich valleys of the Rough Trail area. Starting at the parking lot along Rt 715, hikers will walk through Appalachian Xeric Forest that transitions into a rich Appalachian Mesophytic Forest as they near Parched Corn Creek. This trail has ~430 foot ascent and is moderately difficult.
12:15PM – Fire Ecology Hike, Heidi Braunreiter & Jason Nally
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is a difficult, 1.5 mile hike with a 420 foot ascent. Original Trail-Balanced Rock Trail-Sand Gap Trail. Original Trailhead.
Join fire practitioners from OKNP to discuss the impacts of fire on the landscape, while traveling along the ridgetop burned by a wildfire in April 2023 at Natural Bridge State Park and Nature Preserve. We will discuss how fire suppression, wildfire, and prescribed fire play a role in shaping Kentucky’s landscape today. Note- as this hike will be along a dry ridgetop, fewer wildflowers will be visible, but we will hike along natural bridge and get landscape vistas. This hike has ~420 foot ascent and is moderately difficult. There are several shelters and benches on the Original Trail for rest breaks.
12:30PM – Lichen Hike, Dr. Allen Risk
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is a difficult, 1.5 mile hike with a 420 foot ascent. Original Trail. Original Trailhead.
Hike with Dr. Allen Risk of Morehead State University to the top of Natural Bridge to explore the incredible (and tiny) world of lichens. Learn to appreciate these non-flowering symbiotic organisms for their beauty, biodiversity, and vital role in our ecosystems as you stand on top of one of Kentucky’s most iconic natural features. This hike will not feature many wildflowers, as it is focused on lichens. A handlens is suggested to fully appreciate these small specimens. This trail has ~420 foot ascent and is moderately difficult. There are several shelters and benches on the Original Trail for rest breaks.
12:45PM – Woody Plants Walk, David Taylor
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is an easy, 0.25 mile walk. Hemlock Lodge to the Woodland Center.
Join US Forest Service Botanist David Taylor on this gentle walk around the Hemlock Lodge and Woodland Center as he teaches about the woody plants in the area. Natural Bridge SRP has a variety of woody plants that represent species in many types of Appalachian Forest, making it a perfect place to learn or brush up on your trees and shrubs. This hike has minimal elevation and walking, and is considered a gentle activity.
1:00PM – Forest Health Hike (Native Trees & Their Enemies), Alexandra Blevins
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is a moderately difficult, 1.5 mile hike with a 420 foot ascent. Battleship Rock Trail. Original Trailhead.
Hike with Kentucky Division of Forestry’s Forest Health Program Coordinator Alexandra Blevins along this scenic trail beneath towering hemlocks and learn about our woody plants and threats to the forest health of Kentucky. This hike starts on the Original Trail then veers off onto Battleship Rock Trail. This hike has ~420 foot ascent and is moderately difficult.
1:30PM – Natural History of Natural Bridge State Park & Wildflower Hike, Samantha Evans
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is a moderately difficult, 1.75 mile hike with a 250 foot ascent including a steep set of stairs. Rock Garden Trail. Original Trailhead.
Hike the Rock Garden Trail with Natural Bridge SRP Park Naturalist Samantha Evans as she teaches about the wildflowers and natural history of the iconic Kentucky state park. To get to Rock Garden Trail hikers will start at the Original Trailhead, turn onto Battleship Rock Trail, and approach the Rock Garden Trailhead. The trail maintains a relatively flat grade, but there are some steep sets of stairs along the way. This hike has ~250 foot ascent and is moderately difficult.
Friday, April 12th – Members & Friends Social
7:30pm Members & Friends Social, Natural Bridge SRP, Picnic Shelter #3 & #4 (37.779750, -83.676750)
Join us around the fire pit to gather with fellow wildflower enthusiasts. Meet the KNPS board members & officers. Meet at Picnic Shelters #3 & #4 which are across the road (Rt. 11) from the Whittleton Campground. Utilities include restrooms, parking, picnic tables and a small playground. S’more fixings will be provided. Bring your own chair, drinks (no alcohol allowed), flashlights, and weather appropriate clothing/gear.
Saturday, April 13th – Morning Hikes
8:00AM – Biodiversity Hike, Dan & Judy Dourson
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is an easy to moderately difficult walk of 1-2 miles. The Wilds. 200 Punkin Hollow, Stanton, KY 40380. Site is ~20 min drive from NBSRP.
Join authors Dan & Judy Dourson on a walk through Punkin Hollow at “The Wilds” to look at all things nature. Situated on 110 acres of private land and backing 50,000 acres of Natural Forest, “The Wilds” is a place to cultivate experiences. With over a dozen ponds, sprawling meadows, meandering creeks, breathtaking cliff views, and the Red Oaks Forest School right on site, you wont need to look far for solace or adventure- whatever you seek. For a great plant guide of the area, check out their book “Wildflowers and Ferns of Red River Gorge and the Greater Red River Basin.”
8:00AM – Birding for Beginners Hike, Rod Botkins & Dan Patrick
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is an easy walk of 0.25 miles. Gladie Visitor Center. 3451 Skybridge Rd, Stanton, KY 40380. Site ~30 min drive from NBSRP. Binoculars suggested.
New to birding? Join OKNP Natural Areas Technician Rod Botkins and birder Dan Patrick on a gentle bird watching trip at the Gladie Visitor Center designed for those just getting into bird watching. Guests will listen and look for spring migratory birds of the Red River Gorge. Binoculars suggested. This hike has minimal walking and is considered a gentle activity.
8:00AM – Ecology Hike (Role of Wildflowers in our Ecosystems), Zach Lemmon & Stephen Pate
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is a moderately difficult hike of 2.0 miles with an ~250 foot ascent. Gray’s Arch Trail. Gray’s Arch Trailhead. 37.80809, -83.65758. Trailhead ~15 min drive from NBSRP.
Join U.S. Forest Service Forest Technicians Zach Lemmon and Stephen Pate on a hike through the ridgetops to the scenic Gray’s arch area. Learn about the role of wildflowers in the Red River Gorge Ecosystem, and keep your eyes (and noses!) peeled for the state rare Sweet Pinesap (Monotropsis odorata). The majority of the trail is relatively flat, but there is a short steep section of trail with some stairs that leads down to Gray’s Arch. This trail has ~250 foot ascent and is moderately difficult.
8:15AM – Spring Migratory Warblers Hike, Nour Salam & Ronan O’Cara
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is a moderately difficult hike of 2.6 miles with an ~250 foot ascent. Rock Garden Trail. Original Trailhead. Binoculars suggested.
Look and listen for spring migratory warblers with the Frankfort Audubon Society Chapter President Nour Salam and Central Kentucky Audubon Society’s Ronan O’Cara. Warblers migrate thousands of miles from Central and South American to their northern breeding groups. The Red River Gorge is a hotspot for listening to their beautiful songs. To get to Rock Garden Trail hikers will start at the Original Trailhead, turn onto Battleship Rock Trail, and approach the Rock Garden Trailhead. The trail maintains a relatively flat grade, but there are some steep sets of stairs along the way. This hike has ~250 foot ascent and is moderately difficult.
8:15AM – Wildflower Hike, David Taylor
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is an easy hike of less than 1.0 mile with an ~50 foot ascent. Indian Creek Area. 37.860809, -83.674104. Trailhead ~30 min drive from NBSRP.
Join U.S. Forest Service botanist David Taylor along this botanically diverse trail to see a dazzling display of spring ephemerals! This trail has a ~50 foot ascent and is considered easy.
8:30AM – Moss and Fern Hike, Dr. Allen Risk
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is an easy hike of 1.5 miles with ~100 foot ascent. Whittleton Trail. Whittleton Campground Trailhead. 37.782712, -83.673068.Trailhead ~5 min drive from NBSRP. Handlens suggested.
Join Dr. Allen Risk of Morehead State University on a walk through the rich cove of Whittleton Branch to learn about the non-flowering, seedless plants of NBSRP. These organisms are best appreciated with magnification, so a handlens is suggested. This trail has ~100 foot ascent and is considered easy.
8:30AM – Spring Plant Life Hike, Rob Paratley & Rachel Cook
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is a moderately difficult hike of <3.0 miles with a ~300 foot ascent. Bison Way Trail. Bison Way Trailhead. 37.836831, -83.609732. Trailhead ~25 min drive from NBSRP
Join retired UK herbarium curator Dr. Rob Paratley and Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves botanist Rachel Cook on a hike to learn about spring plant life. Not only will you learn to identify the plants seen, but hike leads will discuss their plant families and their unique ecologies. This trail has ~300 foot ascent and is moderately difficult.
9:00AM – Junior Botanist Adventure for Kids!, Dr. Kelly Watson, Destiny Cornett, & EKU Students
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. An easy walk of less than 0.25 miles. Hemlock Lodge Area.
Calling all junior naturalists! Join Eastern Kentucky University’s Center for Environmental Education Director and Professor Dr. Kelly Watson, EKU Program Specialist Destiny Cornett & EKU Students on a botanical scavenger around the NBSRP Hemlock Lodge. NBSRP is a wonderfully biodiverse area that provides an excellent setting for young learners to engage with nature.
9:00AM – Botany Hike, Tara Littlefield
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. Easy. 1.0 mile. Gray’s Arch Trail. Gray’s Arch Trailhead. 37.80809, -83.65758. Trailhead ~15 min drive from NBSRP.
Join KY Nature Preserves Botanist Tara Littlefield and family on a search for the rare and elusive sweet pinesap (Monotropsis odorata)! Wildflowers, shrubs, trees, and general ecology of the ridgetop will also be discussed. This section of the trail has ~50 foot ascent and is considered easy.
Saturday, April 13th – Afternoon Hikes
12:30PM – Art Workshop: “Reflecting on Nature through Artmaking”, Laura Mentor
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is a moderately difficult hike of 1.5 miles with a ~420 foot ascent. Original Trail to Shelter on top of Natural Bridge. Original Trailhead.
An opportunity to spend time observing and reflecting on nature through artmaking. Participants may choose from basic art materials provided, but are encouraged to bring their own as desired. Any subject from landscape painting at the top of Natural Bridge to close studies of native plants, incorporation of text into imagery or using imagery to enliven journaling is welcome. Time allowed for sharing and discussion. Of particular interest to the leader are ideas of how artists’ work can promote understanding of our vital relationship with the natural world around us. This trail has ~420 foot ascent and is moderately difficult. There are several shelters and benches on the Original Trail for rest breaks. If you would like to attend this workshop and cannot hike up to the top of Natural Bridge, you may use the Skylift to reach the top for an additional fee. Art supplies provided by KNPS.
12:30PM – Wildflower Hike, Jess Slade
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. This is a moderately difficult hike of 1.4 miles with ~250 foot ascent. Rock Bridge Trail. Rock Bridge Trailhead. 37.770111, -83.566336. Trailhead ~25 min drive from NBSRP.
Join UK-LFUCG Arboretum Curator Jess Slade for a leisurely hike on the lush Rock Bridge loop trail. Hikers can expect to see a variety of wildflowers while taking in the scenery of towering old growth trees, rock formations, and water features. This is a short but moderate intensity hike due to changes in elevation – what goes down must come up! This trail has ~250 foot ascent and is moderately difficult.
12:30PM Kids Activities Table, Dr. Kelly Watson, Destiny Cornett, & EKU Students
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. Easy. >0.25 miles. Hemlock Lodge Area.
Drop-in activity, no registration required. Join Eastern Kentucky University’s Center for Environmental Education Director and Professor Dr. Kelly Watson, EKU Program Specialist Destiny Cornett & EKU Students for fun botanical and nature activities designed for the young naturalist! This activity requires minimal walking and is considered a gentle activity.
12:45PM – Butterfly Hike, Courtney Hayes
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. An easy hike of 2.5 miles with ~100 foot ascent. Whittleton Trail. Whittleton Campground Trailhead. Site ~5 min drive from NBSRP.
Join Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Wildlife Biologist Courtney Hayes on a hike through the rich cove of Whittleton Trail in search of butterflies. If time allows, the group will also hike to the beautiful Whittleton Arch. This trail has ~100 foot ascent and is considered easy.
1:00PM – Non-Native Invasive Species Management Workshop, Kenneth Mills & Jason Nally
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. Easy. <0.25 miles. Woodland Center. This is an indoor workshop with a small hiking component.
Join Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves’ Natural Areas Technician Kenneth Mills and OKNP Natural Areas & Recovery Branch Manager Jason Nalley in this workshop about non-native invasive plant species. Eradicating invasive species from your property is crucial for improving conditions for native flora and fauna. Whether you own or manage 0.05 acres or 50,000 acres, this workshop equips you with key skills to identify invasive species and develop effective management plans to promote native species. Additionally, we will explore potential funding sources to support your invasive species management goals. Join us to learn practical strategies for conserving biodiversity on your land. Weather permitting, this workshop will include a short walk around the Natural Bridge State Parks grounds to identify invasive species and discuss potential management strategies.
1:00PM – Mosses, Liverworts & Ferns Hike, David Taylor
Meet at Lodge. An easy walk of no more than 0.25 miles. Lodge to Activity Center. Handlens suggested.
Walk with U.S. Forest Service botanist David Taylor around the Hemlock Lodge to learn about these interesting seedless plants including mosses, liverworts, and ferns that have considerable diversity in form and ecology. A handlens is suggested to fully appreciate these small specimens. This hike has minimal walking and is considered a gentle activity.
1:00PM – ¡Despierta, Bosque! Un paseo de la primavera de los polinizadores, Dr. Valerie Peters & Dr. Jennifer Koslow
Meet at Lodge. A moderately difficult hike of 2 miles. Rock Garden Trail. Original Trailhead.
Venga al bosque para una caminata bilingüe en español y ingles para aprender sobre las flores de la primavera y sus polinizadores, durante el tiempo del año cuando el bosque esta despertando del invierno. Las familias y la gente de todas las edades están bienvenidos. La Dra. Valerie Peters, quien estudia las polinizadores de KY y en Costa Rica, seria encargada de dirigir la caminata en español. La Dra. Jennifer Koslow, una ecóloga que estudia plantas en KY, estaría co-líder de la caminata, en Spanglish. 1-2 millas, caminata fácil a moderadamente difícil.
Wake up, Woods! A spring pollinator walk; Come take a bilingual (Spanish and English) walk in the woods to learn about spring wildflowers and their pollinators as the forest wakes up from its winter slumber. Families and people of all ages welcome. Dr. Valerie Peters, who studies pollinators in Kentucky and Costa Rica, will lead the walk in Spanish, while Dr. Jennifer Koslow, a plant ecologist who works in Kentucky, will assist in Spanglish. 1-2 miles, easy to moderately difficult walk.
1:00 PM – Wildflower and Geology Car Tour of Red River Gorge, Ron Jones & Mark Sweet
Meet at the Hemlock Lodge. Join Ron Jones, retired professor from EKU and Mark Sweet, owner of ProComp Services, on a car tour examining the botany and geology of the Red River Gorge. The group will carpool/caravan and make stops at Mill Creek Lake, Nada Tunnel, and Rock Bridge.
1:30 PM – Wildflower Hike, Vanessa Voelker
Meet at Lodge. An easy hike of 2 miles with ~100 foot ascent. Whittleton Trail. Whittleton Campground Trailhead. 37.782712, -83.673068. Trailhead ~5 min drive from NBSRP. Stop and smell the wildflowers! Join Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves botanist Vanessa Voelker on this leisurely walk through a wildflower rich cove. Whittleton Trail has become a favorite area for our Wildflower Weekend hikers, and is a must see for its gorgeous spring ephemeral display. This trail has ~100 foot ascent and is considered easy.
1:30PM – Reptiles, Amphibians, and Riparian/lower slope Plants Hike, James Kiser
Meet at Lodge. An easy hike of 1.0 mile with ~100 foot ascent. Edward Branch (user defined trail). Trailhead at mouth of Edward Branch along SR-1067. 37.84302, -83.66222. Trailhead ~20 mins from NBSRP.
Join Stantec Consulting Senior Associate Biologist James Kiser on a biodiversity hike through Edward Branch of the Red River Gorge. This hike will focus on the plants of the areas adjacent to the creek and the reptiles and amphibians that live alongside them. This trail has ~100 foot ascent and is considered easy.
Saturday, April 13th – Evening Talks in the Woodland Center at Natural Bridge SRP
6:00PM – Welcome/Introductions – Kendall McDonald
6:05PM – Celebration of 35th Anniversary of Wildflower Weekend
To celebrate 35 years of WW, KNPS members and friends were asked to send in photography of weekends in the past. The photography has been curated into a short video that highlights all the wonderful education and experiences members and friends have had with us in these decades.
6:10PM – KNPS Business Meeting, Heidi Braunreiter & David Taylor
6:30PM – iNaturalist BotanyBlitz Results, Vanessa Voelker
iNaturalist BotanyBlitz lead Vanessa Voelker will give guests a preliminary update on the results of the BotanyBlitz, covering current rankings in the competition and featuring any interesting botanical finds.
6:35PM – Pollinator Garden Grant Recipient Update: Planting Shrubs for Pollinators at Liberty Hall Historic Site, Isabel Cochran
In 2023, KNPS began our pilot Pollinator Garden Grant Program. Liberty Hall Historic Site, a historical institution and landmark in Kentucky’s capital of Frankfort, utilized the grant to begin to convert the popular garden to a diverse native plant garden. Garden Curator, Isabel Cochran, will provide us with an update on the success of their native plantings and plans for the future. Isabel Cochran is passionate about plants, healthy ecosystems, nature-based education, and public green spaces. She is a Frankfort native and has lived in Lexington and worked at McConnell Springs park for 10 years – implementing programs for kids and adults alike and removing invasive plants, among many other things. She was recently hired as the Garden Curator at Liberty Hall Historic Site and will be working to create a space that provides habitat for local plants and animals as well as connect the Frankfort community to the outdoors and the history of the site. You can still find her at McConnell Springs, too!
6:45PM – Fire on the Cumberland Plateau, Mary Arthur Because of the complexity of the hardwood forests of the Cumberland Plateau, it has only been in the last 50 years or so that scientists have come to understand the intertwined roles of humans and fire on these landscapes. Contemporary fire ecologists and land managers are tasked with harnessing that understanding in order to apply fire as a disturbance agent in the sustainable management of upland forests. Mary Arthur is a forest ecologist and professor emeritus at UK. Her research over 30 years examined the role of prescribed fire and wildfire on the ecology of upland forest ecosystems on the Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky, and helped to shape fire management and fire policy in the region.
7:00PM – Giant Cane Ecology and Restoration Methods, Dr. David Brown
Giant Cane (Arundinaria gigantea) is a native bamboo valuable for wildlife and ecosystem services. Historically widespread in Kentucky, Giant Cane has been reduced to small remnant patches. Restoring Giant Cane comes with unique challenges, but propagation methods have been developed. Landscape scale restoration will require training programs and available stock from nurseries. Restored canebrakes may effectively exclude invasive plant species.
David Brown is an ecologist and land manager who has worked at Eastern Kentucky University for 15 years. He conducts research on migratory birds and trains students in wildlife conservation and natural resource management.
7:30PM – Break
7:40PM – Fungi and their Relationship to Plants, Dr. Kristen Wickert
This talk will go over three broad categories of relationships that plants have with fungi: “The good, the bad, and the ugly” aka Symbiotic, Decomposer and Pathogenic relationships. While the broad general concepts of these relationships will be discussed, a few specific examples in Kentucky will also be highlighted.
Over the past eight years Dr. Kristen Wickert has utilized the social media app Instagram to educate the general public on the natural world around them. The posts to her personal Instagram account, with the username KaydubsTheHikingScientist, include information about organisms and conservation efforts to expose the public to the world around them, especially in the wild and wonderful world of Appalachia. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s in Forest Biology and a master’s and PhD in Plant Pathology. She studies fungi and how they affect plant life and how insects act as vectors in spreading disease causing fungi.
8:30PM – Q & A Session/Raffle Set up
8:40PM – Raffle This year’s raffle prizes include a wood carving by Bob VanHoff, a native flower paper sculpture by Vanessa Voelker, Wildflower Weekend 2024 Logo Merch, and native plants from several native plant growers across the state.
Saturday, April 13th – Salamander Search with James Kiser
9 PM (Approximately, immediately after the Evening Talks) Salamander Search
Meet at Lodge. Easy. 0.25 miles. Original Trailhead. Flashlight suggested. Join Stantec Consulting Senior Associate Biologist James Kiser in a hunt for elusive salamanders. Search will begin immediately after the Evening Talks (approximately 9:00PM)