ven as freezing temperatures and snow flurries have buffeted central Indiana through mid-April, signs of spring are poking through.
The delicate pink-flecked petals of the spring beauty rise through the dead leaves and discarded sticks of the forest floor. Virginia bluebells, white trout lily and wild geranium splash color throughout the brown landscape.
Bushes and trees are starting to bloom, coinciding with the return of the state’s myriad bird populations.
This weekend, nature lovers will have the chance to search out this nascent blossoming in some of the area’s most beautiful landscapes. The annual Spring Wildflower Foray will be held in parks, nature preserves and private properties throughout Brown County.
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More than 20 different hikes, boat rides and kayak excursions have been planned from Friday to Sunday. All are free and open to the public, with participants only required to pay for park entrance fees, if there are any.
The event is an opportunity to experience the wild side of Indiana as it emerges from its winter slumber.
“We want people to know the richness of the world we live in, and the richness of Indiana. It shows people the beauties and the gems that are hidden in their own backyard, if they know how to look for them,” said Cate Whetzel, program developer for the T.C. Steele State Historic Site, which is the fiscal agent of the cooperative event.
The Wildflower Foray has been a tradition among Brown County nature lovers since 1986. Nineteen organizations sponsor or assist with the event, with participating groups ranging from the Brown County Garden Club to Hoosier National Forest to the Nature Conservancy.
Founded as a single-day event to gather wildflower data for conservation purposes, it has grown to span three days and a multitude of different types of activities.
Counting and spotting wildflowers is still an important part of the foray. In 2017, participants recorded 188 species during the foray, including 10 new species that were added. Six species were identified with the earliest flowering date ever recorded in Indiana.
“It’s also a chance for us to find out where the wildflowers are growing, how many there are this year, is everything coming back, what birds are we seeing. Naturalists can gain data on what it looks like this year,” Whetzel said.
But organizers also want to create opportunities for people to see places they might otherwise never go, Whetzel said.
People will have the chance to visit the home site and family cemetery of William Riley Chandler, one of the area’s first white settlers. Botanist Cheryl Coon and retired forester Teena Ligman will lead a group along a limestone ridge looking for wild hyacinths.
A mountain biking excursion at Yellowwood State Forest will bring people to a grove of endangered yellowwood trees.
Different programs focus on unique interests. A special hike will focus on butterflies and the plants that attract them. A class on wildlife photography invites people to bring their cameras out on an easy photography excursion. A presentation by invasive species experts will point out some of the plant species that have invaded the area and threaten the existing ecosystems.
“It’s a chance to continue your education. If you want to know more about something like butterflies or bird-watching, we can teach you that,” Whetzel said.
Many of the activities planned have become traditions at the annual foray, and are repeated year after year. One of the most popular events is a boat trip on Monroe Lake, where people can explore the backwaters and shore areas searching for wildlife, such as bald eagles, that otherwise might be hard to encounter.
But even for people who have participated in the event in the past, the foray undoubtedly offers something new that they’ve never experienced before, Whetzel said.
“There are so many hikes that you can’t physically do them all. Many of them are at the same time, across the county. So you have the chance, if you miss one this year, you can catch it the next year,” she said.
With most of the slate of events, people can just show up at the designated meeting place and take part, paying only an entrance fee if needed at places such Brown County State Park. But some of the activities, such as the Monroe Lake boat trip and a kayaking trip on Crooked Creek, do require registration in advance.
And with the unpredictable nature of Indiana weather, cancellations are possible, though organizers try to push through the cold and wet as long as it’s not dangerous, Whetzel said.
“For the most part, you can just come and take part. We only cancel if there is lightning or tornadoes in the sky. For the most part, this is a rain-or-shine event,” she said. “That’s really great, because most naturalists know that ideal weather in Indiana is rare. So bring your raincoat, a pair of boots, and you’ll have a great time.”
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Friday
10 a.m.: Hiking History: Chandler Cemetery Tour — Tour the family cemetery and home site of the William Riley Chandler family, some of our area’s earliest white settlers. Pre-registration required at bit.ly/chandlertour2018. Meet at T.C. Steele State Historical Site, 4220 T.C. Steele Rd., Nashville.
3:30 p.m.: Hot Hills, Cool Valleys — Search for wildflowers, ferns and fungi on this moderate hike. Meet at Brown County State Park saddle barn, 1801 SR 46 East, Nashville.
Saturday
7:30 a.m.: Early Birds at Stone Head Nature Preserve — An easy 2 1/2 hour walk through the 122-acre Stone Head Nature Preserve. High rubber boots recommended. Meet at 4645 Bellsville Pike, Nashville.
9 a.m.: Monroe Lake Backwaters — Take a boat trip to enjoy wetlands wildflowers and wildlife. Wear boots and old clothes. Pre-registration required at (812) 988-2785. You must be nimble enough to climb in and out of small watercraft. Meet at the Crooked Creek Boat Ramp, on T.C. Steele Road south of State Road 46.
10 a.m.: Focus on Wildflowers — Nature photographer Gary Morrison will lead an easy two-hour photography excursion. Pre-registration required at (812) 988-2785, limited to 20 people. Meet at T.C. Steele State Historical Site.
1:00 p.m.: Ogle Hollow Hike — Enjoy a profusion of wildflowers, ferns and the rare yellowwood tree during this moderate two-hour hike. Meet at the rally campground at Brown County State Park.
3:30 p.m.: Wild Hyacinth Hike — Take a rugged, off-trail hike along a unique limestone ridge in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area looking for wild hyacinths. Pre-registration is required and limited to 18 participants; call (812) 275-5987. Carpool from Paynestown State Recreation Area, 4850 SR 446, Bloomington.
Sunday
7:30 a.m.: Early Birds at Crooked Creek — View spring migrants, waterfowl, eagles and more on this two-hour walk. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them. Meet at Crooked Creek Boat Ramp.
10 a.m. Wander the Wilderness — Explore Hoosier National Forest’s Hayes Trail on this four-hour hike. Bring lunch and water. Pre-registration is required at (812) 275-5987. Meet at Paynestown State Recreation Area.
1 p.m. Bikes & Botany — Identify wildflowers and visit a grove of state endangered yellowwood trees during a two-hour, moderate mountain bike ride in Yellowwood State Forest. Participants must provide their own mountain bike and helmet. Meet at Crooked Creek Lake dam parking long, on Crooked Creek Road south of State Road 46.
For a full schedule of events and other information, go to http://www.tinyurl.com/bcwildflowerforay.
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Wildflower Foray
What: A three-day event offering hikes and presentations throughout Brown County, both to introduce people to the area’s unique landscapes and to take stock of the wildflowers, birds and other wildlife.
When: Friday through Sunday
Who: A cooperative event sponsored or assisted by 19 groups.
Where: Locations vary throughout Brown County
Cost: Most hikes and events are free. Some do require participants pay an entrance fee to parks.
Information, meet-up locations and full schedule: http://www.tinyurl.com/bcwildflowerforay
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