By Alan Abbott, KNPS Field Trip Coordinator

On Sunday, September 7th, KNPS member Alan Abbott led a hike on Mogan Ridge in Perry County, Indiana. Approximately 10 people, including members of both Kentucky Native Plant Society and Indiana Native Plant Society, walked the trail for over 3 hours.

The mixture of more northern and southern plants meant that everyone got to see something new. Those from Indiana were excited to see some Sourwood trees (Oxydendrum arboreum) at the northwestern edge of their range. Carolina Buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana) was also a big hit. It is widely-distributed In Kentucky, but rare in Indiana.

Kentucky participants were excited to see Big Tooth Aspen (Populus grandidentata), which is infrequent in Kentucky.

Other plants seen include Anglepod (Gonolobus suberosus), American Bluehearts (Buchnera americana), Silver Plumegrass (Erianthus alopecuroides), Clasping Aster (Symphyotrichum patens), Blue Waxweed (Cuphea viscosissima), and Prairie Tea (Croton monanthogynus).

By Alan Abbott, KNPS Field Trip Coordinator

The Kentucky Native Plant Society led a hike at Bullitt County’s Pine Creek Barrens Nature Preserve on June 8th. The preserve has a mixture of oak-dominated woodlands, shallow limestone glades, and grasslands and is one of the best examples of Kentucky’s limestone/dolomite barrens open to the public.

Member Alan Abbott led a group of around a dozen KNPS members for a three hour stroll along the trails. Plants identified by the group included: two species of Coneflowers (Echinacea simulata and pallida), Vase Vine (Clematis viorna), Climbing Milkvine (Matelea obliqua), Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis), Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum), Scaly Blazing Star (Zanthoxylum americanum), and Glade Heliotrope (Heliotropium tenellum).

The group also discussed the natural history of the region, tools like iNaturalist and Floraquest, and grassland land management techniques.