Join Us At Natural Bridge This Weekend for Wildflower Weekend 2024!

Everything is set for KNPS’s 35th Wildflower Weekend, on Friday, April 12th and Saturday, April 13, at Natural Bridge SRP! With more hikes, workshops and kid’s activities than we have ever had, many of the best botanists in Kentucky in attendance, and with beautiful weather forecast, Wildflower Weekend 2024 would be a great destination for everyone this weekend.

In addition to our usual “all things botanical” hikes, we have a hikes concentrating on birds, reptiles and amphibians, geology, fire ecology, pollinators and butterflies. There will also be a couple of workshops, “Non-Native Invasive Species Management” and an art workshop, “Reflecting on Nature through Artmaking”.

We have always tried to make Wildflower Weekend a family friendly event (kids 12 and under attend free). This year we are offering two kid centered activities, a “Junior Botanist Adventure for Kids!” on Saturday morning and then, on Saturday afternoon, the “Kids Activities Table“, a drop-in activity (no registration required), with fun botanical and nature activities designed for the young naturalist. See details in the schedule below.

Of course, we will have our Members & Friends Social on Friday evening at Picnic Shelters #3 and #4, with smores fixings and a community gathering of like-minded nature lovers and botanists. Saturday evening, we will gather in the Woodland Center for talks by a variety of experts and our raffle featuring prizes that include native plants, nature inspired art, and Wildflower Weekend 2024 merchandise.

Online registration has closed, but there is still space available in many of the hikes and activities. Just show up in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge and Natural Bridge and you can quickly register and enjoy Wildflower Weekend. If you have any questions, just email us at WildflowerWeekend2024@knps.org .

Hope to see you at Natural Bridge!

Schedule of Events

This is the listing of hikes and activities that still have spaces available.

Friday, April 12th – Afternoon Hikes

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.

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 Wild’s Trail. 200 Punkin Hollow, Stanton, KY 40380. Site is ~20 min drive from NBSRP.
Join authors Dan & Judy Dourson on a walk through Punkin Hollow to look at all things nature. 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.

8:30AM – 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.

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 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.

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 – ¡Despierta, Bosque! Un paseo de la primavera de los polinizadores, Dr. Valerie Peters & Dr. Jennifer Koslow
Meet in the lobby of the Hemlock 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 in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge. Driving tour with some walking. Carpooling required. 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 and make stops at Mill Creek Lake, Nada Tunnel, and Rock Bridge. This is a driving tour, so carpooling will be required due to limited parking in the RRG area.

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, Liberty Hall Garden Curator
In 2023, KNPS began our pilot Pollinator Garden Grant Program. Liberty Hall, an 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. The Hall’s Garden Curator will provide us with an update on the success of their native plantings and plans for the future.

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.

Wildflower Weekend 2024 – Registration is Now Open!

Kentucky Native Plant Society’s
Wildflower Weekend 2024
Natural Bridge State Resort Park
Friday, April 12th & Saturday, April 13th, 2024

The schedule is set and registration is now open for Wildflower Weekend 2024, April 12th-13th, at Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Join nature lovers, families, community scientists, amateur naturalists, and professional botanists from across the Commonwealth, as we explore the beauty and diversity of Kentucky’s natural history. Wildflower Weekend is open to the public and family-friendly.

This year we are celebrating 35 years of Wildflower Weekend! That’s right! 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.

We are offering over 20 different hikes this year, the most we have ever had at any Wildflower Weekend! In addition to our usual “all things botanical” hikes, we have a couple of hikes concentrating on birds, a couple of hikes concentrating on reptiles and amphibians, and one featuring butterflies. There will also be a couple of workshops, “Non-Native Invasive Species Management” and an art workshop, “Reflecting on Nature through Artmaking”.

We have always tried to make Wildflower Weekend a family friendly event (kids 12 and under attend free). This year we are offering two kid centered activities, a “Junior Botanist Adventure for Kids!” on Saturday morning and then, on Saturday afternoon, the “Kids Activities Table“, a drop-in activity (no registration required), with fun botanical and nature activities designed for the young naturalist. See details in the schedule below.

Of course, we will have our Members & Friends Social on Friday evening and the Saturday evening talks and raffle in the Woodland Center.

Pre-registration is required using the form at the bottom of this page (click here to go to the form). Admission is $10 for adults, $3 for ages 13-17, and free for ages 12 & under. The agenda for the weekend is listed below.

KNPS will have staffed tables in the lobby of the Hemlock Lodge where you can ask questions, meet old and new native plant friends, see the items that will be raffled off on Saturday night, purchase raffle tickets, and purchase some other native plant related items.

The hikes are limited as to the number of people who can sign up. This is done so that everyone will have a rich and positive experience. Last year hikes filled up fairly quickly, so register as soon as possible to get the best choice of hikes.

Continue reading Wildflower Weekend 2024 – Registration is Now Open! →

Help Us Celebrate 35 Years of Wildflower Weekend With Your Photos!

This year we are celebrating 35 years of Wildflower Weekend! That’s right! 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 (scroll down to page 3).

Help Us Celebrate with Your Photos!

To help celebrate our 35 years of Wildflower Weekend, we are planning to put together a montage of photos from prior Weekends that we will show during the Saturday evening talks. It would be great if everyone would look through their old Wildflower Weekend photos and pick out a few that you would like to share. If any of our longtime members have actual photos from the days before digital cameras a scan of those would be extra special.

Use the link below to access the drop folder for your images. Please include the year of the Wildflower Weekend as part of the file name (e.g. WW2010). If you have any questions, just email us at WildflowerWeekend2024@knps.org. Thanks.

Drop Folder For Images of Previous Wildflower Weekends

Save the Date! KNPS Wildflower Weekend 2024 – April 12th-14th, 2024

We have exciting news for all of our members and friends! KNPS is happy to announce this year’s Wildflower Weekend has been scheduled for April 12th-14th, 2024 at Natural Bridge State Resort Park!

But wait, there is even more cause for jubilation! This year we are celebrating 35 years of Wildflower Weekend! That’s right! 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 (scroll down to page 3).

Help Us Celebrate with Your Photos!

To help celebrate our 35 years of Wildflower Weekend, we are planning to put together a montage of photos from prior Weekends that we will show during the Saturday evening talks. It would be great if everyone would look through their old Wildflower Weekend photos and pick out a few that you would like to share. If any of our longtime members have actual photos from the days before digital cameras a scan of those would be extra special.

Use the link below to access the drop folder for your images. Please include the year of the Wildflower Weekend as part of the file name (e.g. WW2010).

Drop Folder For Images of Previous Wildflower Weekends

Wildflower Weekend 2024

Throughout its long history, Wildflower Weekend has been an enriching experience to our members and beyond; offering guided hikes to explore Kentucky’s rich natural history and resources in the Red River Gorge. We hope you will join us and other nature lovers, families, community scientists, amateur naturalists, and professional botanists from across the Commonwealth, to explore the beauty and diversity of our native plants this April.

The event will include guided hikes through beautiful natural areas throughout the weekend, a Friday Evening Friends & Members Social, and Saturday evening presentations.

Attendees will be able pre-register for both the event, as well as guided hikes. 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.

iNaturalist BotanyBlitz Kicks Off Wildflower Weekend across Kentucky

The week prior to Wildflower Weekend, KNPS will be hosting our annual week-long, state-wide BotanyBlitz on iNaturalist from April 6th-14th. This week-long BotanyBlitz allows us to broaden our spring wildflower scope to the entire state of Kentucky and allows us to highlight natural areas across the commonwealth! If you work/volunteer at a natural area in Kentucky and would like to partner with us to host a Kick Off Hike at your site to kick off the BotanyBlitz week, please send an email to: WildflowerWeekend2024@knps.org

Be sure to visit and bookmark the Wildflower Weekend 2024 page where we will be posting updates to the event schedules. If you have any questions, just shoot an email to WildflowerWeekend2024@knps.org. Hope to see you in April.

Wildflower Weekend 2024 Logo Design Contest, We Have A Winner!

This year, in the spirit of bringing together creative expression and love for nature, the KNPS Board decided to have a Wildflower Weekend 2024 Logo Design Contest. This was an open design contest to come up with a logo for Wildflower Weekend 2024. The logo will be used on t-shirts, hoodies, and coffee cups, as well as on all publicity about the event.

We put out a call to artists and graphic designers who were members of the Kentucky Native Plant Society in early December. We asked the designers to submit designs that incorporated either the great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) or the stinking Benjamin, a.k.a. red trillium (T. erectum) or both. These charismatic species are commonly found decorating the floors of the rich forests in the Natural Bridge/Red River Gorge area. The submitted designs were then presented to the KNPS membership for voting during the month of January.

We did not know what the response would be so we were thrilled when we received 11 gorgeous designs, well beyond our expectations! The members of KNPS responded in kind, surpassing our expectations as we received nearly 140 votes, by far the biggest response we have ever received for an online poll. Voting came down to a nail-biting close race, and we had to have a runoff between the top two designs. At the end of the runoff, the beautiful logo featured above came out on top as the winning entry. The design, a contemporary interpretation of the iconic Trillium species crafted into a logo with a care-free and breezy sentiment of Spring, was submitted by Rick Mullenix of London, KY.

Rick Mullenix, Winner

“I have been a graphic designer for 19 years, and am a new member of the KNPS. I appreciate being part of this group and look forward to learning a lot. This design was a joy to work on. It is in the style of a badge design, I felt this would work well across the different mediums it would be printed in. My goal was to evoke a breezy, spring-style feel with the colors and the layout. Even though the trilliums both had distinct parts, I loved seeing the different interpretations of them in all the submissions.”

Gallery of Wildflower Weekend 2024 Logo Entries

Any of the designs would have made a lovely logo! Each of the designs feature unique and beautiful takes on some of Kentucky’s most well-known natural areas and species. KNPS extends our thanks and appreciation for all the artists that took the time to submit their creative visions.

Take a few minutes to review the rest of the designs and learn a bit about each of the designers. As you scroll through, be sure to click or tap on the images to see them full size. The submissions are listed by the artists’ last name, and do no indicate the placement in the competition.

Madison Courtney

Madison Courtney is an artist, advocate, amateur photographer, and marketer currently serving as the Communications Director at AMI/USA. With a background in marketing and graphic design spanning six years, Madison brings creativity and strategic thinking to her current role, blending her passion for art and education. Formerly a Montessori teacher, Madison created vibrant classrooms that incorporated nature and plants, fostering a connection between her students and the natural world. She is a strong advocate for children with disabilities and serves on the founding board of LEAF (Lexington Elevating Abilities Foundation) providing financial support to children in need of services. In her personal life, Madison enjoys hiking with her husband and dog, identifying and photographing plants and fungi along the way. As a new member of the Kentucky Native Plant Society, she is excited to be part of a community that shares her enthusiasm for the native flora of Kentucky.

Barbara Degraves

Barbara DeGraves is a freelance nature artist and photographer. With over 30 years of experience, she renders her realistic art in a variety of techniques but prefers colored pencils, pastels, and ink. She exhibits her mixed media artwork and photography in various exhibits around Bowling Green, KY.

Since moving to Kentucky, she and her husband have transformed their barren treeless yard into a welcoming acre for pollinators and birds. Their yard recently achieved a “Certified Butterfly Garden” status by North American Butterfly Association. The property includes pocket prairies, bird magnet hedges and a wide variety of host perennials and shrubs to support native pollinators.

While on a hiking trip to eastern Kentucky, she photographed a patch of great white trillium and captured an image of a duskywing skipper feeding on one of the flowers. This unique image combined with her other reference photographs of trillium inspired her ink illustration for her KNPS logo submission.

Besides being a KNPS member, she is also an active member and former board member of Wild Ones SoKY. Through national Wild Ones she has won multiple awards for her native plant photography.

Cheryll Frank

Cheryll Frank has been an artist and amateur naturalist from an early age. She has a BS in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Kentucky. Her most recent endeavor is ‘rewilding’ 10 acres in Scott County, where she lives with her husband Bruce (also an artist) and a four-legged population. Earliest efforts at creating a small Miyawaki-style forest as a hedgerow has boosted the bird population to 72 species. “I tried to evoke some of the excitement old postcards from the 1930’s promised the intrepid traveler. The diminutive trillium in a limited time engagement, contrasted with the massive edifice of Natural Bridge.”

Clarissa Geaner

Clarissa Gearner is an architectural historian from Rowan County, Kentucky. The daughter of biology educators, Clarissa grew up in the woods of Eastern Kentucky and has had a lifelong love of nature and art. She received a Master of Historic Preservation degree and Cultural Landscape Conservation certificate at the University of Georgia and wrote her thesis on proposing interpretive efforts to educate Red River Gorge visitors on the Eastern Agricultural Complex, a center of plant domestication that occurred in the Eastern United States. Through her thesis writing process, Clarissa learned a great deal about Kentucky’s native plant species and developed an even greater appreciation for them. Clarissa returned to Kentucky in 2023 and was excited to participate in the KNPS logo design contest, especially since Wildflower Weekend 2024 will be hosted at Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Her design, a gouache painting, includes both the great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) and the stinking Benjamin trillium (Trillium erectum), with a vignette of Natural Bridge.

Joy Hopkins

Joy Hopkins grew up near the Smokies in East Tennessee. Her initial loves were horses and art, and she quickly added a passion for the outdoors and all things nature. Joy received a bachelor’s degree in studio art with a minor in Appalachian studies. She has worked for over 30 years in fields of outdoor adventure and education, incorporating artwork into her projects. Joy moved to Southeast Kentucky in the spring of 2022 with her botanist husband Boyd, also a professional outdoor educator and naturalist. The two of them are daily amazed at the treasures that this trove of Kentucky reveals, from beautiful waterfalls in the Red River Gorge to exquisite wildflowers in their own backyard. They love sharing the splendor of God’s creation with others and are blessed by the opportunity to do so.

Elizabeth Mefford

My name is Elizabeth Mefford. I am a transplant to Carroll County, Kentucky via the Ohio River, originally from Switzerland County, Indiana. I am a 4-H volunteer in Natural Resources and really enjoy working with children. I recently joined KNPS, just beginning to educate myself on the wonders of native plant species. My hope is to impart what I am learning on to the next generation of plant lovers.

Nikki Nivision

Hi my name is Nikki! I’m a conservation educator with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and there I found my passion for Kentucky’s native plant species and the role they play for our many different wildlife species. I saw this design competition as an opportunity to show my love for wildflowers through my art. I hope that you all enjoy all the different designs.

Anne Proffitt

My name is Anne H. Proffitt, a 6th generation Kentuckian living in Louisville. I’ve enjoyed a lifetime of wildflowers, birds and natural beauty from our state and share my joy through my artwork. I paint and draw free hand, focusing on the wildflowers and birds of Kentucky! When I’m not painting or at work, I appreciate the great outdoors in all-weather. One of my favorite places to be is Bernheim Forest in Nelson County. I am a Volunteer Naturalist there, helping our visitors connect more deeply with nature.

Kellene Turner

“Nostalgia, expression, culture and imagination. Artistry for everyday and extraordinary circumstances, ultimately becoming an integral part of our existence. “ -Kellene Turner Art

Being a muralist and fine artist I get to capture lifestyle, culture, history and an audience sometimes with or without intention. When I am not working in the studio you can find me on the water or in the wilderness studying nature. Creating is truly raw and a personal experience and the ability to share this process with others brings me great joy.

Isabella Yokum

KNPS Fall Meeting at John James Audubon SP

On Saturday, October 28, 2023, KNPS members and friends came together for a day of botanical education and exploration at John James Audubon SP, in Henderson, KY. The forests and wetlands around Audubon State Park was the home of the famed naturalist, ornithologist, and painter, John James Audubon, and the park museum features the largest collection of original Audubon art in the world in addition to personal artifacts about his life.

The surrounding forest along the bluffs of the Ohio River is mature, almost old growth in nature with some trees more than 200 years old. Approximately half of the property has been dedicated as a State Nature Preserve. At least 61 species of trees and more than 200 wildflowers have been documented from the site. The north facing, mesic forests are dominated by American Beech, sugar maple, and American basswood whereas the more south facing slopes are dominated by sugar maple, various oaks, and tulip tree. At least 169 bird species have been observed in the park.

The day began in the the Audubon Theater located in the John James Audubon Museum and Nature Center with updates from KNPS leadership on the Society’s activities in 2023 and plans for 2024. Following the updates the group enjoyed two talks; a presentation about Lea’s bog lichen (Phaeophyscia leana) by KNPS Vice President, Kendall McDonald and a talk about the native pollinators found in forests by KNPS member and an Invertebrate Biologist at the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, Katie Cody.

Lea’s bog lichen is a unique bottomland lichen that utilizes habitats often considered less than suitable for lichen colonization; the bark of trees along major rivers, oxbow lakes, and backwater sloughs that are frequently inundated by surges of river floodwaters. In 2017, a new population of the lichen was found at the JJA wetlands, making the state park an important conservation site for this species.

Our native pollinators are vital to the success of our native plants. With pollinators on the decline worldwide, it is more important than ever to understand their life history traits and how they interact with the landscape. Although we typically think of pollinators in open grasslands and prairies, recent research is shedding light on how the forest can be a valuable part of their life cycle as well. Katie gave an overview of how pollinators are utilizing the forest and some common forest associates you can find in Kentucky.

After the presentations, the group came together in one of the park’s picnic shelters for fellowship and a picnic lunch. Discussions about our native plants and their insect associates were wide ranging and quite enjoyable and educational.

Following lunch the group separated to go on a series of walks in the wetlands and forest at Audubon Park and Sloughs WMA. Unfortunately just as the walks began, the skies opened up and it began pouring and the walks had to be canceled. This was bittersweet as the area was in severe drought and the rain was greatly needed but we were looking forward to exploring the unique habitats in the area.

Although the Fall Meeting was cut short by the rain, participants all agreed that the presentations and the chance to meet and socialize with other KNPS members made this an enjoyable and educational experience.

KNPS Fall Meeting, Oct 28, John James Audubon State Park and State Nature Preserve

When: Saturday, Oct. 28, 10:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. CDT
Where: John James Audubon SP, Henderson, KY

Mark your calendars and plan to meet up with other KNPS members and friends as we head to western Kentucky for the Society’s 2023 Fall Meeting, on Oct 28th, at John James Audubon State Park, in Henderson. We will learn about and explore the old growth forests and wetland plant and animal communities in and around John James Audubon State Park and the nearby Sloughs Wildlife Management Area.

Audubon State Park was the home of the famed naturalist, ornithologist, and painter and the park museum features the largest collection of original Audubon art in the world in addition to personal artifacts about his life.  The surrounding forest along the bluffs of the Ohio River is mature, almost old growth in nature with some trees more than 200 years old.  Approximately half of the property has been dedicated as a State Nature Preserve.  At least 61 species of trees and more than 200 wildflowers have been documented from the site.  The north facing, mesic forests are dominated by American Beech, sugar maple, and American basswood whereas the more south facing slopes are dominated by sugar maple, various oaks, and tulip tree. At least 169 bird species have been observed in the park.  

The 650-acre Audubon Wetlands was added to the park by the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund in 2016.  The highlight is a bald eagle nest and heron rookery, as well as habitat for waterfowl and amphibians.  The Friends of Audubon, a local nonprofit, has installed a wheelchair accessible boardwalk through the wetlands with plans to install more. 

Sloughs WMA consists of a diverse mix of seasonally flooded grain crops and natural “moist soil” vegetation, natural marsh, seasonally flooded bottomland forest, and natural depressions or “sloughs,” that contain flooded stands of bald cypress lined with buttonbush thickets.

Schedule of Events

Morning Session, 10 a.m. – 12 noon CDT

We will meet in the Audubon Theater which is located in the John James Audubon Museum and Nature Center. The session will begin with an update from KNPS leadership on the Society’s activities in 2023 and plans for 2024. After the update, we will have two talks about the flora and fauna of the JJA wetlands and old growth forest.

10 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Welcome and KNPS Updates

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Lea’s Bog Lichen – Kendall McDonald
Lea’s Bog lichen is a unique bottomland lichen that utilizes habitats often considered less than suitable for lichen colonization; the bark of trees along major rivers, oxbow lakes, and backwater sloughs that are frequently inundated by surges of river floodwaters. In 2017, a new population of the lichen was found at the JJA wetlands, making the state park an important conservation site for this species. Kendall McDonald, Botanist and Lichenologist at Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, will give a presentation on the rare Lea’s Bog lichen and the unique natural communities on which it relies.

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon – Pollinators and Forests – Katie Cody
Our native pollinators are vital to the success of our native plants. With pollinators on the decline worldwide, it is more important than ever to understand their life history traits and how they interact with the landscape. Although we typically think of pollinators in open grasslands and prairies, recent research is shedding light on how the forest can be a valuable part of their life cycle as well. Katie Cody, Invertebrate Biologist at Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, will give an overview of how pollinators are utilizing the forest and some common forest associates you can find in Kentucky.

Lunch, 12 noon – 1:00 p.m. CDT

12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch is on your own. There is no food available in the Park, though there are several restaurants outside the park boundaries. We have reserved a picnic shelter in the park for lunch so we hope that folks will bring their lunch and join the group at the shelter for a picnic lunch and fellowship with their fellow native plant enthusiasts. The shelter that we have reserved is the Sycamore Shelter, located at 37.880556, -87.556993, within walking distance of the main state park building. The picnic shelter area provides parking, covered and non-covered picnic tables, and a playground.

Walks, 1:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. CDT

After lunch we will have 3 walks to explore the native plants and plant communities in and around the Park. The first listed walk is at Sloughs WMA, which is about a 25 minute drive from John James Audubon. Because of the travel time, participants should plan on participating in just the Sloughs walk or the two walks at JJA.

Sloughs WMA – Park and Pop-in Botanical Tour – 1.5 hrs – Less than 0.25 miles (easy)
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. CDT

Join Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves botanist Vanessa Voelker on a roadside botanical tour of the wetland communities and flora of Sloughs Wildlife Management Area.

Sloughs WMA consists of a diverse mix of marsh, seasonally flooded bottomland forest, and natural depressions or “sloughs,” that contain flooded stands of bald cypress lined with buttonbush thickets. The hike will consist of “park and pop-ins” to enjoy the charming fall wetland flora. While this hike has minimal walking within the wetlands, we are advising participants to bring footwear appropriate for potential muddy and wet conditions.

Parking at Sloughs WMA is limited, so participants are encouraged to carpool the short distance from the state park to the WMA.

JJA Wetlands – Birding and Botany on the Boardwalk – 1.5 hrs – 1.5 miles (easy, ADA accessible)
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Get into birding and botany with Nour Salam, Frankfort Audubon Society President, at the John James Audubon State Park wetlands. A rocked pathway from the parking lot leads through floodplain forest to a 750-ft. boardwalk over the cypress swamp, immersing visitors into prime habitat for spotting a variety of wetland flora and fauna. Continue from the boardwalk into more forested area along the earthen path of Island Loop Trail. Flat, easy terrain of this 1.5-mile round-trip wetland walk is ADA accessible. Participants are advised to bring their own binoculars to aid in viewing wetland flora and the charismatic late fall migrant and winter resident birds of the wetland.

JJA State Park Forest – Old Growth Coastal Plain Loess Bluff Forest – 1.5 hrs – approx. 1 mile (easy-moderate)
2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Join JJA Park Naturalist Lisa Hoffman to learn about woody plant ID in an Old Growth Coastal Plain Loess Bluff Forest within the state park. Recorded by Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves botanists in the early 2000s, this old growth mesic forest occurs in ravines and ridges on the slopes above the Ohio River Floodplain. The soil is deep loess which supports a diverse flora and trees up to 4 foot in diameter. Participants are encouraged to wear appropriate footwear for forested hiking and potential muddy conditions.

Register for the Fall Meeting

This event is open to KNPS members and friends alike. There is no cost for the event, but in order to plan effectively, we are requesting that folks pre-register for this event. If you are likely to attend, please fill out this form. Thanks, hope to see you there!