SPRING 2010 - SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE LEXINGTON AREA

Provided as a service to our members by Wild Ones, Lexington Chapter.  To post events in this newsletter contact Linda Porter, prairiegirl7@mac.com .

Wild Ones Spring Events:  See our web site for more information, www.for-wild.org/chapters/lexington

Spring Ephemerals Hike at Curtis Gates Lloyd Wildlife Management Area, April 10, 2010 at 10:00 am, Sponsored by Greater Cincinnati Chapter of Wild Ones.

Spring Ephemerals Hike at Jessamine Gorge led by Tom Barnes, April, 11, 2010 - an absolutely gorgeous location with an amazing display of spring ephemerals. Limited to 10 participants.  First priority to members. SORRY THERE IS NO MORE SPACE IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS HIKE.  Note Sierra Club hike on Apr. 4.

May 6 - The very popular Annual Plant Exchange! 7 PM at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Lexington

June 3 - Tour of Gainesway Farm - a certified State Arboretum. 6 PM, details to follow.

UK Arboretum Events: www.ca.uky.edu/arboretum

Spring Tree Identification 
Class:  Date - April 1 @ 10:00 a.m.
Instructor:  Doug McLaren,
Cost: $5 ($4-Friends)
 Spring is slowly coming to Kentucky releasing its grip of the cold days of winter. Still the buds of Kentucky’s native trees wait patiently for warmer days before they unfurl their bud wrappings for the flowers and leaves announcing summer in Kentucky. Attend this indoor, hands-on program where you will learn the identifiable characteristics of Kentucky’s native trees.

Arbor Day, Saturday, Apr 24 10:00a to 2:00p

This year’s event “Right Tree, Right Place, Right Way” will feature displays and activities by exhibitors, environmental demonstrations, & children’s activities. Tree seedlings and composters will be available free on a first come first serve basis. This event is free and open to the public thanks to Co-Sponsors Kentucky American and Lexmark and supporters: Big Beaver Tree Service, Commonwealth Credit Union, Community Tree Care, Kentucky Utilities and Lexington-Fayette Environmental Commission.

Plant Propagation Class: Practices that improve success.
 Date: May 3, 5:30-7:00
Instructor: Rick Durham
Cost: $10 ($8-Members) This class will discuss practices for successfully propagating plants, both indoor 
plants and those in the landscape.  We will conclude with a short hands-on project that will allow participants to try their hand at propagating a few common house plants.  Please bring along some hand-held pruners or old scissors to use in cutting plant stems and leaves.  Plants, potting mix, and some small containers will be provided.

Spring Plant Exchange: 
Date:  May 8 @ 10:00 a.m.
Cost:  $1 (Free for Friends of Arboretum)
 Gardeners or gardener wannabes can bring their extra plants, trees, shrubs, gardening supplies (even compost!) to The Arboretum and happily come home with new treasures.  Registration begins at 9:00 a.m.  The Plant Exchange begins at 10:00 a.m. sharp.  The Exchange is over in about 15 minutes, so don’t be late!  

Raven Run Events: http://www.lexingtonky.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=9982

Wild Flowers of Spring, Sunday, April 11 & 17, 1:00 pm

Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge (Parksville, Ky): www.ckwr.org

Spring Wildflower Walk(s), Saturday, April 10 and 24, 10:00 a.m.  

The flowers that bloom on the Martha Clay Wildflower Trail change quickly during the spring. You can see the differences clearly if you attend both sessions, guided by experts (Dr. Anne Lubbers on April 10 and Rob Pendygraft on April 24).

Salato Wildlife Center (Frankfort, Ky), www.fw.ky.gov

Bird Hike, April 24 , Early Morning  Saturday, 7 – 9 a.m.  Cost: $10. Limit: 15. Participants: Adults.  Did you know that different birds sing their song at different times in the day? Be an early bird and take a guided morning hike to identify birds by their sweet songs. Wildlife viewing for birds often begins with listening as our feathery neighbors sit high in the trees. We’ll provide all necessary equipment to help you identify birds of Kentucky. Wear clothes with neutral colors to help keep you less visible for a bird’s eye view. Registration and pre-payment are required.

A Wildflower Hike, April 24, Saturday, 2 – 4 p.m.  Cost: $10. Limit: 15. Participants: Adults.  Take the time to enjoy a hike with Salato staff as we show you the blooming beauties on the forest floor.  Kentucky is home to more than 2,000 wildflower species that thrive in different geographic regions of our state.  We’ll help you identify native wildflowers in our area  and explain why they are important for wildlife. The hike will take place on the Pea Ridge hiking trail, so please wear appropriate shoes and bring water! The Pea Ridge trail is a primitive trail and is rated moderately strenuous. Program may be cancelled due to bad weather. Registration and pre payment are required. hand lenses for participants

Sierra Club Events

April 4, Jessamine Creek Gorge hike led by Dave Cooper-phone 859-299-5669, email davecooper928@yahoo.com

April 10, Dayhike-4/10/10- Red Byrd Arch, Red River Gorge, leader Jerry Redden, 606-768-2400

April 10 Dayhike-4/10/10-O' bannon Woods State Park, Southern Indiana, leader Charlie Mitch, 812-378-4963

Natural Bridge State Park

Wild Flower Weekend – April 23 to April 25.  The beautiful area around Natural Bridge is home to hundreds of native plant species; enjoy them this weekend with other botanists, gardeners, and nature lovers. Our field trips are for all levels of participation, from beginner to advanced wildflower enthusiasts and from short easy walks to longer hikes at Natural Bridge and the Red River Gorge Geological Area! Evening speakers will focus on the native plants in the region. Registration fee upon arrival. $10/adult, $3/ages 13-17 and free for ages 12 and under. For more information contact Brian Gasdorf at brian.gasdorf@ky.gov.

Pine Mountain Settlement School Events.

Pine Mountain Settlement School is about 3 1/3 hours from Lexington. There is a lot of information about the school and its beautiful surroundings on their website at www.pinemountainsettlementschool.com.  Click on ‘Schedule of Events’ to see the many offering coming up for 2010. Rates include all meals, lodging and programs.

Their Wildflower Weekend will be held April 16-18. During late April, the Settlement School property is a wildflower wonderland, with nearly 100 species of spring wildflowers. The weekend begins Friday with a 6 p.m. dinner and concludes with lunch on Sunday.

Their Black Mountain Weekend will be held on April 30 – May 2. Wildflower lovers will enjoy visiting Black Mountain, the highest point in Kentucky and habitat to rare species of wildflowers and birds. Wildflower species exclusive to Black Mountain are: Painted Trillium, Roseate Twisted Stalk and Red-Berried Elder. Bird species include Canada Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Veery Thrush, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Saturday's activities will also include hikes at Kingdom Come State Park and Bad Branch State Nature Preserve. The weekend begins with dinner at 6 p.m. on Friday and concludes with Sunday lunch.

Bernheim Forest Events: www.bernheim.org

Wildflowers and their Stories, Saturday, April 10, 2010, 1:00 to 3:30 PM Meet at the Visitor Center Fee: $7 members; $10 non-members; advance registration required.  Join naturalist, and author Tavia Cathcart for an enchanting stroll among the legendary ladies of the spring woods.

Garden Dreams: CELEBRATION OF TREES WITH TIM PALMER, Friday, April 23, 2010, 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM, The Clifton Center, Louisville, KY, Free members, $5 non-members.  Nature photographer and author Tim Palmer presents a slideshop of his stunning photos about the wonders of natural forests and their fate in a changing world.

Lower Howard’s Creek Events, Clark County: www.lowerhowardscreek.org

Forest Ecogology:  April 3, 10:00 a.m.  Join Dr. Bill Crankshaw, retired forest ecologist, for a hike to look for the earliest spring wildflowers and get an education about the ecology of the area.  Discussions about the effects of industrialization on the natural resources of the valley and good examples of natural reclamation will be shown.  Moderately strenuous, 3 hours.

Heirloom Daffodils and Early Spring Wildflowers:  April 14, 10:00 a.m.  Mid-week hike, this walk will highlight several abandoned home sites where all that remains to remind us of human habitation are the daffodils, daylilies, yucca, and vinca minor the settlers planted.  This is the prime time of year when the wildflowers put on their riotous display, so make reservations early for this event.  Steep slopes will be traversed in order to access the old homesteads, so come prepared for one of our more strenuous hikes, 3-4 hours.

Bernheim Forest Events 

Wildflowers galore! April 17, 10:00 a.m.  Prime weekend to showcase a large variety of native wildflowers in the gorgeous venue of the Lower Howard’s Creek Valley.  Moderately strenuous, the hikes will last at least 3 hours, because we have to stop so often to identify new species!

EARTHDAY - Wildflowers galore!  April 22, 10:00 a.m.  Walk on the wild side and take a break from the daily grind to stop and see the wildflowers. Great time to showcase a large variety of native wildflowers in the gorgeous venue of the Lower Howard’s Creek Valley.  Moderately strenuous, the hikes will last at least 3 hours, because we have to stop so often to identify new species!

Wildflowers galore!:   April 24, 10:00 a.m.  Should be another great weekend to showcase a large variety of native wildflowers in the gorgeous venue of the Lower Howard’s Creek Valley.  Moderately strenuous, the hikes will last at least 3 hours, because we have to stop so often to identify new species! 

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary Events, Fayette County: www.floracliff.org

Wildflower Folklore w/ Ryan Quire, Saturday, April 3, 2010, 1 p.m. EDT. Many of our wildflowers have interesting historical uses and superstitions or neat stories about how they were named.  Floracliff field tech, Ryan Quire, will discuss the fun facts of wildflowers on this hike to Elk Lick Creek.

Wildflower Hike w/ Brian Yahn, Saturday, April 17, 2010, 10 a.m. EDT.  Brian Yahn, ecologist with the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, will lead this wildflower hike.  Celandine poppies, dwarf larkspur, nodding trilliums, and shooting stars should be in full bloom!