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Rattlesnake Plantain coming up through the leaf litter.

There is still more to come so stay tuned. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by the park on Saturday, May 18th for National Kids to Parks Day. There will be fun for everyone!

I can be reached by email at jraines@breakspark.com

This is the perfect time to make your way to Lake Barkley State Resort Park.  The rain will make it’s way out of western Kentucky today and the forecast for the weekend will be warm and sunny.  The flowers and birds are abundant this week too. Wildflower highlights include Fire Pink, Lyre-leaved Sage, phlox, and columbine.

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Columbine blooming in a wildflower garden at Lake Barkley

The Columbine is blooming in abundance in one of our wildflower beds located on the east wing of the lodge.
The symphony of birds has been outstanding this week too.  Wood Thrushes can be heard in the morning and early evening hours around the cottage loop and campground, and hummingbirds can be seen darting back and forth between feeders.  A number of warbler species  can be heard on the park too including Tennessee, Prothonatary, Black-and-White, Yellow-throated, Chats, and Northern Parulas.  Our Birding on Barkley event is sold out for Saturday but I’ll post our sightings.

Everything is green and leafy here in Land Between The Lakes in western Kentucky!  It’s a beautiful time to come out and go for a weekend drive or take a walk in the woods.

Although the peak of the woodland wildflowers has passed, there are still many flowers blooming that you can see along the roads and trails.  Several species of phlox, mayapples, fire pink, blue dogbane, false dandelion, and more.  Also, trees such as pawpaw and black locust are blooming as well.

Right now is a great time to look and listen for birds.  The osprey are busy at their nests by the water, songbirds are singing, and shorebirds such as egrets and herons have returned for the nesting season.  Some of the common songbirds to see in our area include the Orchard Oriole, Northern Parula, Chat, Yellow-throated Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, and Great Crested Flycatcher.

This Saturday at the Woodlands Nature Station, we are holding a day full of bird-related programs, an event called “Birding Bonanza.”  For a complete schedule of programs, please visit www.lbl.org

Stop and Smell the Flowers at Bernheim

Bernheim is ablaze with spring blooms right now. Everywhere you turn, there are colors popping out through grass, leaves, and branches. From wildflowers in the natural areas to the manicured plants in the arboretum, there are many sights and smells abounding.

In the arboretum, make sure to stop and smell the lilacs (at top), not only are the different varieties resplendent in different shades of purple, but they also smell delicious. Take a hike in the natural areas and spot one of the numerous wildflowers, like violets (seen right).

May is an exciting month – BloomFest and the Spring Plant Sale are Saturday, May 18. The weather is warming up, so it’s time to come out and take advantage of many of nature’s activities, from sitting on a bench and reading to fishing to hiking.  Bernheim always has exciting programs going on. View our calendar at www.bernheim.org

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest has been connecting people with nature for over 80 years.  With 35 miles of hiking trails, fishing, biking, and a stunning Visitor Center, we have something for every nature-lover to do.

Bernheim is open year round (closed January 1 and December 25), 7:00 a.m – 30 minutes prior to sunset.

Isaac’s Cafe (located inside the Visitor Center) is open 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. serving soups and sandwiches using locally sourced ingredients.

Bernheim is located just 20 miles south of the Louisville International Airport. Take I-65 to exit 112 and follow Highway 245 east (toward Bardstown) for approximately one mile. Bernheim’s main entrance will be on the right.

The woods has come alive at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park in Prestonsburg, Kentucky.  Lots of spring wildflowers have opened up and are showing their beauty.  Flowers with blooms this week include spring beauty, wood poppy, common purple violet, long-spurred violet, smooth yellow violet, foam flower, wood vetch, phlox, wild geranium, dutchmen’s britches, squirrel corn, dwarf crested iris, large flowered trillium, fire pink, and a few goldenstar with blooms.

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Wild iris on River Styx Trail at Mammoth Cave NP.

Wildflower Day is April 20 at Mammoth Cave National Park.

Come out for guided wildflower walks to Green River Bluffs, River Styx Spring amd Cedar Sink — some of the park’s hot spots for spring bloomers.

Dogwoods and redbuds are in flower all over the forests and on the hills surrounding the park.  It’s a beautiful time to be in Kentucky!

Wildflower Day activies are list at www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?eventID=389096-245777

There will be free Mammoth Passage cave tours during National Park Week, April 20-26.  Call the park for more information at 270-758-2180.

This week has been a great one to get out and enjoy the sights and sounds at Lake Barkley.  The weather has been warm and the colors vibrant.  Dogwoods (including the pink ones around the lodge), redbuds and an abundance of wildflowers are colorful now.  

The birds have been singing up a storm this week too.  I heard an Orchard Oriole singing just outside the front desk a few days ago, and Wood Thrushes can be heard in the campground and around the cottages.  Yellow-throated Warblers, Northern Parulas, Chipping Sparrows, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers continue to be abundant around the park and can be heard near the lodge.  Prothonotary Warblers, Purple Martins, and Chimney Swifts have also returned to Lake Barkley.

If you would like to see and hear the warblers and returning migrants in western Kentucky, then join Lake Barkley and Land Between The Lakes NRA for Birding on Barkley on May 11th.  Experienced guides will take you to hot spots around Lake Barkley and Land Between The Lakes. More information can be found here

Even though I was alone and making minimal noise, some very alert deer darted away across the path when they heard me coming.  Chipmunks and squirrels scurried back into holes and up trees, and birds were chirping happily away as they paid me no attention high in the trees.  I am so glad I got the chance to hike on such a lovely day.

Spring Package Special March 29 – April 30, only $84.99 (plus tax and resort fee)
This package includes cottage (one night), 1 large 3-topping pizza, 4 fountain drinks, and 1 dozen cookies.

Tour of America Barbecue and Jam Sessions 5:00 – 8:00 pm every Tuesday night in April
April 16, Texas Night; April 23, St. Louis Night; April 30, Kentucky Night (All musicians are invited to bring any instrument and play any family friendly music).

Campers Appreciation Weekend April 26-28, 2013
Camp two nights for the price of one on!  Participate in nature fest activities such as wildflower and tree id hike, fishing for fun, reptile program, and make a nature tee ($) or attend the astronomy programs; Solar Observation, Stars on the Wall, and River of Stars night sky observation.  Look through telescopes of The Louisville Astronomical Society.

Things are looking lively at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park in Prestonsburg.  Everything seems to be blooming at once and making for a very colorful landscape.  Flowers in bloom this week are, rue anemone, chickweed, phlox, purple violet, smooth yellow violet, foam flower, golden star, wood vetch, dwarf crested iris, wild geranium, and the red buds and dogwoods are showing there colors.  With the predicted warm weather and sunshine for the upcoming week, wildflowers should really show their blooms next week.

It amazes me how quickly the forest can go from winter browns to spring greens.  In just a matter of 48 hours of warm weather the forest has awakened with the sounds of arriving migrants like Northern Parulas, Yellow-throated Warblers, Black and White Warblers, Black-throated Green Warblers, and Yellow-throated Vireos.  Gray Tree frogs have also added to the symphony of spring and can be heard calling around the park.  The trees have also begun to bud out and produce leaves, and the redbuds are finally blooming dotting the roadsides and under story with purple.

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Redbuds starting to bloom at Lake Barkley

The number of wildflowers has increased too and includes Spring Beauty, Bluets, Pussytoes, Sandwort, Pennywort, Rue Anemone, Birds Foot Violet, Cut-leaf Toothwort and purple, yellow, and white violets.

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Fern moss in the cool forest at Mammoth Cave National Park

The woods of Mammoth Cave National Park are “lovely, dark, and deep”, to borrow the words of Robert Frost.  They are also moist and green, growing greener everyday.

Along with the fern moss, hikers can also find trilium, Dutchman’s breeches, saxifrage, twinleaf, hepatica, rue anemone, trout lily, Virginia bluebells — it has been a cold spring, but now the wildflowers are popping with the recent warm weather.

Get out and enjoy your public lands of Kentucky!

And the following continue to keep growing in numbers on the forest floor;  Cut-leafed toothwort (Dentaria laciniata), spring beauty (Claytonia virginica), rue anemone (Anemonella thalictroides), false rue anemone (Enemion biternatum), mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), and pennywort (Obolaria virginica).

Spring Package Special March 29 – April 30, only $84.99 (plus tax and resort fee)
This package includes cottage (one night), 1 large 3-topping pizza, 4 fountain drinks, and 1 dozen cookies.

Tour of America Barbecue and Jam Sessions 5:00 – 8:00 pm every Tuesday night in April
April 2, Memphis night; April 9, Carolinas Night; April 16, Texas Night; April 23, St. Louis Night; April 30, Kentucky Night (All musicians are invited to bring any instrument and play any family friendly music).

Campers Appreciation Weekend April 26-28, 2013
Camp two nights for the price of one on!  Participate in nature fest activities such as wildflower and tree id hike, fishing for fun, birds 101, reptile program, and make a nature tee ($) or attend the astronomy programs; Solar Observation, Stars on the Wall, and River of Stars night sky observation.  Look through telescopes of The Louisville Astronomical Society.

It finally feels like spring in western Kentucky and the sunshine seems to have awoke some of our early spring arrivals.  On a hike through the rolling hills of Lake Barkley State Resort Park yesterday I came across some of those arrivals.  Here is a quick list of the woodland flowers:

Lots of Cut-leaf toothwort was blooming

Trillium leaves have emerged from the leaf litter but haven’t yet bloomed

A single blooming Rue Anemone

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Pennywort blooming at Lake Barkley SRP

A few Pennyworts blooming

May apple leaves have emerged

Spring Beauty, Bluets, and Pussytoes continue to bloom

The forest was also alive with the sounds of singing birds.  At the start of my hike I was surprised to hear the low hoot of a Great Horned Owl.  Great Horned Owls are some of the earliest nesting birds in Kentucky usually starting to breed in December and January.  The Kentucky Environmental Education Projects (KEEP), activated their Osprey nest camera this year and to their surprise they found it was already occupied by a pair of Great Horned Owls and two young chicks.  The chicks are quickly growing and it has been interesting to check in on them from time to time.  Great Horned Owls have a wide variety of prey items, and this pair has brought fish, coots, rabbits, and even a meadowlark home for dinner.  You can check out the nest camera at www.keepky.org

To learn more about what’s happening at Lake Barkley SRP check out my new blog at http://lakebarkley.blogspot.com/

Despite the on-again-off-again winter we’ve had this year, John James Audubon State Park’s hillsides are blooming with white. Harbinger of Spring has already been up during March and is at the end of its blooming cycle. Cutleaf Toothwort is still very plentiful. Alongside the toothwort blooms the pale-pink Spring Beauty. Some Bloodroot flowers may have survived recent storms. Fortunately, Recurved Trillium and Virginia Bluebells are beginning to emerge throughout the park.
Visit us Saturday, April 6 for our Wildflower Extravaganza . Guided walks will be at 9am, 11am, and 1pm. Walks start from the front porch of the Audubon Museum. For the little guests, we’ll have a 30-minute Kid’s Wildflower Scavanger Hunt at noon. For more information, contact the park at 270-826-2247.

Are you feeling symptoms of restlessness, excitement, or laziness?  If you are then you have a case of SPRING FEVER!  Barren River Lake State Resort Park can help cure all those symptoms of spring fever by offering a list of things to do at the park.  The first step to cure your spring fever is to get outside and enjoy what spring has to offer, such as WILDFLOWERS!  Photo below taken March 28, 2013. Continue reading →

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View of Green River valley from the Mammoth Cave NP webcam

Watch spring unfold at Mammoth Cave National Park from the comfort of your own home via the Park webcam —  http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/macacam/macacam.cfm

Let the image entice to come to the Park and experience it.  A virtual visit is good, but there is nothing like seeing, smelling, hearing and touching the great outdoors for yourself!