As the trees leaf out and the Virginia bluebells and celandine poppies of the woodlands mature, the glades and prairie come alive. The “best show in the house” this month is in the glades, where plants rush to flower and set seed before summer conditions impose drought stress. From the
Maritz Trail House take a short walk to enjoy the spectacular display of the Indian paintbrush (
Castilleja coccinea) interspersed with blue false indigo (
Baptisia minor) and lanceleaf coreopsis (
Coreopsis lanceolata). Later this month look for a sea of purple glade coneflower (
Echinacea simulata) dotted with the 4-inch yellow flowers of the Missouri evening primrose (
Oenothera macrocarpa). A stroll to the wetlands will reward you with patches of southern blue flag iris at the water’s edge and tuberous water lilies on the water’s surface.
While enjoying the wildflower show, don’t forget to look up! Birds are everywhere at the Reserve…some preparing to take up summer residency and others migrating through to northern nesting grounds. It’s hard to miss the eastern bluebirds and red-headed woodpeckers at
Wood Duck Pond. Joining the belted kingfisher and the great blue herons, the male red-winged blackbirds are arriving at the wetlands to establish their territories.
Are you having trouble identifying the wildflowers and birds you’re seeing? The
Visitor Center book store has many excellent field guides to assist you.
Shop for native plants that attract birds and pollinators at the
Spring Wildflower Market on Saturday, May 11 and create a natural habitat in your own backyard. To learn more, join our
Wildflower ID & Ecology class on Saturday, May 25.
Gather the family and a picnic lunch and spend the day exploring the 14 miles of hiking trails. Pick up a
Forest Activity Guide from the Visitor Center and learn about the woodlands of the Reserve. Families with young children don’t want to miss the
Nature Explore Classroom with its crawl-through logs and building area or the
StoryWalk® Project around
Pinetum Lake.
On Saturday and Sunday afternoons this month (weather permitting) the
Wilderness Wagon will depart the Visitor Center on the hour: 1, 2 and 3 p.m. The narrated wagon ride travels the 3-mile Trail House Loop Road, with stops at the Trail House and Wetland Trail. It’s a great way to shorten the hike to the river or to the wetlands if you have small children or non-hikers in your group. Get off at either stop and get picked up later!