Hemlock Cliffs Field Trip

Hemlock Cliffs Field TripSaturday
April 14, 2012 weather co-operated with seven SIMNA members for most of our visit to Hemlock Cliffs in Crawford County. Stopping every few feet to ooh and ahh as well as ID the many species of wildflowers blooming, we spent the first hour and a half on the upper and lower Hemlock falls trail. One of the first colorful sights was a colony of Dwarf Crested Iris. We saw several more smaller groups of this as we went along.

In my opinion the highlight of plant ID came when we spotted the globally rare and elusive French's Shooting Stars in an unreachable (thankfully) drippy, mossy, horizontal crevice next to the falling water. This plant is only found in a few isolated areas in Hoosier National and Shawnee National Forests. It is related to the Common Shooting Star, which in itself is a beauty. We needed binoculars to see the blooms, as only a person rappelling over the cliff would be able to get close to the plants.


We also saw the fiery red member of the Silene family, "Fire Pinks" or "Catchfly". They contrasted greatly with other more pastel-colored flowers. See list below for ones we positively ID-ed.


Two departed and five continued on to the Messmer Falls. Lots of Wild Stonecrop, Wild Geranium, Wood Phlox, Solomon's Seal, Solomon's Plume, Orange Dwarf Dandelion. Above the falls here you will find Mountain Laurel and a dwarf blueberry, which species, I have not learned.


Rain started in a minor way, and we donned rain gear on and off for a while. One more departed, and that left four of us to go off the beaten path to find another cliff area. We were hearing thunder, and one rather heavy, but thankfully, brief downpour made us decide to head back to the stone stairway where our descent had started. Before we headed back up the stairs, we had lunch under a rock shelf, above the creek. A nice view of the falls and Hemlocks and green everywhere provided a nice conclusion to the hike.

Wildflower list

Dwarf Crested               Iris Wild Ginger
Partridge Berry             Hepatica(not blooming)
Great Chickweed           Nodding Trillium
Rue Anemone                 Prairie Trillium
False Rue Anemone        Fire Pink
Orange Dwarf Dandelion     Blue Phacellia
Ground Cedar(clubmoss)     Appendaged Waterleaf
Lady Fern                           Pink Valerian
Rattlesnake Fern                Bishops Cap
Glade Fern                         Wild Geranium
Christmas Fern          Liverwort(in a Class with mosses)
Maidenhair Fern            Wood Phlox
Smooth Yellow Violet     Common Blue Violet
Cream or Pale Violet      Solomon's Seal
French's Shooting Star    Solomon's Plume

State Gathering Registration

Hi All! As requested, here is the schedule and registration form for the June 1&2 Indiana Master Naturalist State Gathering. I guess you can copy and paste it to Word and then print. Not too sure about that. Check your email for another attachment which may be printable if you can't get this to work.



Indiana Master Naturalists
4TH ANNUAL GATHERING
June 1st and June 2nd 2012
Wesselman Woods Nature Center and Preserve in Evansville, IN

Friday, June 1st 1:00pm to 6:30pm - Registration at Wesselman Nature Center.
1:30pm to 4:30pm – board the bus for tour of John James Audubon Museum and State Park, in Henderson, KY.
At this historic museum, view world class collection of Audubon prints, original art, and personal memorabilia of the famous naturalist who once called Henderson home.
4:30pm to 6:00pm – Tremendous Tree Hike at Wesselman Nature Center.
Discover some of the champion specimens found in this 200 acre old growth forest.
6:00pm - Welcome by Eric Reek, President of Southwest Indiana Master Naturalists Association,
And Dr. John Foster, Executive Director of Wesselman Nature Society.
6:30pm - Raptor Ambassador Program – meet Wesselman’s resident raptors up close and personal.
7:30pm - Soup Social – enjoy a hearty bowl of hand-crafted soup, hors d’oeuvres,
And the world famous IMN CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN!

Saturday Morning, June 2nd
PROGRAM OPTION A 8:15am to 10:45am at Howell Wetlands, Tekoppel Ave. and Broadway Ave.
8:15am meet at Howell Wetlands for coffee and donuts (map provided – 7 miles from Wesselman).
8:30am to 9:30am - Five Habitats of Howell Wetlands Hike (nature has a place for everything!).
Sure to see flora and fauna at one of the best birding and wildflower sites in the area.
9:30am to 9:45am – snack break.
9:45am to 10:45am - Water Bug Fishing at Howell Wetlands (catches guaranteed, no fishing license
required!). Everyone’s favorite program of catching and viewing the aquatic dance of life.
PROGRAM OPTION B 9:00am to 12:00am Canoe Evansville’s Wildlife in the City canoe program.
Enjoy the city’s wild side on a guided paddle down the scenic Pigeon Creek to discover this unique urban riparian habitat and its wildlife.
Must be prearranged with Wesselman Nature Society at (812) 479-0771 ext. 105. $15 fee, seating is limited, please make reservation ASAP. All equipment provided, bus leaves from Wesselman at 9am.


Saturday Lunch, June 2nd
11:30am to 12:30pm – return to Wesselman Nature Center for box lunches.
12:30pm - Keynote address “Orchids of Indiana” by Michael Homoya, Indiana State Botanist,
Author of Orchids of Indiana and Wildflowers and Ferns of Indiana Forests: A Field Guide,
with book signing to follow.
2:00pm – “Indiana’s Geoecosystem” by Dr. Paul Doss (what’s shakin’ in our geological region).
Dr. Doss is Chairman of the Geology Department at USI, former geologist for Yellowstone National Park and a favorite professor among students of all ages.
3:00pm - Maple Sugarbush Makings Hike at Wesselman Woods (sample the real deal).
Learn how important this process was to Native Americans and Early Europeans.
4:00pm – Closing remarks, next gathering announcements, and door prizes.
4:30pm – Tea and Tour at the Master Gardeners’ Display Garden and Log Cabin, scones included.
For folks who can stay a little longer, a lovely garden tour to end the afternoon.

EXTENDED PROGRAM OPTION1: from 5:45pm to 9:00pm - Moonlight Paddle with Canoe Evansville at
Hovey Lake Fish and Wildlife Area. Paddle in the serene beauty of calm water under moonlight
through one of the last vestiges of Indiana’s bald cypress swamps.
Must be pre-arranged with Wesselman Nature Society at (812) 479-0771, ext. 105. $15.00 fee,
Seating is limited, please make reservations ASAP. All equipment provided, bus leaves from Wesselman at 5:45pm.

EXTENDED PROGRAM OPTION2: from 7:00pm to 8:00pm – Nightlife Bug Hunt at Howell Wetlands.
Discover who is out and about at night by catching and identifying evening’s insects with knowledgeable insect specialists. Meet at Howell Wetlands at 7:00pm.

Recommended Accommodations:
Residence Inn by Marriott Comfort Inn & Suites Drury Inn & Suites
8283 E. Walnut 8331 E. Walnut 100 Cross Point Blvd.
812-471-7191 812-476-3600 812-471-3400

Drury Inn & Suites Hampton Inn Airport Holiday Inn Express
3901 US 41 North 5701 US 41 North 19600 Elpers Rd.
812-423-5818 812-464-1010 812-867-1100

Casino Aztar Hotel
421 NW Riverside Dr.
812-433-4000
1-800-544-0120

Maps to Wesselman Nature Center and to Howell Wetlands Conservation Station at web site:
http://www.wesselmannaturesociety.org/
Registration Form for the 2012 IMN Annual Gathering
Early registration deadline is April 30. Please send this form and your check made payable to SIMNA,
Attn: Jane Magary, 10225 Hyde Park, Evansville, IN 47711.
Questions: jmagary@dpat.com, (812)473-6535 days, (812)401-2327 evenings, (812)499-6987 cell

Name:__________________________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Phone Numbers:__________________________________________________________
Email Address:____________________________________________________________

Full 2 day registration includes Soup Social and chocolate fountain on Friday; donuts, snacks, box lunch, tea and cookies on Saturday; bus transportation for first 40 attendees to John James Audubon Museum (late attendees can still drive their own cars to the museum). For those interested in supper Saturday, we will help make arrangements at a locally owned Italian restaurant http://www.raffis.us/, or Abraham Lincoln’s favorite when in town, http://theloginn.net/

FULL 2 DAY REGISTRATION _____ $60 BEFORE APRIL 30 _____ $70 AFTER APRIL 30

FRIDAY ONLY _____ $25 includes bus for first 40 attendees, hearty soup social
SATURDAY ONLY _____ $55 includes donuts, snacks, box lunch, tea and scones
KEYNOTE LUNCHEON ONLY _____ $20 includes box lunch

Make checks payable to: SIMNA
Send check and form to: IMN Gathering Note: All times are Central Daylight Savings
Attn: Jane Magary
10225 Hyde Park
Evansville, IN 47711

Canoe Evansville programs must be arranged directly with Wesselman Nature Society, (812)479-0771, http://www.wesselmannaturesociety.org/ Fee per person per program $15.


Please indicate special/dietary needs or requests:___________________________________________________

Please indicate interest in dinner on Saturday:______________________________________________________

Please indicate interest in program Sunday 10am at Mesker Zoo and Botanical Gardens, $8.50 per person:_____

April Update

Greetings,

I thought I'd put in a word about the upcoming SIMNA field trip to Hemlock Cliffs on Sat. April 14. Although we are a month ahead on wildflowers and most other plantlife, there will still be enough to make the trip worthwhile. If we get a cool-down, it will help to slow down growth. We might still see Nodding Trillium, Crested Dwarf Iris, and Fire Pink.

I saw a plant above the cliffs(on March 30) for the first time in the wild which is the Ground-Cedar.(left) It is not a cedar at all, but a member of the Clubmoss family. Also blooming--Squawroot,(below) a parasitic flower at the base of Oak trees. It is in the Broom-rape family.

So, look for a final notice of this trip in your emails from Larry or Eric. They will give details on departure from Wesselman's on April 14.

Please remember to sign up to volunteer to help at June State Master Naturalist Gathering.

Enjoy the Spring!

Kathy