Name: 40th Annual Spring Wildflower Foray
Start: 2025-04-25T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-04-25T17:00:00-04:00
Location: 4220 T.C. Steele Road, Nashville, IN, United States, Indiana 47448

Explore natural areas in Brown and Monroe Counties with experienced hike leaders to seek out spring blooming wildflowers, enjoy indoor presentations on plants and gardening, and search for birds and other critters during the 40th Annual Spring Wildflower Foray, featuring 25 guided hikes and programs!
𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥. 𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦.
𝗠𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: bit.ly/springwildflowerforay-map
𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁: LINK COMING SOON!

***** 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 𝟮𝟱 *****
𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟳:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸
David Rupp of IndiGo Birding Nature Tours will lead a 1 ¾-hour EASY bird walk in Yellowwood State Forest to start the weekend. New species arrive almost every day in late April, including warblers, vireos, and tanagers. We will view the birds along the lake and then go on a short hike on the Jackson Creek Trail. Loaner binoculars available.
Limited to 15 people; registration required by 12 p.m. on April 24 at tinyurl.com/2025foray
Meeting Location: Yellowwood Lake, parking lot at north end
𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟵:𝟭𝟱 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗲 𝗔
Wildflower author Kay Yatskievych's signature hike will be led by Mary Damm and Marc Evans. This is a 2 ½ to 3-hour MODERATE wildflower walk in and around this state nature preserve.
Meeting Location: T.C. Steele State Historic Site, parking lot
𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟵:𝟭𝟱 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗲 𝗕
Tom Swinford, an ecologist and Land Preservation Director for Sycamore Land Trust, and naturalist Cathy Meyer will lead a 3-hour RUGGED wildflower walk around this state nature preserve.
Meeting Location: T.C. Steele State Historic Site, parking lot
𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲
Adventure with Brown County State Park’s naturalist, Eli Major, and naturalist David Mow on a MODERATE 2-hour trek (about 4.5 mi) to the site of an old village dating back to the late 1800s. Add new and amazing flowers to your list, as we locate old home sites using plants and flowers, some planted by the early settlers.
Meeting Location: Brown County State Park, Strahl Lake (parking lot)
𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀
Explore the written word with naturalist Jules Erwin, as we take a writer's ramble to hear and share examples of the poetry of plants and do some writing of our own during a 1.5-hour gentle hike of about 1 mile. Bring your favorite pen and notebook, and a quote or passage to share in this relaxing and meditative look at the place plants hold in literature.
Limited to 10 people; registration required by 12 p.m. on April 24 at tinyurl.com/2025foray
Meeting Location: T.C. Steele State Historic Site, Singing Winds Visitor Center
𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭:𝟯𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽
Wish you could identify more wildflowers? Intimidated by the botanical terms used in flower descriptions? Not sure how to use a field guide properly? This 3-hour interactive workshop, led by Jill Vance, Monroe Lake Interpretive Naturalist, will give you the tools you need to become successful at wildflower identification! We’ll dig into the structure of a flower and break down the terms often encountered. Then we’ll show you how to use that knowledge to navigate a field guide. Each section ends with an immediate skill review, where you can assess your understanding of the concept and ask questions. After the indoor portion concludes, we’ll head outside to apply our skills – working together to identify real wildflowers growing nearby.
Limited to 25 people; fee of $15 per person. Registration req. by April 23 at tinyurl.com/botany101-2025
Meeting Location: T.C. Steele State Historic Site, Singing Winds Visitor Center
𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟯:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗸
Wildflowers and wildlife abound at the Kent Farm unit of the IU Research & Teaching Preserves. Join biologist Mark Sheehan for a RUGGED 3-hour, 3-mile loop through rich Salt Creek bottomland, up a wooded ridge crowned with chestnut oak, and back.
Limited to 15 people; registration required by 12 p.m. on April 24 at tinyurl.com/2025foray
Meeting Location: Kent Farm Preserve (8475 E. Kent Road)
𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟯:𝟯𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆𝘀
Search for wildflowers, ferns and fascinating fungi (edible and otherwise) as you explore ridge tops and valleys with naturalist David Mow on this 2-hour, MODERATE hike through the northern section of the park.
Meeting Location: Brown County State Park, Saddle Barn (parking lot)
𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟱:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲
What flower, after chewing, can help you lure your heart's desire? What plant only grows when watered by the tears of a hanged man? Join naturalist Jules Erwin for a 1.5-hour MODERATE hike to look for tall tales and mysterious spells hidden in the landscape.
Meeting Location: Brown County State Park, Ogle Lake
𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟴:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴
Enjoy a 1-hour EASY walk with Cathy Meyer and Monroe County Parks and Recreation naturalist Jacob Trusty to listen to frogs, woodcock, and other wildlife, as we wander the trails at Flatwoods Park.
Meeting Location: Flatwoods Park
***** 𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 𝟮𝟲 *****
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟴:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵
Join naturalist Cathy Meyer, on a MODERATE approximately 2 ½-hour hike (2-miles) on the dikes surrounding Stillwater Marsh. We will be looking for migrant as well as locally breeding birds that will hopefully include at least a few species of warblers. Terrain is generally flat but there are patches of rough/bumpy ground and there could be muddy areas (bring appropriate footwear).
Meeting Location: Stillwater Marsh Observation Platform, 2001 S. McGowan Road in Bloomington
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟵:𝟯𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗸𝗲
Explore a limestone hillside abundant with wildflowers, then venture down into a creek valley known for producing white-flowering Virginia bluebells with naturalist Anne Petty. This 2-hour MODERATE-RUGGED off-trail hike rambles down a moderately-sloping hill into a creek floodplain.
Meeting Location: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office, 1620 Monroe Dam Court in Bloomington
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟵:𝟯𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸
Join “Moment of Science” radio personality Don Glass and botanical illustrator Gillian Harris for a 2.5-hour EASY walk along a stream in the Schooner Valley to identify a variety of wildflowers that flourish in the valley.
Limited to 15 people; registration required by 12 p.m. on April 24 at tinyurl.com/2025foray
Meeting Location: Brown County State Park, Ogle Lake
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭𝟭:𝟯𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱
Growing your own native plants from seed is not only fun, but also incredibly easy! Join Bill Daniels, Sycamore Land Trust Conservation Plant Nursery Volunteer, to learn about propagating native plant seeds, with topics including containers, soil mixes, and seedling handling.
Meeting Location: Brown County State Park, Nature Center
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
During this 1-hour program with Lori Willis, Regional Landscape Manager, you’ll get tips and tricks on how to arrange a succulent planter. Lori will use a tapestry of succulents to design a unique garden centerpiece.
Meeting Location: T.C. Steele State Historic Site, Singing Winds Visitor Center
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝘆𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝗸𝗲
Biological Science Technician Jason Isbell and Hoosier National Forest Interpreter Summer McDuffee will lead a 2-hour RUGGED, off-trail hike along a unique limestone ridge in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area looking for wild hyacinths.
Limited to 8 people; registration required by 12 p.m. on April 24 at tinyurl.com/2025foray
Meeting Location: Paynetown SRA, Main Office – park behind building (caravan/carpool to hike start)
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭:𝟯𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗢𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝗶𝗸𝗲
Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve is one of the richest coves in Brown County, with a profusion of wildflowers, ferns and the rare yellowwood tree. Brown County State Park’s naturalist, Eli Major, and naturalist David Mow will lead a 2-hour MODERATE hike into the hollow, identifying plants and migrating songbirds.
Meeting Location: Brown County State Park, Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve / Trail #5 (parking lot)
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟰:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀
Show your love for native plants by removing one of their enemies: invasive garlic mustard! Join Brown County State Park’s naturalist, Eli Major, for a Brown County Native Woodlands Project W**d Wrangle Indiana® workday. This is a national event that highlights the need for hands-on invasive species management. Wear clothes for work: gloves, long pants and sturdy, closed-toe shoes.
Meeting Location: Brown County State Park, Strahl Lake
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟰:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸
Join Jeanette McGavic, a medial entomologist with the Indiana Department of Health, for a 1-hr discussion of tick-borne diseases in Indiana. You’ll learn how to avoid tick bites, check for ticks, and safely remove one that has attached. Attendees will receive Tick ID Cards and get a guided tour of the IDOH’s Tick Dashboard.
Meeting Location: Brown County State Park, Nature Center – Program Room
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟳:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 & 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Join your fellow Forayers for cake, coffee, and this year’s species count, plus a program presented by Dawn Slack, Indiana Director of Stewardship for The Nature Conservancy, that explores the quiet motivation that compassion and grace bring for effective land management. Attitudes matter and we’ll engage in a discussion on how we (and you) are moving land management for native plants across Indiana.
Meeting Location: Brown County State Park, Nature Center – Program Room
***** 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 𝟮𝟳 *****
𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀
Ramble, roam, and wander with naturalist Jules Erwin at the flora found in T.C. and Selma Steele’s gorgeous forest. We’ll saunter and stop to check out wild plants that are edible or just plain useful. This 1-mile, 1-hour MODERATE hike is perfect for beginners and enthusiasts.
Meeting Location: T.C. Steele State Historic Site, Singing Winds Visitor Center
𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲
This Sycamore Land Trust preserve features carpets of wildflowers beneath large oaks and hickories, sinkholes, and interesting rock outcroppings. Join naturalist Gillian Harris and Tom Swinford, ecologist and Land Preservation Director for Sycamore Land Trust, for a 2 ½-hour MODERATE hike.
Limited to 20 people; registration required by 12 p.m. on April 24 at tinyurl.com/2025foray
Meeting Location: Ivy Tech Bloomington, SW corner of south lot (caravan/carpool to hike start)
𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝗚𝗮𝗽 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆

Join naturalist David Mow in a 3-hour RUGGED hike (about 2 miles) exploring Morgan-Monroe State Forest. The off-trail route will follow the creeks, skirting the Low Gap Nature Preserve. There are several creek crossings, so appropriate footwear is a must.
Meeting Location: Morgan-Monroe State Forest, Backcountry Area Parking Lot on Low Gap Road
𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
Explore the Hayes Trail in the Deam Wilderness with Biological Science Technician Jason Isbell and Hoosier National Forest Interpreter Summer McDuffee. Bring snacks and water for this 4-hour RUGGED hike.
Limited to 8 people; registration required by 12 p.m. on April 24 at tinyurl.com/2025foray
Meeting Location: Paynetown SRA, Main Office - park behind building (caravan/carpool to hike start)
𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿
Join Brown County State Park’s naturalist, Eli Major, for a 1-hour EASY and ADA accessible walk along Salt Creek. Identify wildflowers and plants, as we discuss streamside ecology and land management. Learn about the Salt Creek Trail and its future – which will connect Nashville with Brown County State Park.
Meeting Location: Brown County YMCA, parking lot
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𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀!
April 17 (9:30 a.m.): Wildflower Botany for Beginner VIRTUAL WORKSHOP with Monroe Lake, info at tinyurl.com/botany-virtual-2025 (advance registration required, $5 per person)
April 26: Building Tour (10:15 a.m., $6-$11/person), Arts of the Earth Day (12–4 p.m., FREE), and Teddy Bears’ Picnic (1-2 p.m., $4/child, limited to 20) at T.C. Steele State Historic State. Info and registration at indianamuseum.org/programs/arts-of-the-earth-day-teddy-bears-picnic
May 7 (9:30 a.m.): Flora Field Day at Monroe Lake (repeats first Wed. of each month through Oct.); practice wildflower ID skills with a naturalist (advance registration required, free), info at bit.ly/monroelakecalendar
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𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲!
Mary Damm, Andrea deTarnowsky, Gillian Harris, Jason Isbell, Eli Major, Summer McDuffee, Cathy Meyer, David Mow, Jill Vance, Cate Whetzel, and Kay Yatskievych