|Schedule|BotanyBlitz|Opening & Closing Mtgs.|

Join with other nature lovers, families, citizen scientists, amateur naturalists, and professional botanists, from across the Commonwealth, as we explore the beauty and diversity of our native plant communities in April in Kentucky.

For over 30 the Kentucky Native Plant Society, in partnership with Natural Bridge State Resort Park, has held a Wildflower Weekend at the park, offering wildflower hikes, exploring the region’s rich natural history and resources in the state park and the Red River Gorge, as well as evening presentations. Last year, due to COVID-19, we were forced to cancel Wildflower Weekend for the first time ever.

This year, with the pandemic still disrupting in-person activities, KNPS will host a virtual Wildflower Week! This will include virtual events from April 10th through April 17th, including a week-long, statewide BotanyBlitz on iNaturalist. This is an opportunity to broaden our spring wildflower scope to the entire state of Kentucky and allow us to highlight natural areas across the state! In addition to the BotanyBlitz we will have virtual field trips, led by naturalists from around the state, online workshops, and webinars.

New events and activities are being added to the Wildflower Week Schedule (see below) on a regular basis. Bookmark this page and check back often.

BotanyBlitz 2021 on iNaturalist

The centerpiece of our Wildflower Week activities will be our week long BotanyBlitz. From Saturday, April 10, through Saturday, April 17, we are encouraging everyone to visit parks and natural areas throughout the Commonwealth, find and photograph native plants (with a focus on those in bloom), and upload them to our BotanyBlitz project.

Besides the KNPS BotanyBlitz, several other natural areas in KY are having BotanyBlitzes during the week. Any observations made in those locations during Wildflower Week will show up in those projects. If the observer has joined the KNPS BotanyBlitz, the observation will show up in both places. Here are links to those projects.

Opening & Closing Sessions

The week will kick-off with an Opening Session on April 10, from 4PM to 7PM EDT, and will end with a Closing Session on April 17, from 4PM to 7PM EDT. These Zoom meetings will give a preview of the week to come and will wrap up the week’s events. Follow this link for more information and to register: Wildflower Week 2021 – Opening and Closing Sessions.

Virtual Hikes, Fieldtrips, and Garden Tours

Active trips

There will be several virtual hikes and fieldtrips, conducted by knowledgeable botanists and naturalists around the state. Links to these will be included here as the videos are posted.

Sat. April 10th

Ferns of Anglin Falls – Join Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves botanist Rachel Cook on a virtual hike through John B. Stephenson Memorial Forest State Nature Preserve. While this Preserve is known for its beauty, Anglin Falls, it also has a great diversity of ferns with 32 species!

Betty Hall’s Native Garden Tour – Join Betty Hall as she gives a virtual tour of her native garden.

Sun. April 11th

Wildflowers of Cove Springs Park – Join Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves botanist and Lichenologist Kendall McDonald as she explores what spring ephemerals are blooming at Cove Springs Park in Frankfort, KY.

Native Plant Garden Tour – Katrina Kelly, Owner of EARTHeim Landscape Design, will give us a tour of some of the native spring ephemerals blooming in her garden in Lexington.

Mon. April 12th

Spring Flora of Glades and Barrens at Embry Lay – Join Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves botanist Tony Romano for a tour of spring flowers and flora in a rare glade and barrens habitat complex. We’ll explore plants adapted to thin soils, fires, and grassland openings.

Ephemeral Wildflowers…Gems of the Forest! – Learn about Kentucky’s fleeting beauties – ephemeral wildflowers, with Nikki Nivison, Conservation Educator with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources at the Salato Wildlife Center in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Tues. April 13th

Trilliums of Kentucky – Trilliums are an unforgettable genus of spring wildflowers with their three leaves, petals and sepals, habitat preferences, interesting floriferous smells, and pollination and seed dispersal strategies. Join Tara Littlefield and family as they explore Kentucky’s Trillium diversity across Kentucky.

Spring Wildflowers of Clay Hill Memorial Forest – Clay Hill Memorial Forest is a 325 acre nature preserve and home to a myriad of Kentucy native spring wildflowers. With over five miles of trails, we are open to the public from dawn until dusk. The Trout Lily trail was named because of the numerous trout lilies that cover the forest floor including the steps along the way. To catch Trout Lily trail at the peak of the blooming season is an awesome sight.

Spring Wildflowers of St. Anne Woods & Wetlands – Dr. Rick Boyce from Northern Kentucky University’s Research & Education Field Station takes us on a tour of the wildflowers in bloom at St. Anne’s Woods & Wetlands in Campbell County. Renowned ecologist Lucy Braun described this natural area in 1916 as “the best depression forest on the Ohio River floodplain.” 

Wed. April 14th

Wildflowers of Indian Creek in the Red River Gorge – David Taylor with US Forest Service takes us on a guided hike along Indian Creek Road in the Red River Gorge. David will cover wildflowers, ferns, and some invasive species to look out for! He’ll also highlight a few upland ridgetop wildflowers of interest.

Native Garden Tour at UK Arboretum – Join horticulturist Jesse Dahl from The Arboretum and State Botanical Garden of Kentucky in Lexington on a tour of their native flowers in bloom.

Thur. April 15th

Wildflowers of Lily Mountain – Join Heidi Braunreiter and Vanessa V. with Kentucky Nature Preserves to learn about what’s blooming at this Heritage Land Conservation Site in Estill County. Vanessa will cover an in depth look at the violets and Heidi will take you on a guided hike along the trail.

On the Ground with Eric Comley, Garrard County 4-H Youth Development, Monotropsis odorata – Join Eric Comley in the woods, and learn all about the elusive Sweet Pinesap (Monotropsis odorata), a rare plant in the commonwealth of Kentucky. Many spring wildflowers can be quickly spotted by their bright, colorful, and conspicuous floral displays, but you may find it’s easier to detect this small and discreetly camouflaged species with your nose!

Fri. April 16th

Rare Treasures of Jeffery’s Cliffs Conservation & Recreation Area – Join KNP Botanist Devin Rogers on his big finds surveying Jeffery’s Cliffs at a KHLCF site in Shawnee Hills region in Kentucky.

Virtual hike to Natural Bridge – Samantha Evans, NBSRP Park Naturalist
See what’s blooming at Natural Bridge State Resort Park along the Original Trail with park naturalist Sammy Evans.

Sat. April 17th

Family Wildflower Hike in the Red River Basin – Join Dan and Judy Dourson’s grandchildren for a virtual wildflower walk in the Red River Basin. You will see many common wildflowers seen in early spring in the bottom lands, flowers found on ridge tops, along with some surprise organisms!

Neat Flora of Dry Outcrops and Woodlands in the Kentucky River Valley – Cedar, ash, oaks, and honeysuckle aren’t the only things inhabiting the dry, rocky, steep habitats above the Kentucky River. Join Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves botanist Devin Rodgers for a tour of some of the neat flora adapted to these sunny, erodible, rugged, beautiful places.

Workshops & Webinars

Wed. April 14, 5:30pm-8:30pm EDT Botanical Drawing (Flower Portraits in Pencil) Workshop – Amy Tipton

Fri., April 17 – Michaela Rogers with Kentucky Division of Fish and Wildlife Resources will give a presentation on Kentucky Wild and some of the wildflower pollinator plantings that have been put in through this program.

Parks & Natural Areas with Wildflower Week Activities

Several KY parks and natural areas are having local activities in conjunction with Wildflower Week

Sat. April 10, 9AM – 2:30PM, CDT – Wildflower Extravaganza
John James Audubon State Park – Lisa Hoffman, Park Naturalist
Head for John James Audubon State Park for the annual Wildflower Extravaganza on April 10, 2021! Join our naturalist for some free leisurely hikes in and around our woods as we try to identify as many wildflowers as possible. Some traditional Native American and early Pioneer uses and folklore about the plants will be shared. Spaces are limited for each walk, so please register with our naturalist, at lisa.hoffman@ky.gov. Facial masks will be required. Walks may be cancelled for rainy conditions.

Sat. April 10, 10AM- 11AM EST, Nick and Ted’s Big Botany Adventure
Taylor Fork Ecological Area, Richmond
Join Nick Koenig and Ted Brancheau, students of Eastern Kentucky University, at Taylor Fork Ecological Area in Richmond to learn about spring wildflowers, how to identify them, and how they relate to early successional habitat. Pre-registration required: https://naturalareas.eku.edu/insidelook/spring-nature-exploration-series
If unable to attend in person, portions of the hike will be filmed and a link to the video will be posted later on in Wildflower Week.

Tues., April 13, 7PM, EDT Wildflower Trivia Night on Zoom
The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky
As a part of Wildflower Week, The Arboretum will host a wildflower-themed trivia night on Tuesday April 13 at 7:00 p.m. This “ephemeral” event will take place on Zoom so you can join us from the comfort of your own couch! You and your team will be quizzed on Kentucky native wildflowers, botany, and flower-inspired pop culture. Don’t be intimidated if you are not an expert! All plant lovers, regardless of their knowledge level, are guaranteed to have fun and be challenged. Pre-registration is required as space is limited! Please call (859) 257-9339 or send an email to Arboretum@uky.edu with your name, email address and phone number. Register with a friend to be on the same team or register by yourself and meet some new friends who also love plants!

Sat. April 10 – Sat. April 17 – 2021 Botany Blitz – Olmstead Parks Conservancy
A Botany Blitz is a plant-focused community celebration of biodiversity. Sometimes these events are called BioBlitzes and may also focus on insects, fungi, salamanders, and the like, but this year’s event is focused on springtime wildflowers and other newly emerging plants. Using the iNaturalist app, citizen scientists from across the state of Kentucky can record observations about the natural world around them. This family friendly exercise helps teach plant identification, appreciation for nature, and awareness of the intricacies of the early spring forest ecosystem. This is also a great way to learn and acknowledge the many years of work OPC’s volunteers and Team for Healthy Parks have spent rehabilitating the woodlands in our parks.

Click on image to download your list

Wildflower Scavenger Hunt at the Fulling Mill Waterfall – Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
Go on a hike at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and try to find all the wildflowers! Along the Shawnee Trail, you will traverse woodlands and prairies on your way to see the The Fulling Mill waterfall, the most photographed waterfall at Shaker Village. Use iNaturalist to check off all the species on this list. Join the “The Biodiversity of Shaker Village” iNat project and access the “Wildflowers of the Preserve at Shaker Village” guide to ID more flowers! Please stay on the trail and never, ever pick a wildflower.

Wildflower Week Schedule

The week will be filled with events and activities. Here is a glance at the week’s schedule.

Sat 4/10

Sun 4/11
  • BotanyBlitz 2021 Continues
  • Virtual Fieldtrip – Wildflowers of Cove Springs Park – Join Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves botanist and Lichenologist Kendall McDonald as she explores what spring ephemerals are blooming at Cove Springs Park in Frankfort, KY.
  • Virtual Fieldtrip – Native Plant Garden Tour – Katrina Kelly, Owner of EARTHeim Landscape Design, will give us a tour of some of the native spring ephemerals blooming in her garden in Lexington.

Mon 4/12
Tue 4/13
  • BotanyBlitz 2021 Continues
  • Virtual Fieldtrip – Trilliums of Kentucky – Trilliums are an unforgettable genus of spring wildflowers with their three leaves, petals and sepals, habitat preferences, interesting floriferous smells, and pollination and seed dispersal strategies. Join Tara Littlefield and family as they explore Kentucky’s Trillium diversity across Kentucky
  • Virtual Fieldtrip – Spring Wildflowers of Clay Hill Memorial Forest – Clay Hill Memorial Forest is a 325 acre nature preserve and home to a myriad of Kentucy native spring wildflowers. With over five miles of trails, we are open to the public from dawn until dusk. The Trout Lily trail was named because of the numerous trout lilies that cover the forest floor including the steps along the way. To catch Trout Lily trail at the peak of the blooming season is an awesome sight.
  • Virtual Fieldtrip – Spring Wildflowers of St. Anne Woods & Wetlands – Dr. Rick Boyce from Northern Kentucky University’s Research & Education Field Station takes us on a tour of the wildflowers in bloom at St. Anne’s Woods & Wetlands in Campbell County.
  • Wildflower Trivia Night on Zoom – Tuesday, April 13 at 7 p.m. – The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky
    As a part of Wildflower Week, The Arboretum will host a wildflower-themed trivia night on Tuesday April 13 at 7:00 p.m. This “ephemeral” event will take place on Zoom so you can join us from the comfort of your own couch! You and your team will be quizzed on Kentucky native wildflowers, botany, and flower-inspired pop culture. Don’t be intimidated if you are not an expert! All plant lovers, regardless of their knowledge level, are guaranteed to have fun and be challenged. Pre-registration required as space is limited! Please call (859) 257-9339 or send an email to Arboretum@uky.edu with your name, email address and phone number. Register with a friend to be on the same team or register by yourself and meet some new friends who also love plants!
Wed 4/14
Thu 4/15
Fri 4/16
Sat 4/17