Flora-Quest

Hear ye! Hear ye! One of the most enjoyable botanical gatherings is open for registration. Flora-Quest is one of my favorite events. Below is the press release from my bud, The Weedpicker, Cheryl Harner.

Wildflower Enthusiasts Gather for Flora-Quest

Many of Ohio’s foremost botanists will be leading field trips the weekend of May 1-2, 2010 in the beautiful hills of Shawnee State Forest in southern Ohio. Flora-Quest is a botanical retreat geared towards learning, meeting like-minded people, and above all, appreciating the most spectacular flora in all of Ohio.

The rugged, hilly landscape and steep forested slopes are blanketed with an incredible array of flora. Botanically, Shawnee represents the northern most outposts for many Appalachian plants that one would otherwise have to go to the Great Smokey Mountains to find. Early May is peak for wildflowers, and the hills will be cloaked with trillium, over a dozen species of violets, native magnolias, wild azaleas, orchids and many more. As an added bonus, well over 100 species of birds occur in the forest in spring, including scores of our most colorful jewels like Scarlet Tanager, Hooded Warbler, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Bring your binoculars!

Guest speakers representing Ohio State Parks, The Nature Conservancy and the Ohio Heritage Botanists will highlight recent efforts for botanical conservation. Jenny Richards and Pete Whan know their subjects well, as they live within this region and are intimately familiar with the flora. Dr. Harvey Ballard will present an evening program on Violets, including Ohio’s arguably most beautiful and rare Bird-foot Violet, Viola pedata. Greg Schneider from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will also present on the fascinating work of the Ohio Heritage Botanists. A special FREE program Friday evening April 30th will preview the diversity of Shawnee State Park.

Bird-foot Violet, Viola pedata-photo by John Howard

There will be other bonuses, too, such as special evening field trips, vendors, and an optional trip to The Eulett Center and more. The center of activities will be the beautiful Shawnee Lodge and Resort, located in the heart of the forest. Take this opportunity to hike the newest properties in TNC’s Sunshine Corridor, visit a private preserve, improve your photography skills or kayak the Scioto Brush Creek. You will be amazed to discover the diversity in southern Ohio!

Please, visit the website at http://www.flora-quest.com/ for more information. Registration and complete trip descriptions are available on-line.

Flora-Quest 2009

I spent last weekend, May 1st-3rd, with a wonderful group of folks in Southern Ohio enjoying the botanical gems of Scioto and Adams county at the annual celebration called Flora-Quest. And what a quest it was! We saw so many rare plants it could make one's head spin. And we were hiking in some of the most beautiful areas around. No better way to spend a weekend!

The evening talks were very enjoyable. Veteran naturalist Paul Knoop gave a great introduction to the amazing plants and animals in the region, many that our group encountered the following day. Many people were awestruck by the gorgeous photography of Ian Adams. He got a standing ovation! And, I think anyone who had not visited the Ohio Govenor's Residence and Heritage Garden wanted to after Guy Denny's fascinating talk.

I co-led hikes with Rick Gardner for Gung-Ho Botany. What a blast! Here are some of the highlights from our trips.

A view from Coyote Hollow in Adams County.

Our group is checking out this huge tree at one of our stops. Yep, this is one honkin' big tulip tree and Rick Gardner a.k.a Rico Suave is next to it for size comparison. One can easily fit inside it.

Yellow Lady's Slippers, Cypripedium parviflorum, were crowd-pleasers. This particular one has a unique double bloom.

Horse-Gentian, Triosteum angustifolium, has two small yellow blossoms near the base of the plant. It is a member of the honeysuckle family.

Showy Orchis, Galearis spectabilis, a minute orchid that is not much more than 4 inches tall.



One of the many waterfalls at Coyote Hollow.


Hoary Puccoon, Lithospermum canescens, with its cheery yellow

blossoms was a plant once used to dye cloth.

Plants with the word "puccoon" associated with

them means they were used for dye.

The rare Resurrection Fern, Pleopeltis polypodioides. This plant

will wilt and look almost deadin dry periods only to quickly

"resurrect" with a good dose of moisture.

Another beauty, the Pink Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium acaule.

I love the rich, red color of Indian Paintbrush, Castilleja coccinea.



A Lilliputian wonder in the gentian family, Pennywort, Obolaria virginica. This one was only about two inches tall.

Spotted Mandarin, Disporum maculatum,

was a new plant for me.

Spotted Mandarin from another angle so one

can view the tiny purple spots.

One of the rarities everyone wanted to see, the

gorgeous Wherry's Catchfly, Silene caroliniana var. wherryi, a cousin to Firepinks.

The showstopper that was the grand finale' for

our Sunday trips, the Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata, was

in full bloom with its vibrant yellow and red

blossoms cascading down the cliff face. What a sight!

I had such a great time at Flora-Quest, enjoying nature with some truly wonderful folks. I hope to see many of you again next year!