Three days of rain didn't wash out 25th Wildflower Event

By Teena Ligman on Apr 4, 2010

The Indiana Wildflower Foray had its 25th anniversary this year during three days of thunderstorms and rain. The event still had hikers eager to come out and see the flowers.

The Wildflower Foray may be the longest running event the Hoosier National Forest has been a partner with. This milestone year included 26 different hikes or activities related to wildflowers over a three day period. It also included three days of almost continual rain. The hikes are scattered over Monroe and Brown Counties and include different types of areas known for unusual flowers, different perspectives such as one that focused on the subtle flowers of trees and shrubs, and even a few that include crafts or flower yoga.

The Hoosier National Forest sponsored a hike each of the three days. Kirk Larson and Teena Ligman led a hike on April 23rd to the Waldrip Cabin. Though Teena covered the history of the cabin and the farmsteads and fields in the area, she and Kirk also identified a plethora of wildflowers along the old road that meandered through the woods. Despite scattered showers and the threat of thunderstorms and tornados later in the evening, a hardy group of eight hikers showed up.

The next afternoon Kirk and Teena led a hike in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness. The Wild Hyacinth Hike is one of the longest running hikes in the Foray. A drenching hard rain before the hike ensured only the most hardy of hikers showed up. One woman had never hiked before. She'd called our office earlier and asked if she should bring an umbrella and what to wear - she said Cheri Stoops, our receptionist, was very patient with her and told her just what to wear and bring. She said she knew Teena so was sure that I wouldn't leave her in the woods. At the end, despite the rain soaking everyone to the skin, she was bubbling over with enthusiasm about what a great time she'd had and she and the others were asking when we would offer more wildflower hikes.

Sunday morning also saw the rain continuing in a continuous downpour but cars pulled up and people in raingear gathered for the 8-mile hike on the Hoosier's Pate Hollow Trail. Teena and Cathy Meyer explained this trail did not have as many wildflowers so would be a faster hike. One group of four said they'd come up from Floyd County. They worked together and after one of the woman had given up a pack-a-day cigarette habit cold-turkey three weeks ago they'd all launched on a healthier life style. They too had never hiked or been on the national forest. Despite the rain, the man took pictures of every new flower we came to. They asked innumerable questions about nature and the whole group enjoyed their enthusiasm. We were the noisiest group of wildflower forayers ever- with all the plastic rain suits one woman said we sounded like a herd of squeaky windshield wipers. With wet glasses it was sometimes hard to see the flowers, but the flowers were happy to have the rain, and we were happy to be outdoors sharing our love of nature with the public.

With each of the hikes a spring wildflower count is kept to monitor what flowers are found blooming each year, both native and nonnative. Though every hike is not done each year, the data base includes a valuable resource for plant's and their variability in blooming seasons as well as nonnative movement into Brown and Monroe County natural areas.