Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park's Spring Photography Weekend Results

Best in Show 2013 Jessica Evitts of Beechmont, Kentucky

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park hosted their Spring Photography Weekend on April 19-21, 2013.  To see the rest of the contest winners click here.

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park also hosts a Fall Photography Weekend.  It will be held October 18-20, 2013. Online registration is available at https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/Parks/photography For more information about Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park's Photography Weekends call 1-800-325-1711 or click here to email the naturalist.

WILDFLOWERS: Pine Mountain SRP - April 23

Large-flowered Trillium

At Pine Mountain State Resort Park near Pineville, wildflowers continue to emerge as early season sun warms the spring woodlands.

This week's colorful display includes long-spurred violet, sweet white violet, halberd-leaved yellow violet, downy wood violet, blue violet, trailing arbutus, erect trillium, large-flowered trillium, yellow trillium, rue anemone, hairy buttercup, large-flowered bellwort, pennywort, violet wood-sorrel, blue phlox, Jacob's ladder, purple phacelia, Virginia bluebells, foamflower, stonecrop, wood vetch, wood betony, Canada violet, arrow-leaved violet, bird foot violet, golden ragwort, wild ginger and little brown jug.

In addition, lush ferns are everywhere in abundance and orchid greenery can also be observed. Among them are cranefly orchid, putty-root orchid, and rattlesnake plantain.  The silvery-green foliage of Pink Lady's Slipper has also slipped above the leaf litter.

Redbuds and dogwoods are now in full flower across the region making for spectacular spring sightseeing drives. The Cumberland Gap Parkway (Highway 25E), from Corbin to Middlesboro, is particularly lovely at this time.

Colors and sounds at Lake Barkley SRP

Pink Dogwoods in bloom around Lake Barkley lodge

This week has been a great one to get out and enjoy the sights and sounds at Lake Barkley.  The weather has been warm and the colors vibrant.  Dogwoods (including the pink ones around the lodge), redbuds and an abundance of wildflowers are colorful now.  Wildflowers in bloom include Rue Anemone, Cut-leaf Toothwort, Blue Phlox, Pennywort, bluets, Prairie Trillium, and a variety of violet species.  The Mayapple leaves have also popped up on the forest floor creating a nice green covering.

The birds have been singing up a storm this week too.  I heard an Orchard Oriole singing just outside the front desk a few days ago, and Wood Thrushes can be heard in the campground and around the cottages.  Yellow-throated Warblers, Northern Parulas, Chipping Sparrows, vireos, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers continue to be abundant around the park and can be heard near the lodge.  Prothonotary Warblers, Purple Martins, and Chimney Swifts have also returned to Lake Barkley.

If you would like to see and hear the warblers and returning migrants in western Kentucky, then join Lake Barkley and Land Between The Lakes NRA for Birding on Barkley on May 11th.  Experienced guides will take you to hot spots around Lake Barkley and Land Between The Lakes. More information can be found here

Red Hatter's Unite!!

When Red Hatter's Attack!

Fun after fifty. I like this whole thought process. Now I'm not quite there yet but none-the-less I can really embrace this concept. Having grown up in the park system I had the great fortune of interacting with many, many senior groups over the years. Some of the most interesting, amusing and just plain fun people I have ever met have been part of my senior groups I've worked with over the years. As a child, I would accompany my father to his programs and watch him tell stories and socialize with his seniors.

Serious gaming

For anyone who runs around with this sort of crowd you will know what I'm talking about when I say "penny in the pot." A simple card game that I decided to participate in one time. I couldn't have been more than 8 or 9 years old at the time, but this group encouraged me to bring down my hard earned piggy bank and join in. So I brought down my giant green Crayola piggy bank that I had put every spare coin in that I could find during those early years of my childhood. It was full to the brim with penny's. I can remember sitting down at the table. Almost like some greenhorn cowpoke sitting down to his first real hand of poker as I slide my bank in to view. Now don't get me wrong, the group I began playing with were the kindest, most patient people one could hope for. However, after about an hour or so my filled to the brim Crayola piggy bank began to take quite a hit. So much so that I decided that if I wanted to keep what little silver I had in there, I should probably retreat while I had the chance. So retreat I did, along with the $1.37 that was left in my bank. They had cleaned me out. I still tell that story to what groups I work with now days. I don't think they believe me when I tell it but it's no matter.  I'll never forget the great penny-in-the-pot incident of 1984, that and the 1984 Summer Olympics. Mary Lou Retton stole my heart that year.

Anyway, I digress. The past several years we've had the privilege to host a Red Hat Day celebration for many of the Red Hat groups in our region. you want to see people have a good time, stick your head in the Arlington room during this event and you will see some fun loving ladies. We've had scavenger hunts, homemade hat competitions, and I think most enjoyably, a live band last year. It's a chance for these ladies to meet others in the area who like to get together and have some fun, as well as get dressed up and maybe even cut a rug. (Seeing a mamba line of 30 red hatter's all decked out is a sight to behold.) But at the heart of it is the most important thing....having fun, and more importantly for everyone, having fun at a Kentucky state park.

For more information on this years Red Hat Day April 25th, check out this LINK. or can email me HERE.

Spring Wildflower Season is Underway at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

Wild Geranium

While on your way to Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park you will notice Eastern Redbud trees in full bloom on the roadsides.  Flowering Dogwoods are also beginning to bloom.

On the Clifty Creek Trail the following species of wildflowers were found blooming: Virginia Bluebells, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Spring Beauty, Small Flowered Bluets, Early Saxifrage, Violet Wood Sorrel, Rue Anemone, Violet sp., Cut-leaf Toothwort, Prairie Trillium  Blue Phlox, Bluets, Star Chickweed, Buttercup sp., Ragwort, and Wild Geranium.

Wildlife seen and heard while on the trail include: Yellow-shafted Flicker, Eastern Bluebird,

Nature's Spring Delicacy

In early to mid April depending on the spring temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine many Kentucky natives hit the woods in search of a spring delicacy that has been enjoyed for generations, the morel mushroom.  The morel mushroom is a sought after delight by many not just by those from Kentucky, it is featured on many cooking shows which boast its delicious flavor.

 

 There are several names morel mushrooms are known by such as:  dry land fish, johnny jump ups, and many more.  The morel is found in wooded areas in the eastern United States around tulip poplar trees, white ash,white pine, elm, sycamore, and apple trees.  After a good spring rain when temperatures range in the mid 60s to 70s, and the sun pops out...the morels
" POP UP"!

Morels can be difficult to see due to the camouflaging affect with the winters leaf coverage on the forest floor yet they do have very distinctive features.  Seasoned eagle eyed morel hunters seem to have an astute radar for locating the hard to see rascals. It takes a dedicated hunter to find these tasty delights.

Like all mushroom hunting and eating you must be very careful because there are impostures that can be deadly.  The morel, while unlike most mushrooms,  even with its distinctive characteristics you still must use caution  because there are "fake morels".


 

 All true morels must have hollow stems from the bottom to top of the inside of the mushroom.  When you slice a morel in half it should be hollow just like the picture.

The fake morels have lumpy almost brain like shapes which is not typical of a morel. They also do not have a hollow stem, they have a cottony fibrous stem.   If you look at the stem of the fake morel you can see it has almost a white pithy inside which is a big indicator that you have a fake morel and can be very dangerous if eaten.

Your state parks welcome you to visit and try to find a morel mushroom in the wild.  Observation is welcomed,  but please remember that what is on the park...stays on the park.  We want our guests to have a positive experience learning more about the natural wonders that fill our parks, so look but do not touch!  Happy hunting!  





Written by:  Kathy Myers

International Migratory Bird Day and Earth Day Service Projects at Breaks Interstate Park

Cedar Waxwing (photo courtesy of Prof. Thomas Barnes)

Breaks Park will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) and Earth Day on April 20 with special programming, community service, and conservation activities planned throughout the day.

Birding events will begin at 8 am with a Birding Field Trip led by local birding enthusiast David Raines. The trip will begin at the Park Visitor Center, and participants will drive to a number of different areas throughout the park in search of a variety of birds.

At 6 pm, a special Birds of Prey program will be hosted by Mitch Whitaker, of the Letcher County Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Raptor Rehabilitation Program. Whitaker will have a live demonstration with an assortment of rehabilitated hawks and owls. This event will be held in the park amphitheater.

Finally, at 9 pm, Park Naturalist Jayd Raines will lead an Owl Prowl, allowing participants the opportunity to call in wild owls. The Owl Prowl will begin at the Park Visitor Center.

Earth Day events include “Cache in, Trash Out” hosted by Chuck Ratliff at

11 am,

beginning at the Park Visitor Center. Participants will be involved in both geocaching, as well as trash clean up. Other community service and park clean-up opportunities will also be available throughout the day.

For more information about these events, or to participate in a clean-up activity, contact Jayd Raines at jraines@breakspark.com.

Birding on Barkley event - May 11th

Lake Barkley State Resort Park and Land Between The Lakes NRA are pleased to again present a wildlife viewing opportunity dedicated to birding.  Experience the peak of songbird migration, as our birding guides offer identification and viewing tips and help search out prothonotaries, parulas, and pewees.  Many non-breeding warblers venture along Lake Barkley at this time, so we will keep our binoculars ready for that special life lister.  Discover birding hot spots around Lake Barkley and Land Between The Lakes by joining us on one or both of our hot spot tours.  Tours are $10/person and depart at 8a.m. to explore the northern end of Land Between The Lakes, and 1p.m. to explore the southern end.  Tour sizes will be limited to allow the best viewing opportunities, so make your reservations early by calling 270-924-2020. 

In conjunction with Birding on Barkley, Lake Barkley will be hosting Birding and Beer, an evening of bird trivia, beer, and an opportunity to meet fellow birders.  Birders and non-birders will both enjoy this event as topics will range from bird ID to birds in sports. Bird related beers will also be available for purchase during this event.   This event is free to attend, but reservations are required.  Teams can be from 2 – 8 people and prizes will be awarded to the winning team, trivia starts at 7p.m. at Lake Barkley Lodge.  

General Butler Host Tech Adventure Camps

EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP CAMPS

GENERAL BUTLER STATE RESORT PARK

ALL ABOUT LEARNING(R)  & LEGO(R)

ALL ABOUT LEARNING ®

Classes utilize Science, Technology, Engineering,and Mathematics (STEM) concepts and 21st century educational skills of Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Collaboration, Agility and Adaptability, Curiosity and Imagination.

TECH ADVENTURE CAMP

(3) hours your child will attend camp with All About Learning Instructors
(8:00 am- 11:00 am) or (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm) to be held indoors at Butler Lodge Woodland Room.  Last hour (11:00 am - Noon) or (4:00- 5:00 pm)  General Butler’s Recreation Staff will expose campers to the really cool things to do on the park! 

Recreation Schedule 

 Monday:  Lodge Swimming Pool 
Tuesday:  Hike & Mini Golf
Wednesday:  Tye Dye Shirts
Thursday:  Recreation Activity of Choice

CAMP DATES

$145.95 per child/week Monday—Thursday

Spring Awakening at Lake Barkley

Redbuds stating to bloom at Lake Barkley 

It amazes me how quickly the forest can go from winter browns to spring greens.  In just a matter of 48 hours of warm weather the forest has awakened with the sounds of arriving migrants like Northern Parulas, Yellow-throated Warblers, Black and White Warblers, Black-throated Green Warblers, and Yellow-throated Vireos.  Gray Tree frogs have also added to the symphony of spring and can be heard calling around the park.  The trees have also begun to bud out and produce leaves, and the redbuds are finally blooming dotting the roadsides and under story with purple.

Pussytoes at Lake Barkley SRP

  The number of wildflowers has increased too and includes Spring Beauty, Bluets, Pussytoes, Sandwort, Pennywort, Rue Anemone, Birds Foot Violet, and purple, yellow, and white violets.

Sights and sounds from a walk through the woods

It finally feels like spring in western Kentucky and the sunshine seems to have awoke some of our early spring arrivals.  On a hike through the rolling hills of Lake Barkley State Resort Park yesterday I came across some of those arrivals.  Here is a quick list of the woodland flowers:

• Lots of Cut-leaf toothwort was blooming
• Trillium leaves have emerged from the leaf litter but haven’t yet bloomed
• A single blooming Rue Anemone
• A few Pennyworts blooming  
• May apple leaves have emerged
• Spring Beauty, Bluets, and Pussytoes continue to bloom

The forest was also alive with the sounds of singing birds.  At the start of my hike I was surprised to hear the low hoot of a Great Horned Owl.  Great Horned Owls are some of the earliest nesting birds in Kentucky usually starting to breed in December and January.  The Kentucky Environmental Education Projects (KEEP), activated their Osprey nest camera this year and to their surprise they found it was already occupied by a pair of Great Horned Owls and two young chicks.  

Two young Great Horned Owls from KEEP's nest camera

The chicks are quickly growing and it has been interesting to check in on them from time to time.  Great Horned Owls have a wide variety of prey items, and this pair has brought fish, coots, rabbits, and even a meadowlark home for dinner.  You can check out the nest camera  here, but check it out soon because it won’t be long before the young take flight.

Spring Arrivals at Lake Barkley

The sights and sounds of spring can be seen and heard around Lake Barkley this week.  The sun has been trying to get out from behind the clouds, but the plants and animals have spring fever (despite the winter-like temperatures)   Daffodils have been blooming for a few weeks now and Spring Beauty, Bluets, Pussy toes, and violets can be seen popping up here and there around the park.  

A few toothworts have been spotted on the park, but most were still closed up this morning. 

Cut-leaf Toothwort starting to bloom at Lake Barkley SRP

The morning the air was filled with singing Eastern Phoebes, Carolina Wrens, Blue jays and Eastern Bluebirds.  Hermit Thrushes also seem to be migrating through Western Kentucky this week and their flute like sound has been heard in the campground and around the cottages the last few days.  Cliff swallows have also returned to their nesting colony near the golf course.

A male and female Bluebird were seen staking their claim to a nest box near the lodge and two Canada Geese seem to be setting up shop on one of the islands off the west wing of the lodge.  Pelicans and juncos are still around but not for long as spring is here and they will soon be departing for their northern nesting grounds.

WILDFLOWERS: Pine Mountain SRP - April 3

Colt's Foot (Tussilago farfara)

As the park and mountain emerges from winter, long dormant flowering plants that slumbered beneath the fallen leaves and snow begin to stir.  It won't belong before warming soils will push the wildflowers above ground and the spring sun will draw their pastel petals forth like milk through a straw.

We're already seeing the first indications that a mountain spring has arrived; the flowering of serviceberry (Sarvis) and the emergence of colt's foot on shale banks at roadside.  They are accompanied by an assortment of violets, the humblest of wildflowers.

The botanical activity in the weeks ahead will be rapid-paced and nothing short of spectacular.  At the height of the season, it sometimes seems as if everything is trying to happen at the same time.  We invite you to visit Kentucky's mountainous, southeastern region.  Revel with us in the bustle and pageantry of an Appalachian spring.

Highlands Hike to Blanton Forest
Enjoy expanded adventure hiking within one of Pine Mountain’s most diverse ecological treasures.  A virtual time capsule, the 3,124-acre Blanton Forest is one of eastern America’s largest old-growth forests.  Total hiking distance is 5 miles.  Hiking boots are recommended.  Total field trip time is 8 hours.  To register, contact the park’s Guest Services Desk at (800) 325-1712 or (606) 337-3066 and mention the Blanton Forest hike.

Click on this link to visit the park's website:
http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/pine-mountain/default.aspx

Click on this link to visit the Naturalist's blog:
http://pine-mountain-naturalist.blogspot.com/

Tree Vandalism

How many times have you walked down one of the many state park trails and find this type vandalism on massive beech or hickory trees?  We see it much too often, huge gashes and carvings in the tree bark.

 The overall health of the forest depends on the care of the trees by humans and nature.  When people take sharp instruments and gouge into the sensitive bark of a tree it is about the same as carving on a person's skin.  Trees have no one to patch them up and treat the wounds so to speak, because that is essentially what they are...wounds. Once the tree has been carved, these wounds do not heal.  The scars remain until the tree dies.  These wounds leave the tree susceptible to numerous pathogens from insects to fungal infections, and various tree diseases.

The inner bark or "phloem" of the beech tree is very thin.  When the phloem is damaged from carving near the trunk of the tree it can alter the natural course of water uptake and nutrient supply from the tree to the root system, such as would accumulate and disperse through photosynthesis. Tree carving is a huge detriment to the overall health of trees.


  

Beech trees play a vital role in the ecosystems of our parks as well as  non park related forests.  They provide food and shelter for wildlife, plus the root systems help prevent soil erosion and  help keep natural land formations in tact.

The next time you are walking a nature trail at one of Kentucky's state parks take time to enjoy all the beautiful trees, but please if you must leave your mark, sign our guest book and keep our trees beautiful and alive.



Written by : Kathy Myers LCSRP Volunteer
Photos by:  Brooke Barenfanger LCSRP Volunteer