Spiders are one of the most diverse groups of terrestrial invertebrates yet most people only seem to know of black widows, brown recluses, and wolf spiders. This workshop is designed to introduce you to the great diversity in spider forms and behaviors and train you to identify some of the common families of spiders.
Learn the basics of tree identification and how to record your observations using two different apps.
Over 100 species of woody plants grow in the woodlands and forests of Floracliff. On this hike, we’ll learn to identify both common and unusual species that live along the banks of Elk Lick Creek.
Apart from the major trees in our forests, smaller woody plants add greatly to the diversity of our ecosystems. We can use the same skills and field characters that are used to identify the oaks, maples, and other major trees, and apply them to learning the many understory woody plants that add to the complexity of our native vegetation. Understory shrubs and small trees can also help us understand a site’s soil characteristics and disturbance history. This workshop will include a morning hike at Floracliff and an afternoon hike in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Enjoy a full hour immersed in a select location of Floracliff with some of our favorite trees. Starting 2 hours before sunset, this program offers the opportunity to slow down, connect to nature, and disconnect from electronic devices while sketching, journaling, or meditating.
Join us for our annual fall long hike. This hike will cover about 5 miles and will feature the Kentucky River, Elk Lick Falls, Elk Lick Creek, and the oldest documented tree in Fayette County.
End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. We will hike down to the Kentucky River, taking in the early evening sunlight shining through the trees and reflecting off the palisade cliffs.
The remarkable topography at Floracliff and Elk Lick Falls is the result of a series of geological events beginning some 400 million years ago with the epicontinental seas of the Ordovician Age. More recently the Kentucky River fault zone, the continental glaciers of the Pleistocene Ice Age, and the evolution of the Ohio River all have had their effects on Floracliff scenery. We will explore the remnants of the seas that covered the area and the rich marine fauna that lived then as well as the evidence for distant volcanoes during that time. With a visit to the falls and to the Kentucky River Gorge we will explore the reasons for their existence. Along the way we will see the effects of the Kentucky River Fault, estimate its immense vertical displacement and see evidence for the river's former existence as a meandering stream over 300 feet above its present position.
This hike will cover about 5 miles and will feature Trail’s End, the Kentucky River, Elk Lick Falls, Elk Lick Creek, and the oldest documented tree in Fayette County.
If you are considering birdwatching as a new hobby, wintertime is a great time to start. We will cover winter birds of the forest and backyard and provide information on how to participate in one of the longest running citizen science programs.
Winter is a great time to enjoy the view of the Kentucky River Palisades. Join us as we descend 300' from the uplands of Floracliff along the old road to the Kentucky River floodplain. We'll walk through river bottoms where farmers once grew corn, tobacco, and hemp, visit a large pawpaw patch, and see the old house that was built after another washed away in the flood of 1937.
Join us for a hike along the Floracliff uplands and down to the junction of Evan's Branch and Elk Lick Creek. Depending on the water level, we may cross the creek for a longer hike. Along the way we'll keep an eye out for birds and learn a bit of natural history.
Enjoy two hours at the charming Trail's End Lodge and adjacent grounds to write, create, or meditate. This program offers the opportunity to slow down, connect to nature, and disconnect from electronic devices. We'll provide hot tea and a warm fire. At the end of the program, participants will have a chance to share as much or as little as they want.
Join J&H Lanmark and Floracliff for an afternoon outing celebrating friendship and the love you have for your lady friends. Take a hike with your gal pals and enjoy some much needed time in the forest on this day of ladies celebrating ladies. Thanks to J&H Lanmark, you’ll have a chance to win some great outdoor swag!
Trees reveal distinctive clues to their identities in every season. Join arborist and naturalist, Nathan Skinner, to learn how to identify trees in winter by observing bark, buds, and leaf scars.
The earliest of spring wildflowers may be peeping out from under the leaves for this late winter hike. Join us as we explore a few of Vicki's favorite trails and celebrate the signs of the season.
This hike will feature the Kentucky River, Elk Lick Falls, Elk Lick Creek, and trees dating to the 1600s. We may even see some early spring wildflowers such as hepatica, purple cress, and snow trillium.
Instructor: Dr. Neil Pederson
Tree rings provide precise annual and seasonal information on climate, ecology, and competition over several centuries. In this dendro-ecology workshop, participants will learn the methods that tree ring scientists use to learn the language of trees. By the end of the day, participants will learn how to interpret the information we get from tree rings over the long lives of trees and have experience coring a tree.
End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. Starting two hours before sunset, this hike will feature Elk Lick Falls and the oldest documented chinkapin oak in Kentucky.
This wildflower hike will cover natural history, folklore, pollinator relationships, and other information about some of our early spring ephemerals.
Learn to identify some of our earliest spring ephemeral wildflowers. Along the way we will discuss natural history, pollinator relationships, and more.
The Kentucky River Palisade cliffs provide a stunning backdrop for spring wildflowers as well as a microclimate. Join us in observing the variety of wildflowers blooming and the change in species composition as we descend 300ft in elevation from the Floracliff uplands to the Kentucky River floodplain.
This wildflower hike will cover natural history, folklore, pollinator relationships, and other information about some of our early spring ephemerals.
Celebrate spring's beauty and explore some of the connections between spring wildflowers, their habitats, and us.
This wildflower hike will cover natural history, folklore, pollinator relationships, and other information about some of our spring ephemerals.
Learn to identify some of our spring ephemeral wildflowers. Along the way we will discuss natural history, pollinator relationships, and more.
This wildflower hike will cover natural history, folklore, pollinator relationships, and other information about some of our spring ephemerals.
End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. We will hike down to the Kentucky River, taking in the early evening sunlight shining through the trees and reflecting off the palisade cliffs.
This wildflower hike will cover natural history, folklore, pollinator relationships, and other information about some of our spring ephemerals.
Experience Floracliff in full bloom! Join us for a rare opportunity to view the abundance of spring ephemeral wildflowers on display throughout the sanctuary.
Experience Floracliff in full bloom! Join us for a rare opportunity to view the abundance of spring ephemeral wildflowers on display throughout the sanctuary.
Enjoy a full hour immersed in the sights and sounds of Elk Lick Falls to write, create, or meditate. This program offers the opportunity to slow down, connect to nature, and disconnect from electronic devices.
Join us for this May 1st hike to enjoy the remaining ephemeral wildflowers and celebrate the changing season.
Accomplished birder and Shaker Village Preserve Manager, Ben Leffew, will lead this hike featuring the diversity of birds that use the forests of the Kentucky River Palisades. Ben will teach participants to identify birds by sight, sound, behavior, and habitat. This program takes place during peak migration and will prepare participants who may be interested in Global Big Day and other citizen science birding programs.
Put on your Citizen Scientist hat and join us in counting and identifying birds at Floracliff.
Zeb Weese, Executive Director of the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, will lead this program for all ages to find some of our native frogs, snakes, salamanders, and turtles in the various habitats of Floracliff, including ponds, fields, and streams.
End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. Starting two hours before sunset, this hike will feature Elk Lick Falls and the oldest documented chinkapin oak in Kentucky.
Our native frogs and toads breed in shallow waters during Spring and the evenings are a great time to get close-up views of them. During this program, we will visit the ponds near the nature center to inspect the frog activity. We expect to find Cope’s gray treefrogs and possibly a few others. All visitors need to bring a flashlight and wear close-toed shoes.
With close to 150 species in this genus found in Kentucky, the diversity of sedges (Carex) is astounding and they can tell us a lot about the natural communities upon which they are found. Join OKNP botanists Devin Rodgers and Tara Littlefield on a hike to learn some of the most common sedges found in the Bluegrass.
With a commitment to conservation and a curiosity about the natural world, our volunteers offer a unique perspective of Floracliff. In 2020, these dedicated volunteers are leading a series of afternoon hikes, highlighting the trails and terrain that they care for at Floracliff.
