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Webinar: Fantastic Fungi and Where to Find Them with Megan Buland

Come join us as we explore the fantastic world of fungi in this webinar.  We will discuss mushroom biology and ecology, and highlight the basics of how to identify different kinds of fungi.  Commonly found mushrooms of Kentucky will be featured, as well as discussion surrounding the many roles fungi can play in ecology and forest health, from the good, to the bad, to the downright creepy.  Just in time for fall rains and the mushrooms that accompany them, join us for an evening of fun fungi facts.  

$10

Private Guided Hike

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

In lieu of our regularly scheduled hikes and programs, we are currently offering limited private guided hikes at Floracliff on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Guided hikes are available for a group of 1-4 people for $40/ticket OR a group of 5-8 people for $80/ticket.

$40

Elk Lick Falls Hike

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Join us for a hike through the woods to Elk Lick Falls. We’ll spend about 45 minutes exploring and observing the surprises of Falls Branch below Elk Lick Creek. Use your smartphone or digital camera to share your observations on iNaturalist, or forget the technology and just enjoy the sights. Expect to hike about 1.5 - 2 miles total.

$10

Woods to Water Walk

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Join us for a hike through the woods to the creek. We'll spend about 45 minutes exploring and observing the surprises of Elk Lick Creek. Use your smartphone or digital camera to share your observations on iNaturalist, or forget the technology and just enjoy the sights. Expect to hike about 3 miles total.

$10

Webinar: Trees for Butterflies

When it comes to the ecological relationships between butterflies and plants, trees may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, trees play an important role for many butterflies - as host plants, nectar and sap sources, shelter, and habitat. Join Floracliff Preserve Director Beverly James for this webinar on how butterflies interact with trees throughout their lifecycle as well as the tree species that are most important to our native butterflies.

$10

Magic Hour Hike to Elk Lick Falls

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. Starting two hours before sunset, this 1.5-mile hike will head to Elk Lick Falls and feature the oldest documented chinkapin oak in Kentucky.

$10

Elk Lick Valley Exploration Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Join us for a hike through the woods to the creek. One hike will head to Elk Lick Falls and feature the oldest documented chinkapin oak in Kentucky. The other hike will feature Elk Lick Creek, the heart of the sanctuary. We’ll spend about 30 - 45 minutes exploring and observing the surprises of Elk Lick Creek or Falls Branch. Use your smartphone or digital camera to share your observations on iNaturalist, or forget the technology and just enjoy the sights.

$10

Autumn Magic Hour Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. Starting two hours before sunset, one hike will head to Elk Lick Falls and feature the oldest documented chinkapin oak in Kentucky. The other hike will feature the confluence of Elk Lick Creek and the Kentucky River. Each hike will be 1.5 - 2 miles in length.

$10

Autumn Magic Hour Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. Starting two hours before sunset, one hike will head to Elk Lick Falls and feature the oldest documented chinkapin oak in Kentucky. The other hike will feature the confluence of Elk Lick Creek and the Kentucky River. Each hike will be 1.5 - 2 miles in length.

$10

Elk Lick Valley Exploration Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Join us for a hike through the woods to the creek. One hike will head to Elk Lick Falls and feature the oldest documented chinkapin oak in Kentucky. The other hike will feature Elk Lick Creek, the heart of the sanctuary. We’ll spend about 30 - 45 minutes exploring and observing the surprises of Elk Lick Creek or Falls Branch. Use your smartphone or digital camera to share your observations on iNaturalist, or forget the technology and just enjoy the sights.

$10

Webinar: Native Peoples of the Bluegrass: From Hunter-gatherers to Farmers

For millennia, diverse native groups have called the rich Bluegrass region "home." Focusing on those resources - plants, animals, stone, clay, water - we review the dynamic human-environment interaction that began when humans arrived in the region at the end of the last ice age.

$10

Elk Lick Valley Exploration Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Join us for a hike through the woods to the creek. One hike will head to Elk Lick Falls and feature the oldest documented chinkapin oak in Kentucky. The other hike will feature Elk Lick Creek, the heart of the sanctuary. We’ll spend about 30 - 45 minutes exploring and observing the surprises of Elk Lick Creek or Falls Branch. Use your smartphone or digital camera to share your observations on iNaturalist, or forget the technology and just enjoy the sights.

$10

Webinar: Lichens 101

Join Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves botanist Kendall McDonald for this webinar on the wonderful world of lichens! Learn the basics of lichen anatomy, reproduction, and identification. A link to the webinar will be emailed to registrants about 24 hours before the event.

$10

Webinar: The Memories of Past Climate and the Gifts of Ecological Knowledge Engrained in the Rings of Trees

Presenter: Dr. Neil Pederson, Harvard Forest

Trees are witnesses of how our shared environment changes over time. The oldest trees, in fact, and perhaps not surprisingly, often have the best stories. In this webinar, Dr. Neil Pederson will share how people have learned to recognize and “interview” the eldest trees in the forest. Their stories can gives us insight on the dynamics of our world.

$10

Kentucky Nature Trivia: Bluegrass Biodiversity

Join Floracliff Nature Sanctuary and fellow nature lovers for a virtual trivia night. We will test your knowledge on our local trees, frogs, butterflies, and more!

Free

Webinar: Classifying Nature after Linnaeus: Charles Darwin’s Insight Changes the Conversation

Presented by: Rob Paratley, University of Kentucky
This webinar presented by Rob Paratley begins in 18th Century Sweden with botanist Carl Linnaeus, the so-called “Father of Taxonomy” (the science of classifying Nature). Linnaeus’ conversation with Nature, the How and What of Nature’s diversity, are with us yet today, but he and those that followed left unanswered the questions of Why. Why is Nature patterned the way that Linnaeus first saw? What causes natural groups? What does natural affinity actually mean? Religious men and creationists, the best they could do was to invoke the plan of the Deity. This changed forever with Darwin’s Great Taxonomic Insight. Rob will discuss how Darwin’s evolutionary thinking changed forever the way we converse with Nature.

$10

Hike: Signs of Spring Wildflower Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Join us for a hike to find the earliest spring wildflowers. One hike will head to the Kentucky River floodplain, while the other hike will look for the snow trilliums and feature Elk Lick Creek.

$10

Webinar: The Ecology of Spring Ephemerals

Presented by Beverly James, Preserve Director

As the days become longer and the temperatures begin to warm, the forest floor comes alive with spring wildflowers and the wildlife they attract. This webinar will guide you through the wildflower season at Floracliff, taking a closer look at the phenology, pollinator relationships, and natural history of our most treasured spring wildflowers.

$10

Hike: Early Spring Wildflower Hike

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Join us for a wildflower hike to Elk Lick Falls. Hopefully, we will see some of our earliest spring wildflowers, such as bloodroot, trout lilies, and spring beauties.

$10

Hike: Wildflower Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

By late March, our spring wildflower season should be in full swing. We will be offering two separate hikes to view wildflowers throughout the sanctuary.

$10

Hike: Wildflower Hike to Elk Lick Creek

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

This should be a good time to view a variety of early spring ephemerals at Floracliff. We hope to see sessile trillium, Virginia bluebells, yellow trout lilies, and many more.

$10

Wildflower Hike with Joyce Bender

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Celebrate spring’s beauty and explore some of the connections between spring wildflowers, their habitats, and us.

$10

Hike: Wildflower Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Join us for a wildflower hike during peak wildflower season. We will be offering two separate hikes to view wildflowers throughout the sanctuary. One hike will take our best wildflower trail and visit Elk Lick Creek. The other hike will head to Elk Lick Falls and Elk Lick Creek.

$10

Hike: Wildflower Hike to Elk Lick Creek

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

This hike will feature our best wildflower trail during peak wildflower season.

$10

Hike: Wildflower Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Peak wildflower season will continue for these hikes. We will be offering two separate hikes to view wildflowers throughout the sanctuary. One hike will take our best wildflower trail and visit Elk Lick Creek. The other hike will head to Elk Lick Falls and Elk Lick Creek. We hope to see dwarf larkspur, wood poppies, and more.

$10

Hikes: Magic Hour Wildflower Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. We will be offering two separate hikes to view wildflowers throughout the sanctuary as the early evening sunlight shines through the trees. One hike will feature Elk Lick Falls and the other hike will feature the Kentucky River.

$10

Hike: Wildflower Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Join us for a hike to see and enjoy Floracliff's wildflowers during their peak. We will be offering two separate hikes to view wildflowers throughout the sanctuary. One hike will take our best wildflower trail and visit Elk Lick Creek. The other hike will head to Elk Lick Falls and Elk Lick Creek. We hope to see bishop's cap, shooting star, Jacob's ladder and more.

$10

Webinar: The City Nature Challenge: A New Way to Discover Lexington

Presented by Beverly James, Preserve Director

The City Nature Challenge is a global 4-day community science project aimed at documenting nature in and around urban areas. Floracliff Nature Sanctuary is bringing the City Nature Challenge to Lexington for the first time in April. Learn more about the City Nature Challenge, how you can participate, and the value of finding and sharing observations of urban nature.

Free

Hikes: Earth Day Magic Hour Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

End your Earth Day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. We will be offering two separate hikes to view wildflowers throughout the sanctuary as the early evening sunlight shines through the trees. One hike will feature Elk Lick Falls and the other hike will feature the Kentucky River.

$10

City Nature Challenge 2021: Lexington

Floracliff is thrilled to bring the City Nature Challenge 2021 to Lexington. The City Nature Challenge is a global community science event that mobilizes urban residents and visitors to observe, document, and celebrate the wild plants, animals, and fungi in and around urban areas. This focused and collective effort increases our awareness and understanding of urban biodiversity around the world.

City Nature Challenge: Nighttime Exploration

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Calling all community scientists! This program will focus on exploring Floracliff's ponds and forest edges after dark for the City Nature Challenge. We’ll focus on discovering and documenting frogs, moths, and more. Each registered party must have at least one member who has, or can create, an iNaturalist account in advance of the program. Be prepared to photograph your findings and upload them to iNaturalist either during the program or by May 3rd.

Free

City Nature Challenge: Creek Exploration

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Calling all community scientists! This program will focus on exploring a section of one of our creeks to discover and document aquatic life for the City Nature Challenge. Each registered party must have at least one member who has, or can create, an iNaturalist account in advance of the program. Be prepared to photograph your findings and upload them to iNaturalist either during the program or by May 3rd.

Free

City Nature Challenge: Field and Forest Exploration

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Calling all community scientists! This program will focus on exploring an area of Floracliff known as Bird Hill for the City Nature Challenge. We'll focus on discovering and documenting birds, trees, wildflowers, butterflies, bees and more. Each registered party must have at least one member who has, or can create, an iNaturalist account in advance of the program. Be prepared to photograph your findings and upload them to iNaturalist either during the program or by May 3rd.

Free

Hike: Global Big Day Bird Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Put on your Community Scientist hat and join us in finding, counting and identifying birds at Floracliff.

$5

Hike: Creative Reflections at Elk Lick Creek

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Enjoy a full hour immersed in the sights and sounds of Elk Lick Creek to write, create, meditate, or just enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. This program offers the opportunity to slow down, connect to nature, and disconnect from electronic devices. At the end of the hike, participants will have a chance to share as much or as little as they like.

$10

Magic Hour Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. We will be offering two separate hikes through the sanctuary as the early evening sunlight shines through the trees. One hike will feature Elk Lick Falls and the other hike will feature the Kentucky River.

$10

Nighttime Exploration

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

This program will focus on exploring Floracliff’s ponds and forest edges after dark. We will visit the ponds near the nature center to inspect the frog activity and will have UV lights and sheets set-up to attract moths and other insects.

$10

Magic Hour Hikes

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

End your day with a quiet and relaxing “magic hour” hike at Floracliff. We will be offering two separate hikes through the sanctuary as the early evening sunlight shines through the trees. One hike will feature Elk Lick Falls and the other hike will feature the Kentucky River.

$10

Elk Lick Creek Walk

Floracliff Nature Sanctuary 8000 Elk Lick Falls Road, Lexington, KY, United States

Elk Lick Creek flows through the heart of Floracliff and provides habitat for a diversity of amphibians, reptiles, insects, fish, and more. Join Floracliff Naturalists on this trek along a scenic 1/2-mile section of of the creek to explore the biodiversity and take in the beauty of the area.

$10

Webinar: Butterflies of Central Kentucky: 
Identification, Diversity, & Ecology

Nearly 150 butterflies have been documented throughout Kentucky. This webinar presentation will feature over 45 of the most common summer butterflies in the Inner Bluegrass region. Participants will learn tricks for identification, basic biology of butterflies, and their relationships with native plants. We will also cover community science projects and resources so that participants can document and share their butterfly observations.

$10