How to go
NATURE WALKS
When: 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Bull’s Run Arboretum, 3909 Rosedale Road at 2 p.m.; Armbruster Preserve, off of Manchester Avenue, at 4 p.m.
Cost: Free
SPRING WILDFLOWER HIKE
When: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Fort Ancient, 6123 Ohio 350, Oregonia
Cost: Adults, $6; ages 6-12, $4; seniors 65 and older, $5. Call (800) 283–8904 for more information.
Although rain during springtime can be a downer, people will have the opportunity to celebrate the fact that “April showers bring May flowers” at both the Spring Wildflower Hike at Fort Ancient and the Bull’s Run Wildflower Walk in Middletown.
The Bull’s Run Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum will host two spring interpretive wildflower walks on Sunday. The first walk will take place at 2 p.m. at the Bull’s Run Arboretum, 3909 Rosedale Road in Middletown.
The hour-long walk will be led by former naturalist Nancy Clark.
Debbie Grant, the president of the board of directors at Bull’s Run, said visitors should meet at the shelter for a stroll along the outer loop trail.
According to Grant, Bull’s Run is a hilly, 11-plus acre woodland park with a large variety of spring ephemerals.
During the walk, Clark will stop at several varieties of wildflowers and share information about its folklore and other points of interest.
“Each flower has its own story,” Grant said.
Clark said her explanations will entail some natural history about how the names of the flowers came about in addition to the why they’re blooming now rather than in the summer.
Some of the flowers guests should be able to see include trout -lily, Hepatica, Twinleaf, Bloodroot, Rue Anemone, Cut-leaved Toothwort, Sessile Trillium, Virginia Bluebells, Purple Cress, Dutchman’s Breeches, and Paw-Paws, Grant said.
“Its so hard to guess when the big show of spring wild flowers will be,” Grant said.
However, Clark said it is possible that one to two dozen different varieties of flowers will be visible by the time the walk takes place.
“I always look forward to what’s coming up in a spring,” Clark said of the flowers.
The second Wildflower walk will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday at Armbruster Nature Preserve on Autumn Drive, off Manchester Avenue.
That walk will be led by naturalist, Barb Reuss. Like Grant, Reuss will provide background information for many of the flowers during the walk. Grant said Armbruster Preserve, which is new, is a flat, 5-plus acre woodland park with a naturally occurring wildflower display.
According to Grant, Bull’s Run has a wider variety of flowers than Armbruster Preserve, but Armbruster Preserve has more flowers that are densely concentrated.
“Many spring wildflowers have a short blooming time with the scenery in the woods changing daily. Both parks are very unique and a beauty to behold,” Grant said.
Both walks are free and open to the public. Dog walkers are welcome to bring their dogs as long as they are on a leash.
In Warren County
The Spring Wildflower hike at Fort Ancient, will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Fort Ancient, 6123 Ohio 350.
The hike will be led by David Woehr, an Ohio Certified Naturalist and Fort Ancient volunteer.
During the 1-mile tour, which will take about 90 minutes, Woehr will discuss various flowers.
According to Jack Blosser, site manager at Fort Ancient, Woehr will talk about the growing season of the plants, what types of plants are out now, and what types of plants will bloom next.
He will also talk a little bit about the wildlife that is present in the area, Blosser said.
According to Blosser, Fort Ancient is the largest and best preserved prehistoric hilltop enclosure in the United States.
On Saturday, guests are expected to meet at 2 p.m. at the museum. They will then get in their vehicles and drive through the site to the starting point in the South Fort at the Earthworks Trail. After parking in the picnic area, guests will begin the walk from there.
Even if guests are not very knowledgeable about flowers, Blosser said they will still enjoy the tour.
“He’s gearing it toward the general public so he’s not going to be doing anything too fancy,” he said.
Blosser recommends guests wear boots, because the walk may be muddy.
“We’re excited because it’s the beginning of the new season,” Blosser said.
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