#Repost @indianapolisgardenclub We did it Indiana! April is officially Native Plant Month 2023 in Indiana. thegardenclubofamerica National Native Plant Month Initiative is the GCA’s nationwide, multidisciplinary, cross-committee collaboration to promote native plants by formally establishing a Native Plant Month in all fifty states by April 2023. What can you do? As you plan your spring landscaping and gardens, include native plants in all your beds! . indianadnr thegardenclubofamerica indiananativeplantsociety sicimcwma nature_indiana centralindianalandtrust weedwrangle parksalliancein newfieldstoday indiana_wildlife_federation kibiorg hollidayparkfoundation @[17841404114222632:amosbutleraudubonsociety] . . #aprilisnativeplantmonth #nativeplantmonth #plantnative #nativeplants #nativeplantmonthindiana #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #thegardenclubofamerica #gardencreateadvocate ( #📷 @indianapolisgardenclub ) March 31, 2023 Here's a #fungifriday mushroom we haven't featured yet: Puffballs! These were photographed one fall day at John Sunman's Woods. This nature preserve was transferred to @oakheritageconservancy, our partner land trust in southeast Indiana, several years ago. These type of "assist" projects enable the conservation community to protect and steward more land in cooperation. We are proud to work with our partners to preserve beautiful places like these. #fungifridays #lookdown #fungusamongus #puffball #naturepreserve #puffballs #johnsunmanswoods #puffballmushrooms #mushroom #fungi #fungus #natureindiana #landprotection #indiananature #mushroomsofinstagram #fungiofindiana #mushroomsofindiana #fungiofinstagram #naturalindiana #midwestnature #naturephotography #conservation #environment #centralindiana #landtrust #sustainability #naturelovers #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 31, 2023 Scenes from a Burnett Woods hike, April 2008. Wildflowers and wonder. Spring is a great time to visit this preserve! #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #ThrowbackThurs #takeawalkintheparkday #spring #wildflowerwalk #springhike #naturewalk #BurnettWoods #BurnettWoodsNaturePreserve #protectedwoods #NaturePreserve #ProtectedLand #Land4All #Nature4All #protectedforest #nature #getoutside #visitnature #getoutdoors #springinIndiana #visitapreserve #exploremore #getoutthere #hikeindiana #ontherighttrail #exploreindiana #seeyouonthetrail #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 30, 2023 Thanks to @madmaxindiana for these fantastic photos from Oliver's Woods. We have a nesting pair of great horned owls at the preserve, and they have two owlets! (Remember to always stay well back from nesting birds. These photos were taken with a telephoto lens.) @Indiana_wildlife_fed @ourwaterways #wildlifewednesday #wildlifewed #owls #owlfamily #owlets #wildlifewednesdays #greathornedowl #bird #birds #birdsofinstagram #oliverswoods #oliverswoodsnaturepreserve #birding #owlsofinstagram #owlsofindiana #owlet #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #IndianaWildlifeFederation #IndianaNature #IWF #nature #wildlife #mywhiteriver #naturalindiana #indiananature #naturepreserve #whiteriverIN #CentralIndianaLandTrust #CILTI March 29, 2023 Did you know that it's National Weed Appreciation Day? The day might mean different things to different people, but we'll put our own twist on it: Here's a weed we do not appreciate. Garlic mustard crossed the ocean as an appreciable culinary herb, but it has become invasive in natural areas. It gains a foothold in early spring by producing biochemicals detrimental to native plants. Its presence degrades habitat for native butterflies and moths. If you'd like to help pull garlic mustard this spring, we welcome your help! Check the link in our bio for our volunteer work days. #weedappreciationday #nationalweedappreciationday #InvasiveSpeciesAwareness #nationalweedappreciationday2023 #weedappreciationday2023 #invasiveplant #invasivegarlicmustard #knowyourinvasives #conservation #invasives #restoringtheland #garlicmustard #landprotection #protectedland #landrestoration #workdays #volunteerworkday #volunteeroutside #yourhelpneeded #invasivecontrol #invasive #invasiveplants #protectedwoods #landstewardship #naturepreserve #nature #naturalarea #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 28, 2023 One of our tiniest, earliest wildflowers is called (aptly) harbinger of spring. Here it is in bloom last month at Meltzer Woods. This spring ephemeral favors rich hardwood forests. A welcome sight! #notesfromthefield #newsfromthefield #harbingerofspring #signsofspring #welcomespring #springwildflowers #nativeplants #nativeflowers #oldgrowthforest #natureeverywhere #noticingnature #lookdown #natureisabalm #springishere #naturesoothesthesoul #naturemoments #springhassprung #nativeplant #nativeflower #wildflower #meltzerwoods #protectedwoods #protectedforest #naturepreserve #protectingland #landprotection #protectedhabitat #conservation #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 27, 2023 Last weekend a new crop of White River Docents gathered at Oliver's Woods for orientation and training. Look for their friendly faces this spring when you are exploring Oliver's Woods. They are generally there on the first Wednesday and third Saturday mornings of the month, April through November. They'll also be helping out with special events and volunteer work days. Thank you, White River Docents! #notesfromthefield #newsfromthefield #whiteriverdocent #thankyou #inthanks #gratitude #whiteiverdocents #docents #naturalists #volunteers #volunteering #mywhiteriver #whiteriverIN #ourwaterways #waterwaysofindiana #ourwaterway #myindiana #OliversWoods #urbannature #natureindiana #OliversWoodsNaturePreserve #riverinenaturepreserve #ourvolunteers #volunteerdocents #friendlyguides #friendlyfaces #centralindianalandtrust #landtrust #cilti March 24, 2023 What a welcome sight! The stewardship crew found this stunning little ephemeral flower last week while working at Hemlock Ridge Nature Preserve. It's snow trillium, one of our most delicate early wildflowers. #notesfromthefield #newsfromthefield #snowtrillium #signsofspring #welcomespring #springwildflowers #nativeplants #nativeflowers #TakeaWalkinNature #natureeverywhere #noticingnature #lookdown #natureisabalm #springishere #naturesoothesthesoul #naturemoments #springhassprung #nativeplant #nativeflower #wildflower #hemlockridge #protectedwoods #protectedforest #naturepreserve #protectingland #landprotection #protectedhabitat #conservation #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 23, 2023 This muskrat showed itself briefly on our trail cam that's pointed at Carmel Creek in Oliver's Woods. It's World Water Day, so we have an aquatic-themed Wildlife Wednesday today. Brief but nifty! According to the @indiandnr, muskrats may resemble beavers, but they are actually more closely related to mice and rats. Their strong smell or “musk” gives them their name. About 3 pounds in weight, they have a rudderlike, hairless tail with flattened sides. They typically have long, dark, reddish-brown fur on the upper parts of the body and short, silver-tipped fur underneath. They tend to favor areas of abundant shallow water, and often live in “bank dens,” nest chambers above the water level. @Indiana_wildlife_fed @ourwaterways #worldwaterday #worldwaterday2023 #wildlifewednesday #wildlifewed #waterday #aquatic #aquaticmammal #aquaticwildlife #muskrat #muskratsofinstagram #oliverswoods #oliverswoodsnaturepreserve #watermammal #watermammals #muskrats #IndianaWildlifeFederation #IndianaNature #IWF #nature #urbannature #mywhiteriver #naturalindiana #indiananature #naturepreserve #whiteriverIN #CentralIndianaLandTrust #CILTI March 22, 2023 In honor of International Day of Forests today, here's an early-spring look at a forest we are working to protect in Putnam County. This is just one of the lovely, ecologically significant places we are working to conserve this year. #internationaldayofforests #internationaldayofforests2023 #internationalforestday #internationalforestday2023 #forestday #forestday2023 #putnamcounty #forest #forestedland #landprotection #conservation #habitatprotection #springinindiana #springforest #woods #woodedland #springwoods #woodswalk #spring #springishere #springhike #springhassprung #springouting #getoutside #hiking #hikeindiana #landconservation #habitat #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 21, 2023 A fun March Madness #Repost from @infishwildlife It’s bracket season - of course we wanted to get in on the fun. From now until April 3, some of our favorite rare and endangered wildlife will be competing to be the champion Species of Greatest Conservation Need for Indiana! 🏆 If you have a favorite from the list, make a fast break to our stories to cast your vote. Vote based on mightiness, cuteness, fearlessness, vote for the charismatic underdog, whatever you feel. We’ll post weekly updates on winners. Happy bracketing! ( #📷 @infishwildlife ) March 20, 2023 Sunrise at Burnett Woods, April 2012. This photo was taken by our longtime volunteer/board member/supporter, Dick Miller, and seems an ideal one for the spring equinox. We celebrate lengthening days and look forward to spring's renewal. #springequinox #equinox #sunrise #welcomespring #noticingnature #natureisabalm #springiscoming #naturesoothesthesoul #naturemoments #springhike #naturewalk #BurnettWoods #BurnettWoodsNaturePreserve #protectedwoods #NaturePreserve #Land4All #Nature4All #protectedforest #protectednature #nature #getoutside #getoutdoors #springinIndiana #exploremore #getoutthere #hikeindiana #exploreindiana #seeyouonthetrail #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 20, 2023 Running buffalo clover is not exactly a shamrock, but it seems a fitting post for St. Patrick's Day. This endangered species is found on a property we are working to protect. Running buffalo clover evolved with bison, thriving along bison migratory routes. It takes its name from the bison whose hooves pounded across its range--but also from the "runners" that extend from its base. The plant requires infrequent but heavy disturbance. It likes limestone bedrock-laden creeks and ephemeral streams where water may only flow a few days of the year. Habitat loss has led to its endangerment, but we are working to give it a fighting chance. #speciesprotection #speciesloss #habitatloss #shamrock #happysaintpatricksday #happystpatricksday #stpatricksday #saintpatricksday #endangeredspecies #clover #notashamrock #endangeredclover #endangeredplant #runningbuffaloclover #happysaintpatricksday2023 #happystpatricksday2023 #stpatricksday2023 #saintpatricksday2023 #stpaddysday #happystpaddysday #happysaintpaddysday #plantsofinstagram #nativeplant #nativeplants #nativeplantsofinstagram #nativeclover #endangered #landprotection #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 17, 2023 Our 15th annual Spring Wildflower Walk is just a month away! Burnett Woods is one of the best places in Central Indiana to enjoy spring's riotous beauty. Phillip, our stewardship specialist, will lead this outing at 10am Saturday, April 15 at Burnett Woods, 8264 E County Road 100 S Avon. Space is limited, so be sure to preregister at the link in our bio. Also: Our stewardship crew is hosting regular work days starting next week. Volunteering with our team is a great way to go "behind the scenes" on a nature preserve. Anyone who helps out, now or in the past, is welcome to attend our April 20 Volunteer Appreciation Open House at Oliver's Woods. Check the link in our bio for more details on all events, and be sure to RSVP! #RSVP #spring #guidedhike #wildflowerwalk #springhike #naturewalk #BurnettWoods #BurnettWoodsNaturePreserve #protectedwoods #AvonIndiana #NaturePreserve #ProtectedLand #Land4All #Nature4All #protectedforest #protectednature #nature #getoutside #visitnature #getoutdoors #springinIndiana #visitapreserve #exploremore #getoutthere #hikeindiana #ontherighttrail #exploreindiana #seeyouonthetrail #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 16, 2023 Here's an Eastern comma found at Oliver's Woods last October. These are one of the latest butterflies to be seen in the fall--and some of the earliest to emerge in spring. They can be seen on warm days even in early March. They have spent the winter hibernating in a bark crevice or other sheltered place. Eastern commas prefer deciduous woodlands and woodland edges, swamps, marshes, streams. They are usually found near water. Keep an eye out for them when you're exploring our preserves! #wheredotheygoinwinter #wintering #winterbutterfly #insectsinwinter #funfact #scienceinnature #wildlifewednesday #wildlifewed #wildlifewednesdays #nationallearnaboutbutterfliesday #nationallearnaboutbutterfliesday2023 #learnaboutbutterfliesday #learnaboutbutterfliesday2023 #butterfly #butterflies #butterfliesofinstagram #easterncomma #easterncommas #comma #lepidoptera #lepidopteran #learnaboutbutterflies #spring #springsight #springiscoming #naturepreserve #oliverswoods #oliverswoodsnaturepreserve #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 15, 2023 Happy National Save a Spider Day! Don't squish these beauties. Especially if you find them in a nature preserve where everything is protected! This American nursery web spider was found at White Owl, one of our riverine nature preserves, last fall. Considered a "sit-and-wait ambush predator," it bides its time until prey comes near, then snatches them using its chelicerae (clawlike pincers). Fun facts: Before copulation, the male binds the female's legs with silk to keep her from consuming him! Females seem to be excellent mothers, building a "nursery web" where they hang their egg sac. After hatching, the infant spiders live in this nursery web, defended by the mother spider. Parental duties are carried out solely by the mother. That's because any males who survive the sexually cannibalistic female during mating move on to mate with more females. There you have it! (Note that these spiders' venom is not strong enough to do lethal harm to humans.) Source: wikipedia #NationalSaveaSpiderDay #NationalSaveaSpiderDay2023 #SaveaSpiderDay #SaveaSpiderDay2023 #crittertuesday #crittertues #critters #spider #spiders #savethespiders #savespider #spideysense #sexlivesofspiders #spidersex #spidery #americannurserywebspider #nurserywebspider #nurserywebspiders #nature #natureredintoothandclaw #naturepreserve #spidey #critter #creaturefeature #hunter #predator #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 14, 2023 Star chickweed is just one of the pretty wildflowers you might find next month at Burnett Woods. We are taking reservations for the April 15 wildflower walk. It's an annual tradition! Find details and sign up at the link in our bio (navigate to Events). #wildflowermonday #wildflower #guidedhike #wildflowerwalk #springhike #naturewalk #BurnettWoods #BurnettWoodsNaturePreserve #protectedwoods #AvonIndiana #NaturePreserve #ProtectedLand #Land4All #Nature4All #protectedforest #protectednature #nature #getoutside #rsvp #getoutdoors #springinIndiana #visitapreserve #exploremore #getoutthere #hikeindiana #ontherighttrail #exploreindiana #seeyouonthetrail #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 13, 2023 Today is Harriet Tubman Day, and in the famed abolitionist's honor, we are sharing this barred owl photo. Harriet Tubman imitated this owl's distinctive call to signal behind enemy lines. She led many enslaved people out of bondage, relying on her skills as an outdoorswoman to navigate dangerous terrain. She also served as scout, spy, guerrilla soldier, and nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War. Think of her the next time you hear this owl calling, "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?" (Barred owls can be found at many of our preserves, including the Laura Hare Preserve at Blossom Hollow, Burnett Woods, Browning Marsh, and Nonie Werbe Krauss Nature Preserve.) #HarrietTubmanDay #WomensHistoryMonth #HarrietTubmanDay2023 #WomensHistoryMonth2023 #HarrietTubman #WomensHistory #famouswomen #blackhistory #undergroundrailroad #barredowl #owlsofinstagram #owlsofindiana #nature #naturalist #womennaturalists #womenandnature #naturalists #owls #barredowls #owl #owlcall #whocooksforyou #owlhoot #hoot #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 10, 2023 In honor of International Women's Day (yesterday), here's a woman-powered throwback shot from fall of 2011. These women were among the volunteers helping clear out invasive honeysuckle at Burnett Woods. You too can whack at some invasive plants to help our nature preserves stay healthy and resilient. We have a volunteer event at Burnett Woods on April 5 (among other work days). Men are welcome too of course! #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #ThrowbackThurs #internationalwomensday #womensday #womensday2023 #internationalwomensday2023 #volunteer #volunteerism #womenvolunteers #volunteeroutside #womanpowered #girlpower #womanpower #gogirl #volunteeroutdoors #invasivespecies #invasiveremoval #getoutthere #getoutside #getoutdoors #outdoors #springvolunteering #springworkday #honeysuckle #burnettwoods #naturepreserve #burnettwoodsnaturepreserve #centralindianalandtrust #CILTI March 9, 2023 Enjoy another sign of spring: Here is a pair of flickers exploring at Oliver's Woods. With sweet heart-shaped patches on the back of their heads. @Indiana_wildlife_fed @ourwaterways #heartinnature #heartsinnature #spring #springiscoming #wildlifewednesday #wildlifewed #springisontheway #flickers #flickersofinstagram #flicker #birdsofafeather #bird #birds #birdsofinstagram #oliverswoods #oliverswoodsnaturepreserve #birding #IndianaWildlifeFederation #IndianaNature #IWF #nature #urbannature #mywhiteriver #happyspring #naturalindiana #indiananature #naturepreserve #whiteriverIN #CentralIndianaLandTrust #CILTI March 8, 2023 This common eastern bumblebee was photographed at White River Bluffs in late summer, enjoying an aster bloom. But where do they spend the winter months? Interestingly, most bumblebees die off in the fall. Only young females--future queen bees who have already mated--survive the winter. These queens eat a lot of pollen before the weather turns, building up their fat reserves. That enables them to live out the winter in loose soil and plant debris. They even produce an antifreeze-like compound to survive the cold. When temperatures warm, they lay worker eggs, restarting the life cycle. Source: Purdue College of Agriculture. #crittertuesday #critter #crittertues #critters #critterday #bee #bees #bumblebee #bumblebees #insect #insects #bumblebeesofinstagram #bumblebeesofindiana #pollinators #commoneasternbumblebee #pollinator #whiteriverbluffs #nativeplants #nature #naturemoments #naturemoment #naturepreserve #habitat #protectedhabitat #landprotection #protectedwoods #protectedland #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 8, 2023 Spring is on its way! Wildflowers like this trout lily (photographed in a previous year at Burnett Woods) will soon be popping up at many of our preserves. Photo by Dick Miller #troutlily #wildflower #signsofspring #welcomespring #springwildflowers #nativeplants #nativeflowers #TakeaWalkinNature #noticingnature #lookdown #natureisabalm #springiscoming #naturemoments #natureisnotclosed #TrekourTrails2023 #TrekourTrails #BurnettWoods #BurnettWoodsNaturePreserve #protectedwoods #NaturePreserve #ProtectedLand #Land4All #Nature4All #nature #getoutside #getoutthere #ontherighttrail #seeyouonthetrail #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 6, 2023 Our invasive-themed Throwback Thursday is garlic mustard, shown at Meltzer Woods before and after being pulled. This biennial plant forms clusters of white, four-petaled flowers in the spring, with a tall seed pod. Its broad leaves smell faintly of garlic when crushed. Native to Eurasia and North-western Africa, the plant is allelopathic, meaning it produces biochemicals detrimental to other plants. It is also detrimental to many butterflies and moths, and unfortunately present everywhere, especially Meltzer Woods. (If you'd like to help pull garlic mustard this spring, we welcome your help! Check the link in our bio for our volunteer work days.) #NISAW #InvasiveSpecies #InvasiveSpeciesAwareness #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #InvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek #InvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek2023 #NationalInvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek #NationalInvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek2023 #invasiveplant #invasivegarlicmustard #knowyourinvasives #conservation #invasives #restoringtheland #garlicmustard #landprotection #protectedland #landrestoration #meltzerwoodsnaturepreserve #meltzerwoods #ThrowbackThurs #invasiveplants #protectedwoods #landstewardship #naturepreserve #nature #naturalarea #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 2, 2023 Continuing our National Invasive Species Awareness Week recap with jetbead. This multi-stemmed shrub with opposite leaves has white, wide, four-petaled flowers in the spring. It produces groups of four dark berries. A native of Asia, it displaces and shades out native plants. It is present at Oliver's Woods and Fred and Dorothy Meyer Nature Preserve. Less of a threat than some other invasive species, it is one that the stewardship crew tackles as needed. Be sure to check the link in our bio for volunteer opportunities if you'd like to help our friendly stew crew address invasive plants this spring! #NISAW #InvasiveSpecies #InvasiveSpeciesAwareness #InvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek #InvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek2023 #NationalInvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek #NationalInvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek2023 #invasiveplant #invasivejetbead #knowyourinvasives #conservation #invasives #restoringtheland #knowtheinvasives #landprotection #protectedland #landrestoration #landtrust #NISAW2023 #jetbead #invasivesofinstagram #invasivesofindiana #invasiveplants #invasivegrass #landstewardship #naturepreserve #nature #naturalarea #centralindianalandtrust #cilti March 1, 2023 You know we need to post about emerald ash borer for Critter Tuesday in our recap of National Invasive Species Awareness Week. This jewel beetle, a native of northeastern Asia, targets true ash species. It leaves D-shaped exit holes in the trunk (and winding tunnels as you can see in the photos). Adults lay eggs in fissures and under ash tree bark. The larvae feed just under the bark on phloem tissue. Since phloem transfers food/ energy from the roots to the rest of tree, ash borer damage is fatal without intervention. #crittertuesday #NISAW #InvasiveSpecies #InvasiveSpeciesAwareness #InvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek #InvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek2023 #NationalInvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek #NationalInvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek2023 #invasiveinsect #invasiveashborer #conservation #invasives #restoringtheland #ashborer #landprotection #protectedland #landrestoration #landtrust #NISAW2023 #ashborerdamage #invasivesofinstagram #invasivesofindiana #invasiveinsects #emeraldashborer #landstewardship #naturepreserve #nature #naturalarea #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 28, 2023 We're recapping National Invasive Species Awareness Week with several posts about invasive species this week. (We may not have hit the exact week, but invasives are a problem year-round, in any case!) This is Japanese stiltgrass. It is an annual grass that grows in a sprawling habit up to 4 feet tall. Its leaves are pale green, lance-shaped, 1-4 inches long. Look for a silvery stripe through the middle of each leaf. It grows densely, displacing native plants, and is most problematic in the Hills of Gold conservation area. Be sure to check the link in our bio for volunteer opportunities this spring if you'd like to help out with invasive control on our preserves! #NISAW #InvasiveSpecies #InvasiveSpeciesAwareness #InvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek #InvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek2023 #NationalInvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek #NationalInvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek2023 #invasiveplant #invasivestiltgrass #knowyourinvasives #conservation #invasives #restoringtheland #knowtheinvasives #landprotection #protectedland #landrestoration #landtrust #NISAW2023 #stiltgrass #invasivesofinstagram #invasivesofindiana #invasiveplants #invasivegrass #landstewardship #naturepreserve #nature #naturalarea #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 27, 2023 Marking the close of National Invasive Species Awareness Week with callery pear. This deciduous tree grows up to 30 feet tall, with leaves alternate, ovate, smooth, finely toothed, shiny green above and paler below. The densely-clustered flowers are white, with five petals, producing small brown, round fruits in large numbers. Starlings and other birds spread this tree because of the fruit. This enables callery pear to get established densely in the forest understory, where it outcompetes native trees. It is present along forest edges, posing a threat as well to fields, prairies, and new tree plantings. Our stewardship crew has been addressing this problem at Nonie Werbe Krauss Nature Preserve. #NISAW #InvasiveSpecies #InvasiveSpeciesAwareness #InvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek #InvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek2023 #NationalInvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek #NationalInvasiveSpeciesAwarenessWeek2023 #invasivetree #invasivecallerypear #knowyourinvasives #conservation #invasives #restoringtheland #callerypear #landprotection #protectedland #landrestoration #landtrust #NISAW2023 #callerypeartree #invasivesofinstagram #invasivesofindiana #invasiveplants #callery #landstewardship #naturepreserve #nature #naturalarea #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 24, 2023 It's another heart in nature post for American Heart Month! This photo was taken during a hike in October 2018 at the Laura Hare Preserve at Blossom Hollow. Can you see the heart in the tree bark? Bonus points if you can ID this tree species... #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #ThrowbackThurs #heartsinnature #heartinnature #natureisbeautiful #naturepreserve #protectedland #lauraharepreserveatblossomhollow #blossomhollownaturepreserve #johnsoncounty #tree #treebark #treeID #naturalarea #natureindiana #landprotection #indiananature #nativetree #nativetrees #mushroomsofindiana #naturalindiana #midwestnature #conservation #centralindiana #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 23, 2023 #Repost @cornellbirds for #nationalbirdfeedingmonth You may have heard that birds like sunflower seeds---sunflower seeds are backyard feeder favorites after all! But birds benefit from more than just seeds when folks are able to grow sunflowers and other bird-friendly plants in their outdoor spaces. For instance, many sunflowers, flowers from the genus helianthus, are native plants to North America. All kinds of birds benefit from the seeds! Indigo Buntings like the one shown here will occasionally spring for a seed, especially during migration season. But for most of the year, their diet consists of insects. And the sunflowers attract beneficial insects like this Green Lacewing. Green Lacewing are fabulous pest control as well as bird food! Their larvae are especially well known for eating aphids. Enjoy seeing more cool plant, bird, and insect interactions from species in the U.S. and Canada in a beautiful poster illustrated by charlotte.w.holden. Just tap the link in our profile and select the matching image to go to the poster download page! ( #📷 @cornellbirds ) February 23, 2023 It's National Walking the Dog Day! As we know, dogs and nature preserves go together like pups and kids. Just keep them leashed up, like little Kirby here. Thanks to @jacksonskydesign for sharing this photo of her family's cute cattle dog/Australian shepherd mix! #nationalwalkingthedogday #walkingthedogday #nationalwalkingthedogday2023 #walkingthedogday2023 #nodogleftinside #dogsandnature #doglove #dogslovenature #havedogwillhike #havedogwilltravel #hikingwithdogs #dog #dogsofinstagram #dogs #walkthedog #walkingthedog #getthemoutside #dogsoutside #dogsoutdoors #doggo #pooch #doginnature #dogoutside #dogoutdoors #pup #pupper #pupsinnature #pupinnature #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 22, 2023 It's a bird... It's a plane... It's a fly! We don't have the species name of this one. It was photographed in the Laura Hare Preserve at Blossom Hollow. Flies have a nuisance reputation. We may not think them worthy of celebrating. But did you know that maggots play a key role in breaking down and redistributing organic matter? Their excreted wastes provide nutrients for fungi and plants. Flies in all life stages also provide an important food source for fish, birds, small mammals, frogs, and toads. Britannica calls them "an essential element in the food chains upon which all life depends." #funfact #whoknew #crittertuesday #crittertues #scienceinnature #critter #crittertuesdays #fly #fliesofinstagram #flies #funfacts #naturefact #foodchain #ecosystem #britannica #naturemoment #natureisbeautiful #naturepreserve #protectedland #lauraharepreserveatblossomhollow #blossomhollownaturepreserve #biodiversity #naturalarea #natureindiana #landprotection #conservation #centralindiana #landtrust #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 21, 2023 Let's mark National Bird Feeding Month with a palm warbler. You're not likely to see migratory warblers like these at your feeder. But by supporting habitat restoration, you are indeed feeding them. The native plants we nurture at our preserves are the very basis for their food needs. That's because they eat insects that coevolved with native plants. So: If you donated toward our mission of land protection lately, you're feeding them! And if you plant natives in your yard, you're also feeding them! Thank you for supplying food sources for our winged friends. Photo is from Oliver's Woods in April of last spring. Oliver's Woods is a major stopover for migrants like these. #nationalbirdfeedingmonth #nationalbirdfeedingmonth2023 #WhiteRiverIN #mywhiteriver #feedthebirds #plantnatives #plantanativeplant #birding #birdwatching #oliverswoods #oliverswoodsnaturepreserve #urbannaturepreserve #urbannature #protectedwoods #naturepreserve #protectingland #landprotection #protectedhabitat #habitatprotection #birdsofinstagram #springisonitsway #migratorybirds #palmwarbler #warblersofinstagram #migratorywarbler #palmwarblers #migrantbird #migratorybird #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 20, 2023 Happy Friday! Here's a red-headed woodpecker feather covered in dew. It's sporting an (almost) heart shape for our #heartinnature series this month. Photographed in the Laura Hare Preserve at Turtle Bend last month. #heartsinnature #birdfeather #feather #feathers #featuresofinstagram #HeartMonth #bird #birds #biodiversity #nature #naturemoments #naturemoment #naturepreserve #habitat #protectedhabitat #landprotection #protectedland #turtlebend #lauraharepreserveatturtlebend #americanheartmonth #AmericanHearthMonth2023 #conservation #myindiana #protectedwoods #forest #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 17, 2023 Our volunteers truly are the best. Here's a few shots from November of 2018, when a small group of them hit Betley Woods at Glacier's End, tackling honeysuckle and autumn olive. Invasive plants are no match for our volunteers! (We'll soon be scheduling volunteer work days for this spring, so stay tuned for details on that.) #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #ThrowbackThurs #RAKtivists #RandomActsofKindnessDay #volunteers #volunteersrule #thankyou #gratitude #volunteersrock #getoutside #volunteering #service #givingtime #makingadifference #volunteeroutdoors #getoutdoors #optoutside #getoutthere #protectedhabitat #landprotection #protectedland #GlaciersEnd #protectedwoods #glaciersendnaturepreserve #betleywoods #betleywoodsatglaciersend #naturepreserves #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 16, 2023 Everything is connected by water, as all rivers flow to the ocean. In honor of World Whale Day, which is Sunday, here are some photos of water birds from Browning Marsh. We may not have whales at our preserves, but we certainly have aquatic wildlife! It's all part of the same watershed, in the end. Shown here are a wood duck, green heron, and blue-winged teal. @Indiana_wildlife_fed #WorldWhaleDay #WorldWhaleDay2023 #wildlifewednesday #wildlifewed #conservation #birdwatching #birding #IndianaWildlifeFederation #IndianaNature #nature#naturalindiana #indiananature #naturepreserve #BrowningMarsh #BrowningMarshNaturePreserve #wetlands #wetlandprotection #wetland #wetlandhabitat #habitatprotection #birdhabitat #protectedwetland #protectedland #landprotection #natureIndiana #Indiananature #myIndiana #Indianasveryown #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 15, 2023 A National Bird Feeding Month repost from @homegrownnationalpark -- Go to their profile for details on how to "get on the map"! #nationalbirdfeedingmonth #Repost Want more birds? Plant Native! Native plants feed birds both with their seeds and by hosting the caterpillars and other insects that birds need. NATIVE PLANTS ARE VITAL to keeping bird populations healthy as well as being the foundation for the entire food web. It is particularly helpful to plant KEYSTONE NATIVE PLANTS! Keystones are plants that regenerate the most biodiversity. Learn more by using the Keystone Plants link in bio. 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 START A NEW 𝗛𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗧AT® ON THE MAP Add your native plantings to the HNP MAP to become part of the largest cooperative conservation movement to regenerate biodiversity ever attempted! (Get On the Map link in bio) . . . #homegrownnationalpark #plantnative #birds #birdfeeder #wildlife #plant #nature #coexistwithnature ( #📷 @homegrownnationalpark ) February 15, 2023 "I was noticing on my morning moseys, coffee in hand...teeny bumble-looking bees nestled into the sunflowers...I'm guessing these bees had homes elsewhere, but were in a kind of postcoital (and precoital) drowse (coital with the flower I mean)..." --Ross Gay, Inciting Joy Here's to the birds and the bees, doing what they do! And did you notice our little common eastern bumblebee has a heart-shaped head? This Bombus impatiens is shown communing with white turtlehead blossom. A perfect Valentine's Day pair. #beemine #heartsinnature #heartinnature #crittertuesday #crittertuesdays #critters #poetry #naturewriting #bumblebee #rossgay #incitingjoy #poet #poets #literature #nature #bee #beesdoit #beesofinstagram #bumblebeesofinstagram #bumblebees #pollinator #nativeflower #pollinators #nativeflowers #nativeplants #nativeplant #happyValentinesDay #ValentinesDay #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 14, 2023 In honor of International Day of Women and Girls in Science (which was Saturday), here's inspiration from another of our sheroes. #Repost from @youcanteachscience Everyone can make a difference. Everyone has the potential to be the change. #education #teachersofinstagram #science #wisewordswednesday #primaryscience #womeninscience #womeninstem #janegoodall #primaryeducation ( #📷 @youcanteachscience ) February 13, 2023 Back in 2020, pioneering forest ecologist E. Lucy Braun (1889-1971) joined us at Meltzer Woods to share her wisdom. “Standing in these woods puts Time in perspective,” she said to begin her remarks. Braun was portrayed by Constance Macy of @timepiecetheatrecompany. E. Lucy Braun is one of our scientific forebears and sheroes--a fitting throwback post for International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Fun fact: We are working to protect a natural area where she documented rare and endangered plants decades ago. #walkinginherfootsteps #shero #sheroes #internationaldayofwomenandgirlsinscience #internationaldayofwomenandgirlsinscience2023 #womenandgirlsinscience #womenandgirlsinscienceday #womenandgirlsinscienceday2023 #womeninscience #womeninstem #foremother #foremothers #throwback #timepiecetheatre #timepiecetheatrecompany #reenactment #history #historicalreenactment #meltzerwoods #oldgrowthforest #naturalists #womenecologists #forestecology #landprotection #forest #protectedforest #forests #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 10, 2023 Ever wondered how those bridges at Meltzer Woods got constructed? Here is an Eagle Scout project in action, back in April of 2016. Thanks to all the Eagle Scouts who contributed their skills and time to our preserves over the years! #TBT #ThrowbackThursday #ThrowbackThurs #NationalBoyScoutDay2023 #boyscouts #scouting #eaglescout #thankyou #meltzerwoods #oldgrowthforest #meltzerwoodsnaturepreserve #protectedwoods #protectedforest #nationalnaturallandmark #protectingland #landprotection #optoutside #getthemoutside #gratitude #volunteersrock #volunteering #service #youthservice #youthvolunteers #givingtime #makingadifference #nochildleftinside #theyouthwilllead #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 9, 2023 Here's a quick glimpse of a coyote in summer from our archived trailcam footage! This was in Betley Woods at Glaciers End, safe haven for so much wildlife. @indiana_wildlife_fed #wildlifewednesday #wildlifewednesdays #GlaciersEnd #wildlife #protectingwildlife #wildlifewed #protectedland #conservation #environment #myindiana #protectedwoods #forest #glaciersendnaturepreserve #johnsoncountyIN #protected #NaturePreserve #ProtectedLand #wildlifecam #coyote #coyotesofinstagram #coyotes #naturepreserve #coyotesofindiana #forests #woods #foresthabitat #protectingland #landprotection #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 8, 2023 #Repost @protectindianaland Do Indiana's lands excite you? Us too! Make a difference by visiting our website at www.protectindianaland.org/postcard to create a custom postcard. When the time is right, we will print and mail your postcard to your state elected officials. This program is free to participate. Please share this important opportunity with your friends and network. For every 100 postcards submitted, we will do a drawing for an ILPA hat. 😁 #protectindianaland #indiananextlevel ( #📷 @protectindianaland ) Sharing this today to @centralindianalandtrust (@centralindianalandtrust) February 8, 2023 This intriguing bulge is a blackberry knot gall found at Burnett Woods last December. It's an abnormal plant growth associated with a tiny wasp, the Diastrophus nebulosus. The wasp lays eggs into a blackberry cane (stem) in spring or summer. The plant responds by forming this gall. This time of year, the wasp eggs have hatched, and larvae are overwintering inside their cozy home. Wasps will emerge in spring after chewing their way out of the gall, leaving little holes along the gall’s ridges. Winter is a great time to see galls, so keep an eye out when you're out exploring. It might be a stretch, but this one is reminding us of a human heart. We'll call it our first #HeartinNature post for American Heart Month! If you see a heart shape in nature at one of our preserves, please tag us and use hashtag #heartsinnature . #CritterTuesday #critterTuesdays #critter #crittertues #critters #critterday #gallwasp #gall #wasps #Heart #insect #insects #biodiversity #nature #naturemoments #naturemoment #naturepreserve #habitat #protectedhabitat #landprotection #protectedland #BurnettWoods #conservation #myindiana #protectedwoods #forest #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 7, 2023 Friday we were proud to host a retreat for our colleagues from land trusts and partners across the state. The setting was the Daugherty House at Oliver's Woods. Many thanks to @protectindianaland (Indiana Land Protection Alliance) and all the participants, panelists, and workshop leaders. We learned so much about outreach and had a blast connecting! ("onion" photo by Kelley of @fortheland) #whiteriverIN #landprotection #oliverswoods #daughertyhouse #landtrusts #networking #landtrust #statewide #networks #learning #MyWhiteRiver #oliverswoodsnaturepreserve #ontheriver #retreat #indianalandprotectionalliance #ilpa #riverpreserve #naturepreserve #outreach #nature #conservation #conservationists #alliance #workshop #partnering #centralindianalandtrust #cilti February 6, 2023 Another nice shot from the Laura Hare Preserve at Blossom Hollow by @4theloveofspiders. Glad to see folks enjoying the beauty of our nature preserves in winter! #Repost Media Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CnlTAdQueYF/ A mossy winter day at Blossom Hollow. ( #📷 @4theloveofspiders ) February 3, 2023
Filter CategoriesAllNewsroomSort By DateTitleDate March 30, 2023 Women Conservation Heroes of Indiana In honor of Women’s History Month, we are honoring notable women, past and present. Right here in Indiana, we... March 22, 2023 Women’s History and “Our Common Home” For Women’s History Month, we look at just a few of the many American women whose work gave voice...
