A Year in Nature
In 2021, we offered a variety of ways to get out in nature throughout the year. From guided hikes to volunteer days to special events, it was a great year to get outdoors. […]
Road Trip: Meltzer Woods and Beyond
We asked Jordan England of Blue River Community Foundation to recommend some attractions near Meltzer Woods. The foundation has provided funding for Meltzer Woods stewardship for many years. Jordan serves as Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at the foundation. She offered this guest post. This fall, when you plan [...]
Tennessee Warbler Visits in Spring and Fall
Our spring newsmagazine featured Cliff’s top ten hidden gems of birding. Here is the ninth of a blog series on these birds, by guest blogger Ed Pope. The Tennessee warbler appears in Indiana only as a transient. It breeds in Canada and in the northern portions of some states along [...]
A Year Spent with Giants
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—the perfect time to celebrate the power of nature to boost mood and mental acuity. It’s no secret that nature—and forests in particular—can heal us. Physicians and mental health professionals are starting to recognize this. Many have begun to prescribe nature walks to their [...]
Finding Home in Meltzer Woods
First in a series on the Trek our Trails Challenge by guest blogger Ben Valentine “The word ecology is derived from the Greek oikos, the word for home.” ― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants “Nature is not a place to [...]
Trek Our Trails Challenge features 5 popular nature preserves
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 10, 2021 You’ve been cooped up for months, and it’s time to get out and explore some of the most beautiful places in Central Indiana. Soon, wildflowers will be peeking through the forest floor, birdsong will be in the air, and Indiana’s nature preserves will [...]
Burning Bush: A Hardwood Forest’s Enemy
Part of a series on invasive species by guest blogger Ed Pope Burning bush, also known as winged burning bush, is native to eastern Asia. It was imported into New England in 1860 and became a popular landscaping shrub for a couple of reasons. It is very easy to [...]
Garlic Mustard: A Study in Unintended Consequences
Part of a series on invasive species by guest blogger Ed Pope Garlic mustard is an herb that is native to Europe and portions of Asia. It has a garlic smell and has been used by humans as a spice since somewhere around 4000 B.C. It was most likely [...]
A Legacy of Land Protection
Thirty-five acres of Shelby County agricultural land came under protection this year, right next to the venerated old growth forest of Meltzer Woods. The Land Trust purchased the property from the Spalding family, descendants of the forest’s original champion, Brady Meltzer. The land had been in the family since [...]
Announcing the Trek Our Trails Challenge
Are you ready for a nature fix? There’s still plenty of time to participate in a yearlong challenge that you can enjoy on your own. Make your way to a nature preserve to get started in the Trek Our Trails challenge! […]
