Exploring the Edge of Appalachia

I think I know a thing or two about Ohio's wildflowers, but all I have to do is travel a little off the beaten track to find out how little I know.

This morning we visited the Edge of Appalachia Preserve, which, at 20,000 acres, is among the larger wild areas in Ohio. The preserve is operated as a partnership between the Cincinnati Museum Center and the Nature Conservancy, and since we are longtime supporters of the Nature Conservancy, I've often read about the preserve and wanted to visit. It's a little far to drive from our house, but from Jackson it's only an hour and a quarter southwest, so we strapped on the canoe, packed a picnic lunch, and headed out, scoffing at the rainclouds the whole way.

The preserve is nestled among tall hills on the southern edge of Ohio, and Ohio Brush Creek winds along the edges through tall grassy banks and overhanging trees. Brush Creek is a little low this time of year but heavy rains last night raised the water level enough to allow us to paddle some distance upstream from the State Route 125 bridge. We had to get out and portage at a few low rocky spots, but we enjoyed seeing multiple kingfishers criss-crossing the creek and huge swallowtail butterflies fluttering among the tall summer wildflowers on the banks.

After a few hours we squelched out of the creek in wet boat shoes and ate lunch in a shady spot where catbirds and a Carolina wren provided free entertainment, and then we decided to hike one of the many trails that weave through the preserve--even though we'd both forgotten to bring our hiking shoes.

The woods and high prairie openings were buzzing with pollinators visiting flowers I could not identify, although I'm going to spend some time trying. We'd made it most of the way up the Jane Jones Portman Trail when we were stopped by a snake stretched across the path; when my husband tried to gently urge it off the path with a stick, the snake reared up and staked out its territory. By this time our boat shoes were heavy with mud from the trail and the sun had finally come out from behind the clouds, so we were ready to turn back anyway. We left the snake in possession of the trail and went back to our van.

We spent a total of four or five hours at the preserve, but that whole time we never set eyes on another human being.  Birds, yes, and butterflies and a snake and some large animal tracks in the woods and fish jumping from the creek, but no people. We saw only a small piece of the 20,000 acres in the Edge of Appalachia Preserve, but that taste only made me want to go back and see some more. I like to think that some of my donations to the Nature Conservancy have helped to keep the preserve going, and if that's the case, it was money well spent.

What is this?

I think this is a rose pink.

No idea what this is.

Or this.

I don't know what this is but I love the red stem.

I think this is nodding onion.

Near the start of the Jane Jones Portman Trail. A little muddy.

Goldenrod is just starting to bloom.

Turkey vulture high above the creek.

Too dim early this morning to get a good pic of this great blue heron.

Ohio Brush Creek.