By Cydney Ross, Outdoor Education Manager
Spring is the perfect time to get outdoors and experience nature across the region! Woodlands are full of rich blooms and prairies have tiny delights cropping up. Join Deep Roots for several Guided Naturalist Walks this year with Missouri Department of Conservation and Johnson County Parks and Recreation District in Kansas.
For small landscape inspiration, drop in for our monthly Native Landscape Chat at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Each First Friday at 1 p.m. we meet for an hour-long leisurely walk around the native gardens. The plantings at the Center represent different habitats found across Missouri like glades, savannas, riparian areas, woodlands and prairies. They also highlight different themes or intentions like formal, information, specimen showcase, and more. This is a great opportunity to see what’s blooming and get ideas for your gardens. It’s also the perfect time to bring your gardening questions and get one-on-one advice from experts!
Connecting community to nature is best served on the trails! Last month we explored the woodlands at Lexington Lake Park. On May 17th we’re heading to Big Bull Creek Park – the largest park in Johnson County featuring 2,060 acres between Edgerton and Gardner, Kansas. This half-day outing is for all levels of experience, noting we’ll be on uneven, natural terrain. At this time of year, we’ll see the woodlands shift into early summer flora like Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and Lowland Brittle Fern (Cystopteris protrusa). Be sure to bring your binoculars and Merlin bird app as there are tons of spring-migrating birds coming through the area!
Join us at Ernie Miller Park and Nature Center on Saturday, June 21st for a walk through their woodlands, prairie, and beautiful stream! This park features 116 acres of diverse habitat for wildlife. We’ll also get a glimpse of their nature center and meet some of their animal ambassadors. Pack your lunch for both walks – we’ll take a break and enjoy our meal out in nature.
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