Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Logan County Glade on May Day

The West Glade found at this Nature Preserve

This is the day that ancient cultures celebrated as the first day 
of Summer, May Day.  To learn how the ancient peoples' view of the
seasons differs from our modern view click here.

I celebrated this day by taking a short walk through a glade ecosystem 
in Russellville, KY.

"Logan County Glade State Nature Preserve...is one of the best 
examples of a limestone slope glade community found in 
Kentucky. Limestone glades are naturally open areas with scattered
 ledges and slabs of limestone outcropping at or near the surface.
The soil is thin and the hot, dry conditions on the southfacing openings leave exposed trees 
sparse and stunted. These seemingly adverse conditions offer a special refuge for many 
prairie and glade plants."
(Quote taken from the KY State Nature Preserve Commission Brochure)



The entrance to the trail leading through the glade.


Trail leading to the glade. 



The first conspicuous wildflower I saw 
was this Fleabane species.




This is the beginning of the loop trail.  I chose to go to the right
and will be finishing down the left side.



A beautiful Birdfoot's Violet.

The leaves look similar to a bird's foot.




Click any photo to enlarge it.






A bi-colored Birdfoot's Violet



This part of the trail used to be an 
old road years ago.

Cinquefoil species
(If I misidentify a plant, please email me...see margin)

A very unusual fern called Engelmannii's Fern or
Limestone Adder's-tongue Fern.

There's the Adder's tongue...the sporophyll.




Wood Violets?






I saw many Ebony Spleenwort ferns.  
These two are young ones; 
you can tell by their fiddleheads
Information on Ebony Spleenwort





Prickly Pear Cactus.  
Most people don't realize that a species of cactus grows here 
in KY.  This will have an unbelievably beautiful flower in June!!
Click here  to see a typical flower.

If you look at the map I have made a sharp left turn
and am now beginning the ascent up the hill.



Fragrant Sumac with young berries.




A fern called Cliffbrake.



Continuing the winding ascent.


Climbing to the top of the Knob.




Close to the top of the hill.  I hear some beautiful bird songs. 




It's beautiful up here.




I think I'm close to 800 feet, according to the map.




Many more deciduous trees up here.  This is bird migration time
and I heard many. I heard and saw two warblers:  
a Yellow Rump and a Palm Warbler.  
For information on these birds click the website above the photos.

                       Info on Yellow-rumped                     Info on Palm Warbler                         
   
Photos of birds, above, were taken from the Cornell Ornithology website (above each photo).



A group of Mayapples.
The flower of this species is found at the fork of the leaf stalks.
The plants with just one leaf are sterile, with no flower.

Information on Mayapples
Click here to see an example of a flower close-up.



Making a gradual descent, now.  
Saw some sorrel on the boulder on the left. 

 Violet Wood Sorrel 
Notice the thin petals...is this a unique glade species?






A yellow Sorrel called Sour Grass (lemon flavor)


Look like Blackberry flowers.






Walking from east to west at the top of the hill.






A very gradual downward slope.



Ran across a couple of Bluets.
Click any photo to enlarge it.
A neat white Bluet.


Nice sinkhole.  Looks pretty deep.
Logan Co. is very karst.




As I get closer to the large glade the number 
of Red Cedars increases.




A neat looking seedpod...probably an aster species.



Walking down toward the west glade.




Saw lots of Hoary Puccoon.  
What a beautiful color! 
Click here for information.

Hoary Puccoon



A typical glade ecosystem with stunted trees and shrubs
and visible rock substrate.



Wow!! So many Shooting Stars!!

Beautiful!
Look at that color!!!




  
The leaves on the left belong to the flower on the right.




Glade Sandwort




Looks like Venus' Pride (Houstonia purpurea)





At the bottom of the hill looking up.

Pale Blue-eyed Grass 
(not a grass, but in the Iris family)
Click here for information about Pale Blue-eyed Grass.


A view of the complete plant.

What a stunning flower!






This is the end of the loop trail.

When you turn right you'll be heading back to the parking lot.

This is a perfect example of a glade ecosystem, very rocky with
 plants that have adaptations for dry, rocky environments.  

Why don't you go there and take a walk!?  
You'll enjoy it!