Pennyrile Forest Naturalist and Recreation Blog

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Dawson Springs

Easter Eggcitement, April 8

Make Easter “egg-citing” at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park! The annual Easter buffet will be served from noon to 8 p.m. The menu includes beef carved on the line, baked country ham, golden fried catfish and hushpuppies. The meal will also include fresh fruit, a cheese bar, garden vegetables, salad and desserts.The price for adults is $18.49 and children (12 and under) are $8.49, not including tax. The price includes a beverage.

Easter bunny photos will be at 1:30 p.m. in the lodge ($2 per photo). A free Easter egg hunt will be at 2:30 p.m. at the lodge rain or shine. Call 1-800-325-1711.

Wild Geranium blooming on the Clifty Creek Trail near the dam.

Throughout the park and the surrounding forest one can see the Eastern Redbud tree (past peak bloom) and Flowering Dogwood tree (peak bloom) in bloom. On Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park's Clifty Creek trail the following wildflowers were sited on March 30, 2012: Early Saxifrage, Pussy Toes, Violets sp., Yellow Woodland Violet, Blue Phlox, Prairie Trillium, Wild Geranium, Spring Beauty, Star Chickweed, Quaker Ladies, Small Bluets, Rue Anemone, Buttercup sp., Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Dwarf Dandelion, Violet Wood Sorrel, Bluestar, Sweet Cicely, May Apple, and Crested Dwarf Iris.

Spring is speeding by. If you don't stop, and take the time to look you'll miss it. Throughout the park and the surrounding forest one can see the Eastern Redbud tree and Flowering Dogwood Tree in bloom. The redbuds have been blooming for almost a week, so the blooms might not stick around. The dogwoods have just started to bloom so they will probably stay in bloom for a week or two longer.

On Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park's Clifty Creek trail the following wildflowers were sited on March 24, 2012: READ MORE

Rue Anemone in bloom March 1st on the Clifty Creek trail at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park.






This afternoon I set out in search of signs of spring. I hiked the Clifty Creek and Indian Bluff trails and found several early wildflowers in bloom. On the Clifty Creek Trail I found Spring Beauty, Harbinger of Spring, and Rue Anemone. On the Indian Bluff trail I found a few Bluets.

Birds are also starting to sing more. I heard an Eastern Phoebe, Carolina Wren, and a Gray Catbird on my walk. I also saw a pair of Northern Cardinals that acted like they were looking for nest sites.

Reptiles and Amphibians are also awakening from their winter slumber. While hiking I could hear the distant sound of breeding Upland Chorus Frogs, and Southern Leopard Frogs. While I hiked beside Clifty Creek I heard the splashing sounds of turtles retreating from their sunny logs. As I walked I also heard skittering in the leaves, which usually turn out to be ground skinks, a type of small lizard. At the end of my hike I found a Eastern Fence lizard sunning its self on the step at the trail head of the Indian Bluff trail.