Pennyrile Forest Naturalist and Recreation Blog

Want to know what programs are going on at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park next week? Click on the link below to find out:
Pennyrile Forest SRP Aug 1-7 2011.pdf

Programs can also be viewed on the program calendar on the internet.

The naturalist and recreation staff will offer programs Monday through Saturday through August 13. Then they will program on Thursday through Saturday until Labor Day Weekend. Programs offered are a variety of guided hikes & nature programs, arts & crafts, and sports & games.

The Great Blue Heron is the largest long-legged wadding bird found in this area. We routinely see a Great Blue Heron in the back part of Pennyrile Lake, where the water level is lower and Yellow Pond Lilies are the dominant vegetation. During the Fall Photography Weekend 2010 participants had many opportunities to photograph various behaviors of a Great Blue Heron.

Great Blue Herons can often be seen staring at the water. This is a method the heron uses while hunting. Once the heron locates a prey item like a fish, or frog it will thrust its head into the water to catch its prey. Photo taken by Brett Davis.





This heron was lucky to catch a largemouth bass. The photograph is the best in show photo from fall photography weekend 2010 by Ray Quijano

More information about the Great Blue Heron can be found at www.enature.com .

If you want to know what is in the recreation schedule go to Calendar. We try to have the programs added to the schedule about a week before they happen.

American Lotus is in bloom on Pennyrile Lake. The pale yellow flowers reach up 12" in diameter. The leaves often rise 1 to 2 feet above the surface of the water. The plant will bloom from July-September.

Not only is the American Lotus a beautiful flower, it is also quite a useful plant. Native Americans used many parts of the plant for food. The leaves were cooked similar to spinach. The tuberous enlargements were baked like sweet potatoes. After the outer coating of the seed was removed they could be eaten like nuts or ground into flower.

Today the dried seed heads are sometimes used in dried flower arrangements.

Note: Collecting plants is not allowed in Kentucky State Parks.