Shawnee National Forest offers many chances to see wildflowers
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Warmer weather has arrived in the Southern Illinois area, and with it comes a multitude of native wildflowers which can be found on the Shawnee National Forest.
For outdoor enthusiasts who are looking to connect with nature, the U.S. Forest Service advises that spring provides not only a wonderful backdrop for doing so – but also offers a variety of places to visit that are complemented by the colors that only spring can provide.
For those who may need some help in deciding which locales to visit to see the beauty that springtime provides, the Forest Service offers an online wildflower map which features hundreds of locations on national forests for prime wildflower viewing.
The wildflower map includes wildflower viewing areas on national forest system lands and can be referenced by specific states, individual national forests and geographic regions.
Four of these areas are highlighted on the Shawnee National Forest.
For many rural communities, the tourist revenue generated by thousands of wildflower festivals and events held each year helps support local economies.
Recent research showed that viewing and photographing wildflowers and trees is the fastest growing nature-based outdoor activity.
Those who are seeking advice on where to view wildflowers locally on the Shawnee, front desk personnel at one of the Forest Service's offices in Harrisburg, Vienna and Jonesboro can provide hiking recommendations, along with other helpful tips.
A wildflower themed "Connecting Families with the Forest" display is also available at the Harrisburg office.
All three of the offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The map is part of the agency’s Celebrating Wildflowers website which includes more than 10,000 plant images and information about the aesthetic, recreational, biological, medicinal and economic values of native plants.
Wildflower areas which are located on the Shawnee National Forest and are identified on the newly released map follow:
<strong>Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area</strong>
Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area is a popular destination for wildflower enthusiasts, hikers and picnickers.
There are a couple of trails that traverse the area, allowing visitors to experience a wide variety of natural communities and geological settings, such as sandstone cliffs, a sandstone canyon, a natural bridge and a gentle stream flowing across a sandstone escarpment.
<strong>LaRue-Pine Hills</strong>
LaRue Pine Hills’ unique characteristics dictate and support a rich biodiversity.
It covers about 4.5 square miles (3,547 acres) and contains 14 natural communities including forests, swamps, ponds, wetlands, hill prairie, limestone barrens and striking geologic features.
LaRue Pine Hills supports nearly 1,200 species of vascular plants and is one of the country’s most diverse areas.
<strong>Pounds Hollow Ecological Area</strong>
Pounds Hollow is a popular destination for wildflower enthusiasts, hikers, picnickers and folks who enjoy swimming and relaxing on a beach.
There are two trails that traverse the area, allowing visitors to experience a wide variety of natural communities and geological settings, such as sandstone glades and cliffs and a sandstone canyon with a gentle stream flowing through the canyon and into Pounds Hollow Lake.
<strong>Simpson Township Barrens</strong>
Simpson Township Barrens is a unique ecological area containing several native plant communities such as limestone barrens, seeps, dry and dry-mesic upland forest and an intermittent creek drainage.
The topography of the area supports a rich diversity of plant life as well.
The limestone barrens communities are characterized by very dry, calcium rich soils that support a flora more commonly encountered on the tall grass prairies found north of the Shawnee National Forest.
To learn more about the Shawnee National Forest online, visit www.fs.usda.gov/shawnee.