My New Kentucky Home!

Hepatica

Walking Fern

Dutchman's Breeches

Bloodroot

Anglin Falls

Long lost cousins!  Chris Kline (NAU sweatshirt) and Lisa Ails Beard (black/white jacket)

On Wednesday and Thursday the family visited Berea, Kentucky.  My son, who is a high school junior (the tall one in the back) is interested in attending Berea College.  Most of my time in Kentucky had always been in passing through, or looking for butterflies on cold, cloudy days.  So I did not really have found memories of Kentucky.

Upon our arrival in Berea we had lunch at without a doubt the friendliest Burger King I've ever eaten at.  On no less than three occasions did staff come by the table and ask if we needed anything.  How often has that happened to you at a fast food joint?!

After a friendly lunch, we trammeled cross-country to visit Anglin Falls, about 10 miles south of Berea.  The trip for us however was closer to 15 miles as we got lost.  The directions I had pulled off the net added an unnecessary step to the trip and that was the part we got lost on.  The directions sent us from KY21 to KY595 to KY1617.  Initially we missed KY595.  When it was all said and done we came to the realization that KY21 intersected KY1617, and that KY595 was totally unnecessary.

What a treat we discovered upon finally arriving at the John Stephenson SNP parking area.  While spring has been totally absent from southeast Ohio, here in central Kentucky, spring was in full force!  Hepatica was everywhere!  And in multiple colors, white, blue, and pink.  Also blooming was Bloodroot, Dutchmen's Breeches, Yellow Trout Lily, Spicebush, Rue Anemone, and Carex plantaginea.

To me, botanically, the absolute best find of the day was Walking Fern.  I have only seen this once before and had no intentions of seeing it for 2013.  What a blessing to find it here, completely engulfing a large boulder.  The midrib of Walking Fern extends far beyond the leaf blade, sort of like the tendril of a pea plant.  Where the tip of the midrib touches the ground, or in this case the mossy covering of the boulder, a new plant will begin to grow, hence giving the appearance of the plant walking.

Anglin Falls was running, and very much reminded me of some of the spring waterfalls we have here in southeast Ohio, especially at Conkle's Hollow.  The trail to the falls was perhaps a half-mile long and pretty easy to navigate.

Back in Berea for the night, we had opportunity to visit with my cousin Lisa Ails Beard, whom I had not seen since probably kindergarten, roughly 45 years.  Our two families spent much of the night in the Berea Pizza Hut and got caught up.  Lisa and her family live just up the road in Lexington.  I am so glad they were able to come down and visit.

On Thursday we met with admissions staff and students of Berea College.  Berea College is very different from most colleges in the country.  First of all, tuition for students is covered by grants and scholarships.  Which means students graduate from Berea virtually debt free!  Secondly, Berea is a Christian college that takes a little different approach to Christianity, which as a Methodist pastor, I very much appreciate and respect.  Rather than making their focus teaching Christ's teachings, they make their focus applying Christ's teachings.  Of course, they have a chapel and there are many churches in town to choose from, but I so appreciate how Berea is walking the walk rather than just talking the talk.

I must admit I fell in love with Berea, Kentucky!  Acceptance into Berea College is very competitive.  I do hope Asa gets in. 

This trip to Berea, Kentucky brought my species total for the OneThousand Flowers project to 29.  Only 971 to go!