Diario del proyecto Wildflowers of Bays Mountain Park

Hey all!
One of my favorite seasons is getting close: Fall! My other favorite seasons are spring, summer and winter.

In addition to the trees changing colors, fall is also a great time to see interesting wildflowers blooming in the park. We normally associate "wildflowers" with "spring" but there are many beautiful and fascinating species that are in their prime in this later season. One showy example is cardinal flower. Those bright red blossoms are especially attractive to hummingbirds fueling up for their long migration south. As a matter of fact, the flowers are mostly pollinated by hummingbirds. As the hummer sips nectar, pollen is deposited on its head which can then pollinate the next flower to get a visit.

Another species that blooms in early fall is nodding ladies tresses. This orchid can be very common in the correct habitat. Here in the park it grows best in full sun in the wet edges of the lake. It also grows well on the dead trees that have into the water. Orchids, in general, are adapted to harsher environments where they can outcompete many other plant species. The dead and rotting trees provide space in the sun, acidic conditions for the roots and plenty of water.

Fall is an often overlooked season for wildflowers here at Bays Mountain. While most of the park is forested and most forest flowers bloom in spring, there are plenty of exceptions. The park also offers some unique habitats, like the lakeshore, where the different growing conditions bring a variety of interesting wildflowers to the park.

Come enjoy the beautiful weather and wildlife!

Ranger Bob

I have noticed signs of spring already here in the park! The red maples have started to bloom, lots of other plants are germinating, and birds are singing their springtime melodies. After a long cold winter, all these are welcome events.

We will soon be restarting our wildflower walks for the season. Check the park calendar ( https://www.baysmountain.com/events/#top ) for the schedule. These will take place at Bays Mountain Park, Laurel Run Park and the Exchange Place section of the Kingsport Greenbelt. The hikes will usually last 1 1/2 to 2 hours, covering from 1 to 3 miles, depending on what's blooming and the weather. Tickets for the hikes are $3 per person, and are available online. Bays Mountain Park members get free tickets via the same site.

As always, I am excited to see the seasons changing here in Kingsport. Come visit the park or get out in your own backyard to immerse yourself in the experience.

Ranger Bob

Hello again, folks!
It's that time of year when we all start itching to get outdoors. Wildflowers can provide a special connection with nature for almost anyone. You may have flowers in your own backyard, or you may enjoy traveling to exotic destinations (like Bays Mountain Park?) in search of special plants.

The spring ephemerals are a fascinating group of plants. They employ the strategy, "Live fast and die young!" In the deep shade of our forests, many plants come up before the trees get their leaves. They come up, bloom, produce seed and "die" (they actually go dormant) in a relatively short span of time in early spring. This lifestyle can be a gamble with the weather. Extreme cold, like we had in early March, may freeze leaves and flower buds. Low temperatures or incessant rains may mean fewer insect pollinators. As our climate changes, these extremes of weather will become more pronounced.

While we have flowers blooming every month of the year, spring is one of the best opportunities to view many species in a short time span. Our naturalist-led Wildflower Hikes are a perfect way to see what's blooming in different areas of Kingsport.

Once again, ourWildflower Hikes will be held in three locations: Bays Mountain Park, Laurel Run Park, and the Exchange Place. Every hike will leave at 10 a.m. from the below locations:

April 4: Laurel Run Park
April 8: Bays Mountain Park
April 11: Exchange Place
April 15: Laurel Run Park
April 18: Bays Mountain Park
April 22: Exchange Place
April 25: Laurel Run Park
April 29: Exchange Place
For hikes at Bays, meet in the Nature Center. At the Exchange Place, meet at the Greenbelt trailhead off Orebank Road. Hikers at Laurel Run should meet in the main parking lot. Please dress for the weather and be prepared to hike for about two hours, covering 2-3 miles (most often less distance). We will hike rain or shine!

Pre-registration is required. Tickets can be purchased online ( https://www.baysmountain.com/events/ ), by phone (423-229-9447), or in-person at the Nature Center Gift Shop. The cost is $3 per person.

Keep an eye on iNaturalist! You folks provide an important resource for your fellow naturalists. You can easily see what is blooming and where it is located in the area. If you can't make it to one our hikes, take your friends and family out on your own little adventure.

I hope to see you at the park this year!

Hey folks,
This coming weekend is City Nature Challenge 2021: Northeast Tennessee! This is a bioblitz covering ten counties of Northeast Tennessee. All observations logged from those counties will go to this project. This will give us a good snapshot of what is happening in our part of the world. Learn more at:

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021-northeast-tennessee

Thank you,
Ranger Bob
Bays Mountain Park

Once again, the seasons have rolled back around to spring. After a cold wet winter, the first flowers are always a welcome sight. This last year has been a tough one, but hopefully we can begin the return to a somewhat normal life very soon.

As an early step toward that return to the "before times," we are starting back with wildflower walks this spring!

Step into spring with this naturalist-guided hike! You’ll have the chance to view and learn about the wildflowers native to our region.
This year’s Wildflower Hikes will be held in three locations: Bays Mountain Park, Laurel Run Park, and the Exchange Place. Every hike will leave at 10 a.m. from the below locations:
March 15: Exchange Place
March 19: Laurel Run Park
March 22: Bays Mountain Park
March 26: Exchange Place
March 29: Bays Mountain Park
April 2: Laurel Run Park
April 5: Exchange Place
April 12: Bays Mountain Park
April 16: Exchange Place
April 19: Laurel Run Park
April 23: Bays Mountain Park
April 26: Exchange Place
April 30: Laurel Run Park
For hikes at Bays, meet in the Nature Center. At the Exchange Place, meet at the Greenbelt trailhead off Orebank Road. Hikers at Laurel Run should meet in the main parking lot. Please dress for the weather and be prepared to hike for about two hours, covering 2-3 miles. We will hike rain or shine!
Pre-registration is required by calling (423) 229-9447. Cost is $3 per person for non-members. Space is limited. Masks are recommended.

If you can't make it for one of the group walks, feel free to contact me and I can try to point you in the right direction to see what's currently blooming.

Keep it up with the iNaturalist observations! We have accumulated a trove of information about park plants that will help us manage this park for generations to come. Hopefully, we can add some new projects to follow other taxa in the future.

I hope to see you at the park this year!
Ranger Bob