Brown-headed Cowbird
by Jacob Crider The Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) is a common species of Blackbird with a native range expanding from central Canada down to Mexico, and can be found throughout…
April is Native Plant Month
April is Native Plant Month by Christy Rybka What are native plants? The term “native plant” refers to any plant that naturally occurs in the region from which it originated.…
Mertensia virginica
All About Spring Ephemerals
All About Spring Ephemerals By Christy Rybka Many of the first wildflowers that bloom each spring are known as spring ephemerals. The word “ephemeral” means “to have a short lifespan.”…
How Birds Stay Warm in the Winter and How to Help
How Birds Stay Warm in the Winter and How to Help by Christy Rybka Although most birds migrate south for the winter, many birds do not. Some birds, such as…
American Sycamore: Platanus occidentalis L.
Winter Tree Identification at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve
Winter Tree Identification at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve by Christy Rybka Although many naturalists identify common Kentucky trees by looking at their leaves, winter provides a wonderful challenge to identify…
Thriving in the Winter at Thrive Forest School
Thriving in the Winter at Thrive Forest School by Christy Rybka At Thrive Forest School at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve, we are learning and having fun outside in all weather,…
The History of Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve
The History of Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve By Christy Rybka Many years ago, the land that is known today as Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve was once a part of the…
Let Them Be Muddy
Let Them Be Muddy: Four Benefits of Letting Your Child Play in the Mud by Christy Rybka At Thrive Forest School, our motto is “Your child will come home muddy…
Take a Walk with Tavia #29 – Poison Hemlock
Take a Walk with Tavia #29 highlights Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum). This plant is in the carrot family, but all parts of this plant are poisonous. Tavia explains how to…
Take a Walk with Tavia #16 – Trumpet Honeysuckle
Take a Walk with Tavia #16 highlights Trumpet Honeysuckle (or Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens). This vine enrobes the seating area in the Sunny Garden. These flowers attract many pollinators, and…