DANVILLE - Spring has sprung, the grass has "riz" - and if you're wondering where the flowers is, the answer may be Graham Cave State Park.
This Saturday, naturalist Lorie Volenberg will lead a pair of free guided hikes at the park on RouteTT near Montgomery City. The first starts at 1 p.m. and the second at 3:30 p.m.
"It's a chance to see what beautiful things Mother Nature has to give us, especially because spring has been taking so long to get here," Volenberg said.
A wildflower hike sets off at 1 p.m. from the park's lower picnic shelter parking lot. It will wind for .6 miles across Fern Ridge Trail and Graham Cave Trail. These trails have a moderate to rugged difficulty rating. Hikers will be able to see a wide variety of wildflowers as they pass by scenic sandstone formations and through rich valley forests, according to a park news release.
"As you know, it's been a slow spring for everybody, but we do have things blooming," Volenberg said.
She hit the trials Tuesday to get a preview and spotted spring beauty, Dutchman's breeches, rue anemone, false rue anemone, large bellwort, Virginia bluebells, trout lilies, purple violets, bloodroot and more.
Bloodroot is a personal favorite, she said. Named for the caustic red fluid in their roots, the striking white flowers rise above a single, horseshoe-shaped pale-green leaf.
"It's just unique," Volenberg said. "It's one leaf, one stem, one flower, one or two days of blooming. It's all about one."
She hopes some of the buds wait until the weekend to burst.
"Those only last a couple days, so I'm like, 'Slow down, kids!'" Volenberg added.
Hikers are encouraged to bring cameras, notepads and flower identification books.
The story hike kicks off at 3:30 p.m. near the park's interpretive shelter in the lower parking lot. Hikers can stroll along the .3 mile, moderately difficult Graham Cave Trail while learning about how ancient people lived and adapted to environmental changes over thousands of years. Graham Cafe served as a seasonal home to area Native Americans up to 10,000 years ago.
Participants in either hike should also dress in layers, wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes or boots, and bring a bottle of water. Insect repellent is recommended. While the trails are not wheelchair accessible, people of all ages should be able to handle them, Volenberg said.
She added that people are welcome to join both hikes.
For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.