Floracliff is hosting and organizing the 5th annual Central Bluegrass Summer Butterfly Count with NABA - Central Kentucky. Community scientists and butterfly enthusiasts are encouraged to help us count and […]

Floracliff has a diversity of moths that come in many different sizes and colors. These insects play an important role in the ecosystem, having intricate relationships with our native plants, birds, and bats. Join us for this program to kick off National Moth Week, when we will have a few light stations set up with sheets to get a close-up look at our moths and other nocturnal insects. Bring a flashlight!

In this program, we’ll visit some of the small trees and shrubs growing at Floracliff that support our birds, butterflies, and other animals. We’ll discuss how you can add these vital native plants into your yards, replace those pesky invasives (honeysuckle, burning bush, and pear, oh my!), and welcome Bluegrass biodiversity back into our neighborhoods. 

Meet with botanist Rob Paratley for a two-part program at Floracliff Nature Sanctuary. We will have a look at a number of fruit types of native trees. Then we will hike a portion of the Preserve to see some of the fruit of the trees and shrubs in the field.

End your day with a quiet and relaxing “golden hour” hike at Floracliff while the early evening sunset shines through the trees. This will head down to the Kentucky River floodplain, where setting sun lights up the palisades.

Join us for a wildflower hike to Elk Lick Falls. Hopefully, we will see some of our earliest spring wildflowers, such as bloodroot, trout lilies, and spring beauties. This hike will highlight identification, ecology, and pollinator relationships of our spring ephemerals.

Join staff of Raven Run and Floracliff nature sanctuaries for this hands-on demonstration using iNaturalist in the field at Raven Run. We’ll spend some time exploring, and we will cover the benefits of nature observations, basics of the app, and effective photos for species identification. To register: email Anna Wiker at awiker@lexingtonky.gov

End your day with a quiet and relaxing “golden hour” hike at Floracliff while the early evening sunset shines through the trees. This hike will head down to the Kentucky River floodplain, where setting sun lights up the palisades.

Celebrate Earth Day at Floracliff with a easy stroll through the forest to see spring wildflowers, migrating birds, and more. This hike will be mostly on a paved 1/3-mile driveway to the Trail End Lodge. Seating will be available outside the Lodge to relax and view the bird feeding stations for an hour.

Calling all community scientists! This program will focus on exploring Floracliff’s ponds and forest edges after dark for the City Nature Challenge. We’ll focus on discovering and documenting frogs, moths, and more. We recommend that each registered party have at least one member who has, or can create, an iNaturalist account in advance of the program.

Calling all community scientists! This program will focus on exploring Floracliff’s field, forest, and aquatic habitats in search of reptiles and amphibians for the City Nature Challenge. We recommend that each registered party have at least one member who has, or can create, an iNaturalist account in advance of the program.