Large-Flowered Trillium, Trillium grandiflorum
pil·grim·age(n):
A long journey or search, especially one driven by an exalted purpose.
20th Wildflower Pilgrimage
at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
April 9-11, 2027, Fria
Learn about Trilliums of the World from
Professor Ohara, flying in from Japan especially for this event,
and the close floristic kinship between the
temperate forests of the United States and Japan
$250/person
This year’s Pilgrimage special theme is Trilliums - an enchanting genus of flowers that grow in only a few places in the world. We have done our best to time this event to synchronize with the opening of one of the showiest of the trillium species, Trillium grandiflorum. We are especially honored to host Professor Ohara for Friday’s keynote address when he will share with us a world view of the Trillium genus - their natural history, diversity, and intriguingly disjunct world distribution. Professor Ohara-san hails from Hokkaido, Japan, where the Asian trilliums can still be found on the mountainsides.
Some of the world’s most beautiful wildflower displays can be found in the karst country region of south-central Ohio. Expert-led field trips on Saturday and Sunday will lead small groups to stunning floral showcases. Two breakfasts and one dinner are provided. The event includes indoor presentations on Friday and Saturday evenings.
In Japan, Kanji for Trillium is written as: 延 (en): To stretch, prolong, or lengthen, 齢 (rei): Age or lifespan, and 草 (sou): plant or herb. In other words, Trillium in Japan means longevity plant! This may refer to the fact that it was historically a medicinal plant, extending the lives of those treated for specific ailments, or because it can take 7-10 years to bloom from seed and is quite a long-lived plant . Or both!
Trilliums can serve as gateways to world-view perspectives. Japan’s temperate forests are uncannily similar in structure to the Eastern hardwood forests of North America. This weekend, we will learn why Japan and the United States are “sister” forests, and the many common genera that inhabit two large forest regions separated halfway across the globe.
Please fill out the registration form and complete your payment in order to register for Wildflower Pilgrimage. To complete your payment once you have filled out the form, click the “cart” button in the corner of the webpage.
Spend this spring in good company.
Spend it among the flowers.
Trillium grandiflorum art by Sharon Casapulla
You can easily count the springs of your life. Who would want to miss even one year of our native wildflower displays? The Highlands Nature Sanctuary, centered on the Rocky Fork Gorge, and other Arc of Appalachia’s nearby preserves present some of the richest wildflower displays to be found in the Eastern United States, if not the world. This is due to the scale of land preservation that has been accomplished in this region, as well as the wealth of moisture and minerals in the underlying limestone and dolomite bedrock. These karst country landscapes of springs, rock arches, seeps, and sinkholes produce an unusual abundance and density of wildflowers in mid-April each year - presenting awe-inspiring drifts of wildflowers to our astonished eyes and grateful hearts.
Full Weekend Tuition: $250 per person. Includes two evenings of presentations, two days of field trips, breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday, and dinner on Saturday evening.
Questions? If you have any questions or problems, contact our Education Coordinator, Cassidy Drummond, at 937-794-3360. For questions about lodging, contact Arc staff at 937-365-1935 or email arcpreserveinfo@gmail.com.
Questions? If you have any questions or problems, contact our Education Coordinator, Cassidy Drummond, at 937-794-3360. For questions about lodging, contact Arc staff at 937-365-1935 or email arcpreserveinfo@gmail.com.
Registration Process: Please note that lodging is NOT included in tuition. When you are finished filling out the registration form, you will see the link that will take you to our payment center. You will not be registered until the registration fee is paid. Once we have your submitted form and your receipt of payment, you will be emailed a confirmation.
Lodging: is available through our office at the Appalachian Forest Museum for both Sanctuary and Pike Lake State Park cabins, about a 25-minute drive from the Sanctuary. Please call the office staff to discuss those options, 937-365-1935. If our offered lodging is filled up, there is a wide variety of private inns and cabins offered in the region on the county tourism websites, GPS search engines, and Airbnb. Some of the lodges closest to the Sanctuary include: Blueberry Hill Cabins, Lazy H cabins, Kinder Farm, and Tu-Lakes Hotel. Camping is available near the Sanctuary at Paint Creek, Rocky Fork, and Pike Lake State Parks, and several local facilities listed on HipCamp.
Selecting your field trips: All registrants will be provided a form on which they can select their preferred field trips as we get closer to the event. We will send you a confirmation email with your field trip assignments and directions to all your weekend destinations. Hikes are limited to no more than 12 people per field trip. Each hike has a designated meeting area and unique time of departure that can be found on the website and in your confirmation email.
Transportation: Participants will drive their own cars to the described trailheads or meeting locations.
Workshop Hub: The workshop hub is at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary at 7660 Cave Road Bainbridge, Ohio, 45612, The Sanctuary is just one mile south of Highway 50 on Cave Road, four miles west of Bainbridge, and four miles east of Rainsboro. The Sanctuary and Cave Road is signed on US-50 and is easy to find. All meals take place at the Appalachian Forest Museum at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary.
Evening Presentations at Paxton Theater: The Friday and Saturday night presentations will take place at the Paxton Theater located in Bainbridge at 133 E Main St, Bainbridge, Ohio, on the east end of Bainbridge on US-50 (south side of the road). Parking is easily found along Bainbridge’s quiet residential streets and in the lot directly across from the theater. Please arrive early enough to include a five-minute walk to the theater. Built in 1910, the Paxton Theater is made of local rainbow sandstone and seats 300 people. It has sponsored the Paint Valley Jamboree for over 50 years - featuring live musicians each month!
Cancellation Policy for Event Registration: In case of cancellation, refunds will be granted in full up through March 9, 2027. After that time, all payments are final and, if not used, will be recorded as a tax-deductible donation to the Arc of Appalachia. Registrations are transferable. If you are transferring your registration to another party, please be sure to give us your recipient’s name and email.