Wildflower Pilgrimage 2027
Schedule of Events
Toadshade Trillium by Lewis Ulman
Saturday, April 10, 2027
7:30 am and 8:15 am – HOT BREAKFAST AT THE APPALACHIAN FOREST MUSEUM.
Because parking & seating are limited, you will be assigned a breakfast service time after you register. Folks who have the farthest to drive will be scheduled on the earlier shifts. Please attend at your assigned serving time.
Menu for breakfast: Scrambled eggs with Swiss cheese, spinach and mushrooms, turkey sausage; fruit bowl with yogurt and granola; tea, & coffee. For vegan and gluten-free options, check in at the front desk when you arrive to eat, and we will customize your meal.
AFTER BREAKFAST – SATURDAY FIELD TRIPS TO SOUTHERN OHIO MOST SPLENDID FLORAL SHOWCASES
Field Trips can be found HERE. Hikes last until mid-afternoon and will be in groups of 12 or fewer people.
5:15 pm —6:30 pm – DINNER IN THE WOODS – A PILGRIMAGE TRADITION AT THE APPALACHIAN FOREST MUSEUM.
Because parking & seating are limited, you will be assigned a breakfast service time after registering. Please attend at your assigned serving time and depart after eating to make room for others.
The menu consists of a large spinach-apple salad with our beloved herbed vinaigrette dressing, hearty vegetarian chili with optional toppings of sour cream, cheddar cheese, and green onions, and served with tortilla chips. Dessert is decadent homemade chocolate brownies and real whipped cream!
7:15 pm - 9:00 pm at the Paxton Theatre
The Sister Forests of Japan & Eastern United States by Elijah Crabtree, Arc Naturalist
Did you know that forests of Eastern United States shares a remarkable number of plant genera with the temperate forests of Japan? When closely-related plants show up in both eastern Asia and Eastern United States, but no where else in the world, they point to a time in our geologic past when these two forests were once united, even though, today, they occupy opposite corners of the planet. We will learn more about our special connection, including the specific plants we share in common that are completely missing from the European temprerate forests, and why this may be so. You will never look at our backyard forests quite the same way again!
Sunday, April 11, 2027
7:30 am and 8:15 am – HOT BREAKFAST AT THE APPALACHIAN FOREST MUSEUM.
Because parking & seating are limited, you will be assigned a breakfast service time after you register. Please attend at your assigned serving time. Menu for breakfast: Beer pancakes with butter & syrup, turkey sausage, along with fruit cups of bananas, apples, dates, and walnuts drenched in orange juice.
AFTER BREAKFAST – SUNDAY FIELD TRIPS TO SOUTHERN OHIO’S MOST SPLENDID FLORAL SHOWCASES
Hikes last until mid-afternoon. Be sure to check out of your respective lodges before departing on your hikes. Drive home safely, or linger to hike on your own. The Sanctuary trails are open until sunset. We are happy to provide you with a trail map.
Field Trips can be found HERE. Hikes last until mid-afternoon and will be in groups of 12 or fewer people.
Friday, April 9, 2027
9:30 am – 6:30 pm – OPTIONAL CHECK-IN AT THE APPALACHIAN FOREST MUSEUM.
Stop by, say hello, and pick up your name tag and any destination directions you are missing. If you have time, come earlier in the day and enjoy some quiet hiking on the Sanctuary’s 16 miles of floral-laden trails, many of which are worthy floral destinations but are not included among the Pilgrimage field trip offerings —OR— choose from one of the options below.
TWO FRIDAY PROGRAM OFFERINGS TO CHOOSE FROM:
NEW TO THE PILGRIMAGE? Here is an indoor program offering to start your weekend:
3:00 pm – Presentation: ”The World Significance of our Eastern Forest” – Meet at the Museum.
Take a short guided museum tour of our orginal art murals that depict the 40-million year evolution of the temperate forest community. After the tour, take an optional .5 mile walk into the breathtaking Rocky Fork Gorge right below the Museum.
OR Ease into Wildflower Pilgrimage with an afternoon in the woods!
Some of the most spectacular early-spring wildflower displays can be found along the shorter, more local trails that are easy to overlook when planning a full day of hiking. This year, we’re giving these special places their moment in the spotlight.
Join us Friday afternoon for a selection of local hikes featuring incredible early-season wildflowers, beautiful landscapes, and plenty of time to slow down and take it all in. These shorter excursions are a wonderful way to explore some of the hidden botanical treasures close to home without committing your entire day to the trail.
Friday afternoon is the perfect time to arrive, stretch your legs, meet fellow attendees, and settle into the weekend before we gather for our evening keynote at the Paxton. Whether you’re a seasoned wildflower enthusiast or simply looking for a beautiful introduction to the weekend, these hikes offer a chance to discover just how much botanical magic can be found close by.
2:00 pm - Field Trip Options: Ravenwood Listening Trail, Miller State Nature Preserve, Valley of the Ancients & Etawah Trail, Harmony Trail or Barrett’s Rim
7:15 pm - 9:00 pm Presentation at the Paxton Theatre
Welcome by Arc Director, Nancy Stranahan
Trilliums - A World View by Special Guest Speaker: Professor Massashi Ohara from Japan
Biography. Professor Masashi Ohara is traveling from Hokkaido Prefecture in Japan to Ohio expressly to share his extensive knowledge of Trilliums at our Wildflower Pilgrimage this year. Professor Ohara-san is a Japanese botanist and plant ecologist whose decades of research have contributed to our understanding of the biology, ecology, and evolution of Trillium, a distinctive spring wildflower genus found in the forests of both Japan and North America. For more than four decades, Professor Ohara has studied the evolution, reproduction, genetics, and ecology of Trillium species in Japan, as well as their comparative life histories in Japan and North America. In this presentation, Professor Ohara will explore the fascinating life histories of Trillium species in Japan and North America, drawing on more than four decades of field research For the complete biography.
Presentation. By exploring and comparing Trillium species across the two regions of Eastern North America and Japan, he will raise our awareness of the world significance of this specialized and incredibly beautiful genus. With the knowledge Professor Ohara has gained by followed the life history of individual trillium plants and populations over many years, he will share with us how Trilliums grow, reproduce, and change over what has proven to be impressively extended lifetimes. He will also share insights on their reproductive ecology and seed dispersal, including the remarkable relationship between Trillium seeds and ants. This presentation will reveal the extraordinary complexity of these beautiful spring wildflowers and offer new perspectives on plant evolution and forest ecology.