North to the lakes; Wabash Valley wildlife
The Spring Lake Woods and Bog Nature Preserve offered a peak into the Natural Bloomington future last week. A half dozen sites in the Central Till Plain Natural Region remain unexplored before the Northern Lakes Natural Region phase begins. But Spring Lake is the first of 37 natural lake areas on the itinerary.
The Spring Lake preserve protects a thousand shoreline feet on Lake Everett – Allen County’s only natural lake – and was one of the 16 natural areas I hiked and photographed for the Northern Indiana guidebook last week. The others followed the Wabash River and its watershed from Peru to Fort Wayne.
And while the range of images captured were as diverse as the places explored – a dozen Dedicated State Nature Preserves, three State Lakes, and two State Parks – this adventure stands out for the critters that presented themselves along the way.
Up next: Exploring the Wabash River Valley
While I may have to return once more to the White River Valley before I complete my research for the upcoming Guide to Natural Areas of Northern Indiana, that phase of this new guide-writing journey is complete.
I've explored and photographed 15 natural areas from the Fern Cliff Nature Preserve in Putnam County to the Davis-Purdue Agricultural Center Forest in Randolph County and the Shrader-Weaver Nature Preserve in Fayette County -- all National Natural Landmarks.
Now it's time to return to the Wabash River Valley, where the Northern Indiana experience officially began last October at the Jackson-Schnyder Nature Preserve. It unofficially began in Summer 2016 at the Portland Arch Nature Preserve -- yet another National Natural Landmark. Northern Indiana has several.
I'll begin at the Black Rock Barrens area south and west of Lafayette, which feaures 100-foot bluffs on the Wabah. From there, I'll pursue Indiana's official State River northeast to its historic portage at Fort Wayne, shooting two dozen natural areas along the way.
After that, the northern lakes and northwestern dunes and prairies await.
Nature Photo eBook - This is Indiana?
Natural Bloomington is pleased to announce release of our first Nature Photo eBook This is Indiana? - The Natural Bloomington Journey: 2013-2015.
This is Indiana? is a photographic retrospective of Natural Bloomington's first three years and features 105 hi res, full-color images of the Southern Indiana landscape from the Switzerland Hills to the Southwest Lowlands.You can download a copy of This is Indiana? for free. A $10 contribution is requested.
