Published: October 15, 2009 11:05 pm         

Nature preserve to be dedicated

ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS — John Bacone, director of the Indiana Division of Nature Preserves, and St. Mary-of-the-Woods College President David Behrs, will help dedicate the Jackson/Schnyder Nature Preserve at 10 a.m. Oct. 31.

The 15-acre preserve not too far west of the college was donated to the Sycamore Trails RC&D Council’s Ouabache Land Conservancy late last year by Dr. Marion Jackson.

The 11 acres of mature forest is rolling with two deep ravines and intermittent streams. About 25 species of trees are present, including oak, hickory, ash and tulip poplar. Red oaks are the favorite species of this site. In addition, the uncommon Kentucky coffee tree grows in the preserve. Spring wildflowers are especially showy, including celandine poppy, nodding trillium and larkspur.

A Tallgrass prairie planting covers the other four acres. The Ouabache Land Conservancy cooperated with the Wabash Valley Audubon Society and Bruce Marheine of Wildlife Land and Resource Management to plant the prairie in June. Marheine drilled 10 species of grasses and sedges (such as Big & Little Bluestem, Indian Grass and Prairie Dropseed) and 38 species of native forbs (such as Dense Blazing Star, Compass Plant and Rattlesnake Master) into the former soybean field.

The Ouabache Land Conservancy will protect the site from development, and manage the site for research and teaching at all levels and for field trips for organizations and individuals.

To learn more about the Ouabache Land Conservancy, visit www.sycamoretrails.org/Land Trust.htm.

To get to the preserve, take Indiana 150 to St. Mary’s Avenue, drive past the college, continue west and turn left on Bloomtown Road, go under the railroad and turn right on Concannon Avenue and just past the bridge is the roadside entrance (on the right) to the preserve.