Fossilized coral

I found this interesting fossil pebble along trail 2 at Prophetstown State Park.  Looks much like a Petoskey stone which is a Hexagonaria coral fossil.  Picture March 22, 2014.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexagonaria

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petoskey_stone

 

Camassia scilloides sprouting and garter snake

At Prophetstown State Park, trail 2, March 22, 2014.   I was checking this trail to see if the Camassia scilloides had sprouted yet.  Although this plant grows extensively along this trail, I only found one patch that had sprouts poking out of the ground.  I knelt down to take a photograph, then noticed this garter snake right next to my knee.  It didn't seem to be bothered by my presence a bit and remained completely motionless except for sticking out its tongue a couple times.  Maybe it just came out of hibernation and it was being slow.

Previous post on garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis):

Previous post on the Camassia scilloides on this trail:

Hemlock at Turkey Run State Park

A view of Sunset Point with a branch of hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) in the foreground. The evergreen trees visible in the background are also hemlock.  The hemlock stands at Turkey Run are a remnant of the forests that covered Indiana soon after the glaciers receded thousands of years ago.

Link to Tsuga canadensis:

Link to hemlock as remnants of ancient forest:

Link to glaciers in Indiana:

The Lieber cabin at Turkey Run State Park with small hemlock trees in the foreground.

Pictures taken March 18, 2014.

Osage orange

 

These Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) trees still stand in a row just east of the Inn at Turkey Run State Park.  A relic of pre-Civil War Indiana, the Osage orange is not native to this part of North America but was made popular with farmers as a spin-off of their discovery by the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  Osage orange trees would be planted in a tight row and the thorny trees would keep livestock fenced in.  Osage orange fences fell out of favor after the Civil War as barbed wire became available but the trees persist here at Turkey Run and elsewhere in Indiana.

Link to Lewis and Clark and Osage orange:

Link to Maclura pomifera:

Link to previous post on Osage orange:

 

Picture taken March 18, 2014.

Wintercreeper at Turkey Run

Just outside the inn at Turkey Run State Park.  Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei) is climbing up this tree.  This was brought into the park as part of the landscaping.  Not a good idea.  Knowing how invasive it is, I figured I'd find it close by in the park where it doesn't belong.

Yes, and here is the wintercreeper.  It covers the ground here, a short walk behind the Turkey Run Inn.  Sugar Creek is in the background.  We can expect it to spread from here to other parts of the park.  It displaces the native plants which soon will displaying spring flowers.  Wintercreeper should not be planted anywhere, but a state park is the worst place of all.  

Pictures taken March 18, 2014.

Link to previous post on wintercreeper:

Wabash River Mar. 12, 2014

Wabash River, at Lafayette, Mar. 12, 2014.  The river is at flood stage and still rising.

Link to Wabash River levels:

Wabash River Feb. 26, 2014

Wabash River, looking upstream from the pedestrian bridge at Lafayette.  Feb. 26, 2014.  The floodwaters are receding.   Weather has gotten very cold again the last few days and ice floes are forming on the river.

Link to Wabash River levels:

Wabash River Feb. 21, 2014

View of the Wabash River from the pedestrian bridge, Lafayette.  The river had been frozen over here with a solid ice pack just a few hours before this but recent warm weather and heavy rains caused the river to rise here and sweep away the ice at this place.  Morning of February 21, 2014.

Link to Wabash River levels: