04/10/2026
Check out Wildflower Weekend, April 10th, 11th, and 12th!
Wildflower Weekend Event Line Up
April 10th-12th
Friday, April 10th
5:30pm - 7:00pm: Kick Off Event- We are happy to promote the lovely MyPath trail which will one day bring walkers from Spencer to McCormick’s Creek State Park! Join Owen County Soil & Water at the trail head for an overview and then a stroll along the path itself. Identify the flowers we see along the way as well as the tree planting area, the Monarch Way Station, the food forest and more. Join us for this fun event! Meet: 788 Pottersville Road, Spencer. Owen C. SWCD office
Saturday, April 11th
9:30 am-12 pm: Native Plant Sale- Every year some dedicated Friends members dig up lovely perennials from their yards and woods and donate them for this fundraiser. Plants will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. We will be happy to label and set your purchase aside to allow you to participate in the scheduled hikes and talks. Cash is preferred! Receive a free American Plum Tree with a donation to the Friends of McCormick's Creek ($5 suggested donation). Sale is happening at the Nature Center.
10 am-11 am: Ecology of McCormick's Cove Nature Preserve- (Hike) Join Nature Preserves Communities Ecologist, Wyatt Williams, to walk among towering oaks and hickories in this leisurely stroll through one of the park's richest sites. Learn the names of the wildflowers, but also how they fit into the system around them. This hike starts and ends at Friendly Shelter. This hike is rated moderate and is a .75-mile round trip.
2 pm: Rugged Plants- (Hike) Join David Mow, Invasive Specialist and Master Gardener Instructor, at Centennial Shelter for a short hike on our new Echo Canyon Trail. You will discover how the acidic soil in this habitat and rock cliffs make it home to rare plants in the park.
4 pm-6pm: Wildflowers Hanging from the Bluffs- (Hike) Join State Ecologist, Danielle Howard, at Green`s Bluffs Nature Preserve to learn what plants can live on the acidic steep cliff in Owen County. This hike is for advanced hikers only. We will be hiking the North Loop Trail, which is 1.2 miles, on steep slopes, and rugged terrain. Hiking poles are strongly suggested. Limited parking available. Meet: Green's Bluff Nature Preserve, North Loop Spencer, IN
6:30 pm-8:30 pm: Wildflower Canvas- (Workshop) Come sip on native teas and create a beautiful scenic native wildflower painting at the Nature Center. The cost of this program costs $10, it requires registration by emailing [email protected]. This program is limited to 20 people. For more information, please check our page.
Sunday, April 12th
10 am: Wildflowers at the Waterfalls- (Hike)
1.5 mile hike, moderate. Gate fees will apply to attend programs. Join David Mow, Invasive Specialist and Master Gardener Instructor, for a hike at Owen Co.’s largest waterfall, observe the different habitats along the creek as staff help to identify flowers along the way. Meet: 2605 N. Cataract Road, Spencer, Cataract Falls State Recreation Area.
4 pm-5:30 pm: Wildflowers in the Forest- (Hike) Join Forest Ecologist, Megan Crecelius, at Owen Putnam State Forest Office for a wildflower hike on Popular Top. This is a 1.2-mile, moderate hike with scenic view of a wildlife pond and waterfall. Limited parking is available. Meet: 2153 Fish Creek Road, Spencer, IN 47460
on.IN.gov/mccormickscreeksp