State Parks to Highlight Spring Wildflower Show

Jim Taylor, travel writer
Arkansas Tourism

Numerous Arkansas wildflowers – from among the state’s more than 600 recorded species – start unfurling their blooms in earnest each March and April, beginning in The Natural State’s southern reaches where both the latitudes and the altitudes are indicated by numbers smaller than is the case upstate. In short, spring warms up more quickly down there.

As the temperate weather works its magic northward, dainty wood violets with their heart-shaped leaves and colonies of twin-leaved May apples emerge from forest floors; the delicate, pinkish flowers of rue anemone, the bright red petals of fire pink and the blues of crested iris begin sprinkling color on the Ouachita and Ozark mountains; and toothwort and large yellow lady’s-slippers may treat watchful eyes on Crowley’s Ridge.

Several Arkansas state parks host interpretive events each spring to highlight such flowers and to increase public awareness of and knowledge about them. The wildflower-related activities range from simple wildflower hikes and programs to full weekends of intensive wildflower programming.

Information on upcoming wildflower events at specific parks is provided below. Admission to all activities and programs is free unless indicated otherwise. Persons seeking to participate in all or part of a weekend-long event should contact the host park to obtain a program schedule. More information on each park is available at www.ArkansasStateParks.com, although some parks have their own Web sites as indicated below. Those interested in more park or event details may phone or e-mail the host park using the contact information provided. The parks and their programs, listed in order by date, are:

• Moro Bay State Park, near El Dorado – “All About Wildflowers” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 18. A local wildflower expert will dissect flowers and discuss their details and conduct a wildflower-identification hike. Lunch will be provided. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. 
• Millwood State Park, near Ashdown – “Wildflower Weekend” on March 31-April 1. Guided trail hikes and lake tours focusing on wildflowers. Admission for lake tours will be $6 for adults and $3 for ages 6-12. 
• DeGray Lake Resort State Park, near Arkadelphia – “Wildflower Wanderings Weekend” on April 1-2. Programs geared to novice wildflower enthusiasts. Guided walks, slide shows and lake tours. Admission for lake tours will be $6 for adults and $3 for ages 6-12.
• Petit Jean State Park, near Morrilton – “Wildflower Weekend” on April 1-2. Wildflower walks, demonstrations and evening programs related to wildflowers. 
• Queen Wilhelmina State Park, near Mena – “April in Bloom,” April 1-30. Throughout the month, guided hikes, demonstrations and programs focus on wildflowers, birds and butterflies. 
• Devil’s Den State Park, near Fayetteville – “Wildflower Weekend” on April 8-9. Guided walks and programs to help participants identify and learn more about the area's wildflowers. 
• Pinnacle Mountain State Park, near Little Rock: “Wildflower Walks” on April 8-9. Guided wildflower walks on the park’s Arkansas Arboretum Trail.
• Cossatot River State Park Natural Area, near Mena – “Wildflower Extravaganza” on April 8-9, April 21-23, and May 6-7. Guided wildflower walk each day to include information on the natural history of the plants. 
• Village Creek State Park, near Wynne – “The Wonder of Wildflowers” on April 12-15. Wildflower programs, guided walks and other activities for all ages focus on the wildflowers of Crowley’s Ridge. 
• Lake Catherine State Park, near Malvern – “Blooming Weekend” on April 15-16. Guided hikes and programs explore blooms in the park’s Ouachita Mountains landscape. 
• Lake Ouachita State Park, near Hot Springs – “Wildflowers of the Ouachitas” from noon to 12:45 pm on April 15 at the park’s visitors center. Park interpreter will share photographs and stories about the park’s wildflowers. 
• Bull Shoals-White River State Park, near Mountain Home – “Ozark Springtime Wildflower Weekend” on April 21-23. Guided wildflower walks, Earth Day Garden Clean-up, children’s programs and evening slide shows.