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50-50-50 Project
(updated
05.06.08) |
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2008 Update .
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In
2004, the Wood-Land-Lakes RC&D
Forestry Committee volunteers, along with scout troops, 4-H members,
community service workers, individuals, and families worked over 1,000 hours
to develop a single collection site of 150 common Indiana trees, shrubs, and
wildflowers at the Noble County 4-H Park, west of Albion. The project was
to consist of the native vegetation, walking trails, and plant
identification markers.
Due to circumstances beyond the committee’s control, some of the trails have
been compromised and/or damaged. Many of the 50 Indiana trees, shrubs, and
wildflowers still exist at the park ~ they are now in a more natural setting
rather than on marked trails. The
map may still help guide
you to their general location.
Several important goals
were met along the way.
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The 50-50-50 Project: |
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Provided volunteer opportunities
Improved under-utilized natural resources
Enhanced a local educational site |
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And don’t
forget all the native vegetation that was planted: |
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50
different native Indiana trees
50
different native Indiana shrubs
50
different native Indiana wildflowers |
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The
50-50-50 Project has evolved into a
“Native Species Treasure
Hunt.” Use the
original trail descriptions (below) and the
original trail map (pdf
version, click pdf help if necessary) to guide you to the general locations of the plantings and use the
photos from the photo gallery to help
identify some of the vegetation. You can also use many of the readily
available field guides.
Contact us and let us know what you find and
approximately where it is located and we will continue to update this
website with current native species sightings!
The true treasure of this
hunt is helping
future generations of Hoosiers learn to identify Indiana’s native plant
species. So grab your kids, your grandkids, your nieces and nephews, or
even the neighborhood kids (just be sure to ask their parents first though!)
and an identification guide and get hunting!
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The
Noble County 4-H Park is located about 1.5 miles west of Albion on Main Street (County
Road 300N).
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Trail A
Follow the graded road from the entrance into the woods east. It curves
north then circles west and south back to the entrance. Included among the
many species of flowers, bushes, and trees you will see are Blue Violet
flowers, Ninebark bushes, and White Ash trees. You can also enjoy Wild
Ginger, Wild Geranium, Hickories, White Ash, Prickly Ash, Wingstem,
Heartleaf Willow, and Large-flowered Trillium. (Unfortunately, this trail is
partially closed.)
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Trail B
Begins inside the woods along the south side of the Trail A loop. The trail
loops north and east around low, wet ground and splits into 2 trails. The
new trails climb northeast and northwest to end at the northeast side of
Trail A near the 4-H building. Along the way you will see Cut-leaved
Toothwort flowers, American Elder bushes, American Elm trees, Tuliptree,
Yellow Jewelweed, and a huge Bur Oak.
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Trail C
Starts close to the Park entrance and runs north along the edge of the
woods, parallel to the gravel road. You will see Purple Coneflowers,
American Plum bushes, Green Ash trees, Wild Iris, Buttonbush, Sandbar
Willow, Firepink, and Golden Alexanders. (Unfortunately, this trail is
closed.)
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Trail D
Can be found a short walk into the woods along Trail A. It drops down to the
northern edge of a marsh with Wild Coffee flowers, Witchhazel bushes,
Hazelnut, Creepers, Dutchman's Breeches, and Nannyberry.
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Trail E
Begins south of the gate across the gravel road and forks into 2 trails. One
leads east into the woods following along the creek. The other leads north
to a bridge, built by one of our scout volunteers, across the stream and
loops back to the gravel road. You can see Black Willows, Winterberry,
Swamp Buttercup, and Skunk Cabbage. (Unfortunately, this trail is closed.)
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Trail F
Leads west from the Park entrance near our south nursery and has Whirled
Milkweed, Honeylocust, Cottonwood, and Flowering Spurge.
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Trail G
Begins at the culvert on the west side of the gravel road and follows the
tree line up along the north side of the 4-H building where you will see
Tall Bellflowers, Pasture Rose shrubs, Kentucky Coffee trees, Eastern
Red Cedar, Pasture Rose, Catalpa, and Butterflyweed. |
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