40th Annual Wildflower Foray to Celebrate Spring Across Brown and Monroe Counties

Written from press release

NASHVILLE, Ind. — The arrival of spring will be marked with guided hikes, educational workshops, and nature-themed festivities during the 40th annual Wildflower Foray, taking place April 25–27, 2025, across Brown and Monroe counties.

Organized by the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites and several environmental partners, the event offers a weekend of immersive outdoor experiences focused on Indiana’s rich natural heritage. Activities will be held at T.C. Steele State Historic Site, Brown County State Park, Monroe Lake, Yellowwood Lake, Morgan-Monroe State Forest, and other scenic locations throughout the region.

The Wildflower Foray includes dozens of free guided hikes highlighting spring wildflowers, native plants, birds, and other wildlife. Some hikes are themed, such as “plants in poetry,” “wild edibles,” and a nature walk through the Selma Steele Nature Preserve, providing opportunities for participants of all abilities to explore.

Workshops at T.C. Steele will give attendees a chance to learn how to identify native plants and arrange succulents. Visitors will also be encouraged to participate in the long-running spring wildflower census by documenting blooming species to assist conservationists in tracking ecological changes over time.

A family-friendly highlight of the weekend is the Arts of the Earth Day and Teddy Bears’ Picnic at T.C. Steele on Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features artists at work, self-guided flower walks, and a 1 p.m. reading of The Teddy Bears’ Picnic, followed by cookies and lemonade. Children are invited to bring their teddy bears and dolls dressed in spring attire. The picnic requires a $4 per child registration, available at IndianaMuseum.org/TC-Steele.

All hikes will take place rain or shine, although some sites may charge gate fees. A full schedule and registration for certain events can be found on the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website.

The Wildflower Foray is made possible through collaboration between several organizations, including the T.C. Steele State Historic Site, Hoosier National Forest, Monroe County Parks & Recreation, Indiana Division of Nature Preserves, IU Research & Teaching Preserves, and others. Sponsors include Friends of Brown County State Park, Sassafras Audubon Society, Sycamore Land Trust, and the Indiana Native Plant Conservancy.

For more information, visit IndianaMuseum.org.

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