Forest Wildflowers

In the wake of the June 27^th accident that claimed the lives of Andrew Korth, Jeramy Rogers, and Sierra Rogers while on a canoe outing near Orman Dam near Belle Fourche, we have delayed writing a review of the June Moon Walk. Andy Korth, shown here at right, led the program about wildflowers.

But, as Moon Walk coordinator Amy Ballard rightly observed, “let’s enjoy the outdoors as they would.”

It’s time to proceed with information about another pleasant evening exploring the outdoor beauty of our beloved Black Hills.

The June 26^th event, “Forest Wildflowers,” was conducted just north of Deerfield Reservoir in the central Black Hills. Botanist Andrew Korth was our lead guide, and he – along with a group of fellow botanists – introduced us to the habitat, identification, and management of a variety of wildflowers. They had gone into this meadow earlier and labeled a couple of dozen wildflowers, allowing moonwalkers to amble along at their own pace, stopping to examine each of the flowers and ask questions, as necessary.

We were again blessed with beautiful weather, luring some 130 people to the rolling hills known as “Reynolds Prairie.”

Having grown up near the sandhills of western Nebraska, we were not surprised at the colorful diversity offered by wildflowers – but they seemed especially prolific in this year of abundant moisture across the Black Hills.

We took a few dozen photos on this outing, alternating between the diverse cast of characters who frequent Moon Walks, and the splendid floral offerings presented by Mother Nature.

Take a look at our Moon Walk Gallery and sample a few of the wildflowers that we enjoyed – along with the faces of a few of our fellow sojourners! You'll find images from all of our Moon Walks, starting with the most recent. Among the wildflowers we found was this Cressleaf Groundsel, shown at left. We’ve added some commentary and supplemental information that you might find helpful, too.

These Moon Walks are held monthly on Saturday nights close to the official full moon. The walks begin at 7 o'clock and generally last one to two hours.

The Black Hills Moon Walks are sponsored by the Black Hills National Forest and the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association. For more information about the Moon Walks and other activities in the Hills, visit the official web site for the Black Hills National Forest.