Wednesday Walks, organized by Christopher Fischer as a part of a Linear Arboretum project funded by an Arkansas Forestry Commission Urban and Community Forestry Grant, have occurred for several months, off-the-beaten path in-town in Eureka Springs, and in various parks, especially Lake Leatherwood City Park and Black Bass Lake.
The purpose has been to explore and discover trees of exemplary value or interest that will find their way into a database plotting the trees’ location and identity. They occur along the streets, trails, pathways, stairways, and hidden green spaces in our city limits where few of us have ventured. I have been fortunate to tag along on most of the Wednesday Walks, looking up into the tree canopy, scratching my chin, trying to figure out the identity of trees during the winter months when there are generally no leaves, flowers, or fruits to aid in identity.
This time or year, bark and buds tell the story. Of course, one can enjoy a tree for its form and beauty without putting a name to it. The purpose of this project is to identify trees of note within our urban forest. Bear in mind, of course, that in Eureka Springs we do have more forest than urban landscape.
Last week’s Wednesday Walk occurred on Thursday afternoon along the trails at Black Bass Lake. The walk was led by Larry Lowman, nurseryman, former state parks interpreter and consultant, and plantsman extraordinaire, retired to wild places and gardens in southern Carroll County. His depth and breadth of knowledge of all aspects of native woody plants enthralled a small throng of 38 souls. Tales of ashes, oaks, spicebush, witch hazel and sassafras piqued the interest of the straggling group.
Native plants is a continuing theme, along with a shifting schedule. This week, the Wednesday Walk is supplanted by a Thursday, March 28, lecture by Larry Lowman at 7 p.m. at the Eureka Springs Community Center on “Native Plants of the Ozark Highlands.”
Yet another event on the same topic will be presented on Sunday, March 31 at 1:30 p.m. at the Eureka Springs Community Center presented by Theo Witsell, botanist for the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. A hike with Witsell will follow his lecture at Lake Leatherwood City Park at 3 p.m. It is gratifying to see the growing interest in native plants coalescing into programming we can all enjoy.