Guided Hike with 21st Century Parks

On Wednesday, we took a guided hike of the southern part of the new Floyd's Fork Greenway. Organized by Christen Boone, Director of External Relations, and guided by Michael Gaige, naturalist extraordinaire, of 21st Century Parks, this hike was informative and full of zeal for what is to come. Michael is one of the country's premier naturalists and was brought to Louisville to find all things interesting in the new Floyd's Fork Greenway, a 3,800 acre federally, locally, and privately funded system of parks stretching across 20 miles of lush Jefferson County. The hike was very informative and not too difficult to complete, though there were a few steep climbs and descents on unmarked trails.

Naturalist Michael Gaige explains the noxious, tree stunting mustard garlic weed. Photo ©Bryan Siders

Our hike started close to the intersection of Old Man's Run creek and Floyd's Fork Creek. For those of you not familiar with the area, this is about 5 miles south of Gene Snyder Freeway on Bardstown Road. It is important to stress that this land is not open to the public yet, so please don't go looking for it on your own. I encourage you to seek out one of the guided tours if you are interested in visiting the future park.

The hike first pushed into a lowland area bordered by a steep slope covered in ephemeral wildflowers and cedar trees. The flowers, I believe they were called lady ephemerals, only grow on slopes that have never been cleared. Michael was quick to point out the abundance of hemlock growing along the bottom land. Hemlock is poisonous to humans and can cause blistering in some individuals who touch it. Though a danger, it smelled wonderful. The area was also covered in tiny lavendar wildflowers.

Along the un-trail that we pushed through, we stopped to observe a three trunk oak tree. When an oak tree is cut down, it won't necessarily die. It will sprout new growth which will then grow into another large tree over decades all on the original stump. I was not aware of this, but have since noticed this occurrence in my own backyard.

Near the three trunk tree we spotted one of many waterfalls in the park. The waterfall was a clean line of shale and the collapsing limestone layer below. This same layer of rock appears many other places in the park. Naturally, waterfalls will be a main feature of the park and most will be easily available to visitors from parking areas or the paved walking paths.

Rock ledge waterfall. Photo ©Bryan Siders

We left the waterfall and climbed through a barbed wire fence to then climb a steep hill through tall little blue stem prairie grass. The opening was beautiful with golden hues accentuated with mature green cedar trees.

Clearing covered in Little Blue Stem grass and lined by large cedar trees. Photo ©Bryan Siders

Once we all survived the climb to the top of the hill, Michael pointed out a nearly endangered species of plant called Kentucky Gladecress. Gladecress is a tiny, green flowering plant that only grows in clearings, in a particular layer of the earth. It is found only in Jefferson and Bullit counties of KY. By finding it in this clearing we know that this area has been clear for a very long time and was probably kept clear by mowing, brush cuttings, cattle grazing, and even bison stomping in the time of the Native Americans.

Kentucky Gladecress is rare and only grows in Jefferson and Bullit Couties in KY. Photo ©Bryan Siders

Proceeding through a gate to a pasture, we were quickly aware of numerous sinkholes. One of these sinkholes has been taken over by an invasive tree often called Tree of Heaven. This tree is quick to take over with a rampant root system and can often kill competing trees. It is native to China and is difficult to kill as cutting it down only gives the roots more energy to sprout. The following day I was quick to notice this tree all along I-64 and I-71 near downtown.

Trees of Heaven shown in a large sinkhole. Photo ©Bryan Siders

What is one of only a few overlooks in the parks showed an impressive picture of the middle to southern parts of the park. The tree line going up the left side of the photo shows Floyd's Fork which winds through almost all of the greenway, hence its name.

Even the power lines can't ruin the view from this cattle pasture. Photo ©Bryan Siders

We started towards our cars by carefully traveling through the woods avoiding thorny weeds and short tree branches. All along the path there were wildflowers, mostly larkspur and aster.

Michael stopped to show us an invasive, noxious weed known as mustard garlic. This weed smells like garlic if you crush the leaves. It is dangerous to tree roots as it emits a chemical into the ground that kills the mycorrhizas fungus which helps deliver nutrients from the soil into the tree root systems. Killing this fungus can stunt tree growth rates by half.

Wild asters and larkspur covered much of the wooded areas. Photo ©Bryan Siders

Mustard Garlic will be removed from the park by volunteers. Photo ©Bryan Siders

After the hike had ended, we proceeded back to the lowland near our cars to view a rock wall. Many years ago, sometime in the late 19th century/early 20th century, farmers built this dry stack rock wall to move Old Man's Run creek from the lowland fields to the valley wall. This opened up the lowland for farming. Note that this wall was damaged by a sewage pipe installation for a nearby development and was never repaired (keep an eye on your officials!)

A rock wall pushes Old Man's Run against the hillside. Photo ©Bryan Siders

To see all of Bryan's pictures from the hike, visit Bryan's pictures on Flickr

To learn more about the Floyd's Fork Greenway, visit 21st Century Parks There are already many opportunities to donate, explore, and volunteer in the greenway. Construction of the parkway will begin soon and estimated completion is within 5 years.

Chocolate lab Max plays in Old Man's Run. Photo ©Bryan Siders