Trail Stations

Trail Stations
1	This trail guide will help you explore the Nature Preserve. Numbered trail markers correspond to this guide. Enjoy your visit!
2	One of the longest living trees the sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) naturally grows near water sources. Sometimes surviving for more than 600 years, it is easily recognized by its white trunk and peeling bark. Its crossing grain makes it difficult to split; therefore, it is often used for butcher’s chopping blocks.
3	Japanese honeysuckle shrubs (Lonicera japonica) dominate this area. This invasive, non-native plant is considered an exotic species. Notice how very few other types of vegetation are present here. Such invasives will out-grow, out compete, and eliminate native plants.
4	Observe the large white ash tree (Fraxinus americana). The wood of this native shade tree is valued for making baseball bats and oars.
5	The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is considered one of the most valuable hardwood trees in America. It is the main species used for syrup production - 40 gallons of sap are required to make just one gallon of syrup!
6	Located here is a very large northern red oak (Quercus rubra) whose brilliant red autumn leaf color gives it its name. Tannin, used in leather making, is extracted from the bark, and its durable, attractive wood is widely used to make furniture.
7	The black walnut (Juglans nigra) is one of Kentucky’s most treasured hardwood trees for fine furniture and paneling. The nuts are a welcome food source for both humans and wildlife.
8	You will rarely see a blue ash tree (Fraxinus quadrangulata) this large except in an undisturbed forest. You can recognize a blue ash because it is the only tree species that has four-sided twigs The inner bark of the twigs will turn water blue.
9	The chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) is a particularly inspiring native tree as it ages and develops large, bold, scaly, gray trunks and branches. A national champion of this species, located in Clark County, Kentucky, is 110 feet tall with a crown spread of 92 feet.
10	An impressive giant, this white oak (Quercus alba) has beautiful fall color and is one of the largest spreading trees in North America. Oak and hickory species comprise nearly 72% of Kentucky’s native forests.
11	The stream located here is termed an ephemeral wash - a drainageway that only carries water periodically, usually after heavy or prolonged rains. All stream areas, whether wet or dry, are important and should be protected as they provide water and habitat for wildlife, and help manage stormwater for humans.
12	It is easy to see how the shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) got its name. The hickory is the second most dominant native forest species in Kentucky. It is an extremely useful tree: the nuts are good for wildlife and humans; the wood has a high heat value when burned and the smoke is used to cure and flavor meat; and the lumber is highly prized for making tool handles, paddles, or anything requiring great strength, elasticity, or toughness.
13	The yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava) is a native tree that usually requires rich, well-drained, fertile soil to thrive. This hillside is relatively undisturbed, thus the trees, plants, and wildflowers present are found nowhere else along the trail. The buckeye derives its name from the large, hard, brown fruit with a light round spot which resembles a deer’s eye. According to lore, carrying a buckeye seed in your pocket is supposed to prevent rheumatism and bring you good luck. But, don’t eat them; the seeds are poisonous!
14	This is a grove of osage orange trees (Maclura pomifera). They are also known as hedge apple or horse apple trees because of their large, distinctive green fruits. The tree gets its name from the Native American tribe who used its hard wood for bows. The wood is naturally fungus resistant and makes ideal fenceposts. It is called a pioneer species because it is one of the first trees to reforest an area after it has been cleared of trees.
15	Notice this common pear tree (Pyrus communis); it is not a native forest species - it belongs on a farm! This out-of-place species provides a clue about the previous land use where you are standing. At one time, this area was cleared and used for a fruit orchard. Even though the farm was abandoned, the pear continues its life span and is now surrounded by successional forest species as nature reclaims the land.
16	Notice all the very large trees along the hillside. These are oak trees of various types and they create a unique canopy area along the Nature Trail. Forests are classified by the most predominant species. The most dominant mature native forest type in Highland Heights is oak/hickory, valuable for wildlife habitat, timber production, and recreation.
17	Do you see the small trail at this point? You may have seen others like it throughout your hike. These are wildlife trails, and just like us, animals like to use the easiest routes to get to their favorite places time and again. Usually, these trails allow wildlife to access food and water from their shelters. Where does this trail lead and what are the animals after?
18	Is this the conclusion or just the beginning? After experiencing and learning about the City’s forest resources, we hope you will take a new found knowledge and appreciation of trees home and take action to plant trees and protect our forests.