Celebrate Spring by Exploring Indiana’s Natural Wonders – WISH-TV | Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather forecast

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Spring is here, and that means it’s the perfect time to get outside.

Cliff Chapman, executive director of the Central Indiana Land Trust, suggests visiting one of the Indiana’s Many Nature Reserves instead of heading to a state park.

“Indiana is blessed with so many great state parks and they’re very well visited, but we have some wonderful nature preserves that aren’t as well known. This time of year, April and May, is really the best time to visit nature preserves,” Chapman said.

Nature preserves are really about plants and animals, according to Chapman, and people who love the outdoors will love the biodiversity that can be found in places like The, theura Hare Preserve at Blossom Hollow in Johnson County.

“The Johnson County property has 500 species of plants. That’s more than a lot of our national parks and it’s only 300 acres versus maybe 30,000 acres,” Chapman said.

Chapman also suggests a trip to Burnett Woods Nature Reserve near Avon.

“At this time of year, mid-April to late April, it’s just a carpet of wildflowers. Imagine walking through the woods and, as far as the eye can see, it’s dotted with blues, whites and pinks, as well as greens. You can’t see the ground. She’s just covered in flowers.

To visit the Indiana DNR website to find a nature reserve near you.