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Upcoming August Events at Woodlands Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes

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Hummingbirds at Woodlands Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes

Saturday, August 11

9:30am-12pm | Hummingbird Photography Workshop

Hands-on workshop with instructors who’ll show photos on the big screen in the Nature Station’s theater as they lead a discussion on the qualities of the photos, share tips on how to improve them through photographic technique, composition, and editing and more. Includes Nature Station admission. Participants are encouraged to bring photos they have already taken on an external hardware device. Bring a lunch and stay in the afternoon to take your own photographs. $15 per person. Limited space. Registration and deposit required.

11am-2pm | Hummingbird Kids’ Craft
Join our naturalists as you learn how to make a super simple and fun bird nest, complete with your own crafty versions of baby hummingbirds!

2-2:30pm | Knee-high Naturalists: Hummingbirds
Join us for a story, a craft, and a memorable nature experience witnessing dozens of hummingbirds as they buzz around the Nature Station’s gardens and feeders. This program is specially designed to make hummingbirds fun for preschoolers.

Sunday, August 12

2-2:30pm | Knee-high Naturalists: Hummingbirds
Come discover hummingbirds with your young naturalist! Join us for a story, a craft, and a memorable nature experience witnessing dozens of hummingbirds as they buzz around the Nature Station’s gardens and feeders. This program is specially designed for preschoolers.

Monday, August 13

3:30-3:50pm | Monday Funday: Deer and Turkey Playtime
Watch as our animals react to an interesting new food item or an exciting new toy and learn more about how the Nature Station cares for its rescued wildlife through fun enrichment activities!

Tuesday, August 14

10-11am | Morning with the Hummingbirds
Mornings are one of the best times to view Nature Station’s hummingbirds as they feed at our freshly filled feeders. Let’s step outside into the gardens and watch them in their morning feeding frenzy.

Wednesday, August 15

11:30am-12:15pm | Hummingbirds of the World
Join us for this presentation to discover some of the world’s most interesting hummingbirds such as the Marvelous Spatuletail, Bee Hummingbird, Streamertail, and Sword-billed Hummingbird.

Thursday, August 16

10-11am | Morning with the Hummingbirds
Mornings are one of the best times to view Nature Station’s hummingbirds as they feed at our freshly filled feeders. Let’s step outside into the gardens and watch them in their morning feeding frenzy. Then, join us for an indoor presentation to learn about hummingbird’s natural history and how to help them during their migration.

Friday, August 17

3:30-3:50pm | Feed the Animals Fridays: Opossum
Come help feed Nature Station’s resident opossum during her chow time! We’ll let you sneak into the opossum’s enclosure while she’s not there and hide treats for her to find.

Saturday, August 18

9-10am | Hummingbird Café
Join us under the shade in our garden and enjoy some coffee (hot or iced), juice, and breakfast goodies while the hummingbirds have a feeding frenzy of their own! Relax in our scenic wildflower gardens. $10 per person, includes same day NS admission. Reservation required. Call 270.924.2020 to reserve your space.

2:30-3pm | Dive Into the Hive

Discover what all the buzz is about! You’re invited to bee a part of the hive! Come along on Honeybee Awareness Day as we play bee games, join a hive, and discover what each bee does for the hive! This is a perfect activity for children of all ages.

Sunday, August 19

2:30-3pm | Creature Feature: Bobcat
Did you know that about 200 bobcats live right here in Land Between The Lakes? Find out how these masters of stealth survive so well without being seen.

Hummingbird at Woodlands Nature Station

Canoe and Kayak Rentals on Honker Lake This Memorial Day Weekend!

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Canoe Trip on Honker Lake
Read More About The Canoe Trip Above: Canoeing on Honker Lake in the LBL!
My husband and I enjoyed every minute of a canoe trip we took on Honker Lake a few years ago. Every single minute. Last summer, we were unable to make it (I can’t remember if it was weather-related or what… but I recall being pretty bummed about it!). Another opportunity is coming up and I hope you’ll be able to make it. WEATHER PERMITTING! I write that in all caps for obvious reasons…. seriously, what is up with weather this year? First it takes forever to run winter out of town and now rain is calling the shots.
Hopefully it’ll take the weekend off and allow fun on Honker Lake to reign supreme.
Continued Below…
Canoeing on Honker Lake
Canoe and kayak rentals on Honker Lake begin on Memorial Day Weekend. Hourly rentals start at 10am (all boats need to be returned by 4:30pm). Rental fees are $10 per hour per boat. Visitors must check in at Nature Station in order to rent a canoe or kayak.
Rentals may be suspended for inclement weather. For more information, please call  call 270-924-2299.
Canoeing on Honker Lake

2017 Pioneer Life Week at Carter Caves July 24-30

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Pioneer Life Week at Carter Caves State Resort Park

The 26th Annual Pioneer Life Week at Carter Caves State Resort Park is taking place this week (July 24-30, 2017).

The week-long event focuses on special programs that show life on the Kentucky frontier in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Visitors can enjoy a step back in time in the pioneer camp near the Carter Caves campground registration building.

Re-enactors will demonstrate skills that were needed for life on frontier Monday, July 24 through Saturday, July 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday, July 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

This year’s event will also feature two special performances by Private William Greathouse, War of 1812 soldier, and Jemima Boone, child of Daniel Boone. These performances are sponsored by the Kentucky Humanities Council as part of its Kentucky Chautauqua program.

Greathouse, as portrayed by Harry Smith, will be Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. and Boone, as portrayed by Betsy B. Smith, will be Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. Both performances will be at the park amphitheater located near the Caveland Lodge and are free.

You can contact the Park’s office of recreation at 606-286-4411 for details. Beautiful Carter Caves State Resort Park has a lodge, cottages, campground including horse campground with full hook ups, and a restaurant featuring Kentucky fare.

Also See:

Pictures of Carter Caves State Resort Park

Carter Caves State Resort Park

Eclipse Viewing and Programs in the Land Between the Lakes

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Camping in the LBL at Sunset

Camping in the LBL at Sunset

The Great American Eclipse is almost here – it seems like just yesterday it was months away. Then again, Christmas is 4 months from today!

The Land Between the Lakes offers year-round events, educational programs, and entertainment for the whole family – so it’s no surprise that they have the eclipse covered as well.

From the Land Between the Lakes:

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area will offer prime viewing locations for the Great American Eclipse on August 21 and “Sun and Moon Days” August 16-23, 2017, a series of programs throughout the 170,00 acre area to celebrate and educate about this amazing natural phenomenon.

“Visitors looking for a prime spot to watch the Great American Eclipse are invited to Land Between the Lakes,” says Customer Service Manager Jeff Laird. “Eye protection, free parking and food vendors will be available at Fenton, near the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge on US68/KY80 in western Kentucky.”

The duration of the total solar eclipse at this location will be two minutes, according to NASA (https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-maps). Other viewing areas in Land Between the Lakes are listed at https://landbetweenthelakes.us/best-2017-eclipse-viewing-areas/.

Eye protection is vitally important during this event and viewing glasses are available now at Friends of Land Between the Lakes gift shops and campground outposts. Sunglasses are not adequate.

“Sun and Moon Days will feature eclipse related programming at three facilities,” according to Laird.

Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory will show TOTALITY (which is already in the weekly schedule), at 11am and 2pm, August 16-23, to teach about eclipses. There will be an eclipse star party at 8:45 pm on August 19 and solar viewing from 10am – 4pm on August 20 and 21. A Pink Floyd laser extravaganza will be offered on August 18 and 19, at 5:30 and 7pm.

The Homeplace 1850s Working Farm will feature Life by the Sun, Moon and Stars, weekdays, 2-3pm, which will show how farm families looked for signs from celestial bodies. The Storytelling event will be August 19 from 6-7:30pm. Talented presenters will weave tales of the eclipses from the past. This special event is not included in the regular admission price. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Doors will open at 5:30pm. View the eclipse from the Homeplace on August 21 and be part of our watermelon social from 10am – 4pm.

Woodlands Nature Station will offer Daytime vs. Nighttime Animals, weekdays at 11:30 am, August 16-23. There will also be Mornings with the Hummingbirds, 10-11am on Thursday, August 17, and Tuesday, August 22. Reservations are required for the Sunset Canoe Trips, planned for August 18 and August 23, from 5:30-8pm; and the Hummingbird Café, planned for Saturday, August 19, 9-10am. Snakes of Land Between the Lakes will be discussed from 11:30am – 12 pm on Sunday, August 20.

For more information, visit https://landbetweenthelakes.us/solar-eclipse-2017/ and https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/.

To find more information about Land Between the Lakes, log on to the official website atwww.landbetweenthelakes.us or call 1.800.525.7077 or 270.924.2000.

Pictures of the Day: Flowers, Flowers, and More Flowers

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Zinnias

Zinnias

One of my favorite hobbies is flower gardening. I absolutely love flowers and the process of growing my own never ceases to fascinate me. How something can begin its life as a tiny seed can become breathtakingly beautiful blows my mind.

I spend more time among my flowers than some people spend with other people! I drink coffee with them in the morning and iced tea in the afternoon and evening (while they’re enjoying their water).

Dew on Marigolds

Dew on Marigolds

Each spring and summer finds dirty, sweaty me nurturing my favorites (zinnias, salvia, marigolds, petunias, mums, pansies, morning glories, 4 O’Clocks, Moon Flowers,  lilies, and begonias) and whatever else has caught my eye. In addition to my herb beds, flowers are a flat out obsession from April straight up to October.

Zinnias

Zinnias

The pictures of the day today are some of my constant companions this summer.

I hang out with a beautiful crowd.

Petunias and Begonias

Petunias and Begonias

If you’re a flower gardener you may have noticed something that never ceases to amaze me – different flowers can behave differently each year. I guess it makes sense that the weather will affect their temperaments and personalities. This year, my zinnias have lost their minds! They are growing so big and beautiful – I literally go outside several times a day just to look at them. The butterflies are enjoying them as much as I am.

My Morning Glories, on the other hand, are being unusually slow. They normally bloom at the same time my Four O’Clocks and Moon Flowers do but this year they’re putting so much energy into their vine that they’re forgetting the blooms. I had a good talk with them this afternoon and I trust they’ll change their ways.

Salvia, Marioglds, and Zinnias

Salvia, Marioglds, and Zinnias

My parents and my dad’s mom were huge flower gardeners – I guess that’s where my obsession comes from. My dad grew the most beautiful roses you’ve ever seen. I don’t grow roses because we have several outside cats who I baby like crazy, so I don’t want the thorns sticking them.

My mom’s favorites were perennials and her perennial bed was gorgeous – she had a concrete bird bath in the middle and a swing nearby. It was one of the most relaxing spots in the world.

Oddly enough, while my dad loved flowers and gardening, he somehow hated marigolds! Since they’re a personal favorite, he always kidded me when I’d include them in my flower beds. He’d grin and say, “Ohhhh, you’re not putting those out are you?”  And I’d say, “Absolutely! In fact, I think I’ll put more than usual out this year!”

He has been overseeing rose gardens in Heaven for years, now, but each summer when I plant my marigolds I think of him and I can’t help but smile.

Marigold

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