Escape to Nature

Part sanctuary, part research institution, part playground, part classroom, Bernheim has brought much to generations of hikers and fishers, plant lovers, gardeners, bird watchers, wildflower seekers and millions of others.

Hiking a trail in Bernheim (there are at least 15 trails, a total of 50 miles, ranging from half a mile to 13¾), your surroundings might seem only like generic “forest.” But the researchers at Bernheim have identified six different forest “communities,” specific combinations of trees, shrubs and low plants indigenous to certain microclimates formed by flat land and streams (sycamore, tulip poplar and sweetgum trees), or rocky rises where the terrain is steep and dry (white oak and chestnut oak).

Wildflower seekers prefer the beech and sugar maple forest, found along damp ravines, where they can find native species like twinleaf, bloodroot, jack-in-the-pulpit and trillium, and the indigenous pawpaw tree.

Despite its name, Bernheim Forest isn’t — at least not all of it. Native grasslands, “the Little Bluestem community,” are also found at Bernheim, containing diverse species typical of the prairies, including St. John’s wort, yellow coneflower and wild petunia. There are occasional controlled burns of grasslands and other spots in Bernheim, allowing for research and restoration of native plants. The largest burn was 320 acres in an oak-dominated forest, and will allow researchers to determine the effects of fire on oak regeneration and diversity of herbaceous plants growing on the forest floor.

In all of these ecosystems research, education and conservation continue, sometimes by outside investigators — one has studied invasive Japanese stilt grass; another cataloged 200 types of lichens, including discovery of the ultra-rare Pyrenula plittii — and sometimes by staff, who have designated a list of “Bernheim select” plant species that do particularly well in the local environment.

In 2009 the first of 2,000 quail were released at Bernheim. Native to the area, Northern Bobwhite Quail populations had disappeared from the area in the 1970s because their habitat had been disturbed. As Bernheim staff worked to rebuild that habitat, natural-areas manager Ronnie Moore raised quail in a small outbuilding on the property; groups of the birds have been released each year since then. These days, the distinctive bobwhite call can be heard regularly, and the birds appear to be thriving.

There are many destinations at Bernheim, but all who venture in should probably begin at the Visitor Center, where you can plan your day — pick up a bird checklist, a map or a cool drink. This building earned a platinum rating (top honors) from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of green buildings.

The center’s walls are mostly glass, which give the feeling of being outdoors while indoors. Much of the lumber for the exterior walls is reclaimed wood, including old pickle vats. Bathroom stalls are built of recycled milk jugs and other consumer waste. Bathroom countertops are made of recycled glass and cement; no petroleumbased products are included.

Outdoors, rainwater from the parking lot rinses oil, gasoline and other car residue into a former streambed, where dead and decaying matter has been inoculated with mushroom mycelia and spores. As they grow, the mushrooms break down toxic petrochemicals into nontoxic or less toxic substances. On the north side of the center, a screen of evergreen trees protects the building from north winds and lowers heating costs. On the south side, deciduous trees shade the building to cool it in the summer, then drop their leaves and let the sun through in the winter. The roof is planted with native grasses and flowers, providing habitat for butterflies and birds and decreasing energy costs for the center’s interior.

A trip to Bernheim always promises a day (or night) of activity that can bring all ages closer to nature. A 6-year-old might turn over a rotted log to find a slimy salamander (Plethodon glutinosus), build a faerie house with natural materials or wade through a clear stream. A grown-up might run a marathon, take a full moon hike (June 4, 9 to 10:30pm), or find a quiet spot to do nothing in particular. Sarah Fritschner is coordinator of Louisville Farm to Table and a trustee at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest.

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest

Where: Just off Interstate 65 south of Louisville at Exit 112 (Clermont/Bardstown exit). For GPS: about 2499 Hwy 245.

Hours: Gates are open daily, except Christmas and New Year’s Day, from 7am until one hour before sunset. Please check website for exact closing gate times. The Visitor Center and Education Center are open 9am–5pm daily.

Where to eat: Isaac’s Café, open 11am–4pm

Admission: Free Monday–Friday, and every day for members. For nonmembers, Saturday, Sunday and holiday entry fee is $5 for cars, minivans or motorcycles.

Annual memberships: $50 for couple/family

Information: 502-955-8512 or bernheim.org