4/13/2011
The 2011 spring nature walks at Kanawha State Forest will be held Saturday, April 23. Known as the Osbra Eye Memorial Wildflower Walks, registration is from 8:30 – 9 a.m. at the swimming pool area. The many guided walks begin at 9 a.m. and will last until approximately 12:30 pm.
“The variety of hikes will appeal to different interests,” according to Kevin Dials, assistant superintendent. The Kanawha State Forest Foundation organizes the spring walks that include wildflower identification, beginning and advanced birding and photography. Attendees are encouraged to bring a camera and binoculars.
The walks are assisted by the Division of Natural Resources, the Handlan Chapter of the Brooks Bird Club, Mary Ingles Trail Blazers and the West Virginia Native Plant Society. There is a $5 fee to participate; youth age 16 and younger is $2. Proceeds go to the Kanawha State Forest Foundation to support forest activities.
Door prizes and a hot dog sale are part of the activities. The event is open to the public. For more information, call Kanawha State Forest at 304-558-3500 or the Foundation at 304-925-2771. Kanawha State Forest’s website is
www.kanawhastateforest.com and includes a schedule of forest events throughout the year.
About Osbra Eye
Osbra Eye was superintendent of Kanawha State Forest from March 2, 1956, until June 13, 1981. He was a self-taught naturalist, botanist, and photographer and was known as a wildflower expert. His photos of birds and wildflowers, along with related articles, appeared many times in the Wonderful West Virginia magazine. He collaborated with Margaret Denison, teacher and wildflower expert, in compiling a booklet on flowering plants in Kanawha State Forest, published in 1967. Mr. Eye died July 18, 1992, and his family subsequently donated his personal plant specimens and slides to the University of Charleston. A herbarium is being planned there to display his collection. In 1993, the Forest Foundation chose to honor him by renaming the Spring Walks the Osbra Eye Memorial Wildflower Walks to commemorate his esteemed contributions as a naturalist, photographer, and advocate for Forest preservation as well as other environmental causes
Contact Information
Kanawha State Forest
304-558-3500