Outdoor writer and photographer Corbet Deary is featured regularly in The Sentinel-Record. Today, Deary takes readers on a journey to Baker Prairie Natural Area.
I was introduced to, and gained a passion for, the wonderful outdoors at a very early age. My father, who was an avid angler, eagerly welcomed me to tag along on his excursions. And although not as excited about hunting, he did participate in the sport, to fulfill my interest and ensure that I was taught how to safely and responsibly handle a firearm.
I can only recall my mom wetting a hook on a couple of occasions. And one could rest assured that she had no interest in shooting a firearm in any form or fashion.
But her interest in hunting and fishing, or lack thereof, was no indication that she failed to play a huge role in my introduction to Mother Nature. In fact, she taught me how to appreciate many things lurking in the midst of the outdoors that often go overlooked.
Mom was no different from many in the sense that she enjoyed gardening. However, her appreciation for plant life far exceeded the cultivated species that she nurtured at home.
In fact, she thoroughly enjoyed kicking around in a more uncontrolled environment while searching for native wildflowers. I suppose one could say that she was a hunter of sorts. But her bounty was the experience of finding beautiful plants quietly taking root in the solitude of the forest.
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My father's efforts were not in vain, as I still am an avid hunter and angler. And my mother's eagerness to share her passion? It was also well received and has played a huge role in how I view the outdoors. In fact, I find locating and photographing wildflowers as exciting as hunting and fishing.
That all being said, I grew excited upon recently reading about the Baker Prairie Natural Area. Located just south and west of downtown Harrison, it certainly appeared to be a location worthy of exploration.
According to information posted on the Arkansas Heritage Commission's website, the designated area consisted of a 40-acre tract of land that had been preserved in the midst of an industrial park, a high school and a nearby housing development.
According to the website, the designated section of land was once a 5,000-acre tallgrass prairie and is "the largest known remnant of Ozark Mountain prairie occurring on a chert substrate."
The website said the prairie "harbors a number of species of animals and plants of special concern in Arkansas." Aware that development could have a negative impact on the piece of property, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and The Nature Conservancy are managing the natural area in a cooperative effort.
I recently had the opportunity to visit this particular destination, and to say the excursion was enjoyable would prove somewhat of an understatement. In fact, I was surprised at the variety of wildflowers that I happened upon during the excursion. And I was equally as impressed, upon noticing a few species which I seldom find.
The natural area is located on a hillside. And although the understory is thick, there's a short trail, beginning at the pavilion, that loops through the prairie and eventually returns to the starting point.
I would suggest remaining on the trail, and for good reason. First and foremost, all steps should be taken to ensure this special environment remains as undisturbed as possible.
And if the environment's well-being is not enough to convince one to remain on the designated path, I guess I'll simply resort to the suggestion that one would likely experience an infestation of those tiny and pesky arachnids that we refer to as chiggers, that would lead to hours of relentless itching and scratching.
OK, enough about those pesky chiggers. Now let's discuss a few of the plants that I noticed during my recent jaunt along the trail. We had hardly left the road upon happening upon a colony of Oxeye daisies making a showing alongside the trail.
And it quickly became obvious that the prairie provided an optimal habitat for echinacea, as several distant colonies of pale purple coneflowers could be seen swaying in the wind.
Both of the aforementioned species are hardly rare. In fact, they can be seen growing alongside our highways during the spring of the year. But the next plant I noticed is not quite so easily located. I'll be the first to admit that rattle boxes are far from the most showing of plants throughout Arkansas. But it was exciting to happen upon several specimens during our short jaunt.
Fringed poppy mallows, on the other hand, are extremely colorful. And they became even more vibrant, as the morning sun glistened on their purple flowers.
The path ran alongside an Arkansas yucca plant shortly before veering right and making a slight ascent to atop the hill. The path ran within eyeshot of a colony of New Jersey tea and within inches of several Queen Anne's lace.
I chose to pause upon noticing a deptford pink blooming alongside the designated path. Although tiny in relation to several of the other flowering plants I had already noticed, its blooms are certainly worthy of admiration. The small flowers are hardly the diameter of a pencil, yet they are a vibrant purple.
Although not yet blooming, several composites that would produce vibrant yellow blooms were thriving in the sun-rich environment, and I am fairly certain that I happened upon several thistle plants that had not yet produced their colorful pink flowers.
We walked alongside several small saplings as we neared the top of the knoll. Sassafras seemed to thrive in this particular environment, as did persimmon trees. And the hillside was bountiful with winged sumac trees.
Of course, I spent my fair share of time scanning the upper level of the tall grass for vibrant flowers in the distance. But it quickly grew evident that I must scan the substrate for plants, as well.
In fact, I noticed several colonies of heal-all painting the trail's edge a pale purple and although they had already gone to seed, I happened upon several wild hyacinth plants that hardly grew 8 inches tall.
The path eventually veered to the right, and headed slightly down the hill, through a small thicket of vines and saplings. This was a perfect habitat for a snake. And although somewhat disappointed that I failed to see a specimen taking refuge in the thick cover, I did appreciate several elderberry trees in full bloom. Let alone the shade produced by a heavy stand of honeysuckle.
The trail tied back in with itself and returned back to the pavilion, shortly thereafter. Although our trek had lasted less than an hour I was certainly satisfied with the experience.
The plant species mentioned in this article are but a few of what lurked along the way. And the selection will obviously change as do the seasons. That in mind, I am eager to return to get better acquainted with the Baker Prairie Natural Area again in the near future.
To get to the Baker Prairie Natural Area, follow Highway 65 north to Harrison. Take a left onto Main Street. go 1.6 miles and turn left onto West Stephenson Avenue. Go three-tenths of a mile and continue onto Capps Road. Travel 1.3 miles and take a right onto Goblin Drive. Go a half-mile and turn right. Travel 200 feet and one can park at the school, immediately across the road from the pavilion.
