Description
Why You Should Visit
Oppenheim Woods Nature Preserve, established in 2010, is a hidden gem of a preserve in Kosciusko County. The rolling forested hills have one of the most spectacular wildflower displays in the Midwest. Large-flowered trillium, celandine poppy, wood phlox, and other wildflowers compete with migratory songbirds for visitors' attention in April and May. Come summer, lush ferns and the large trees take center stage.
What TNC is Doing/has Done
The Conservancy is constantly working to protect the integrity of this forest and its natural wildlife. Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to this forest, and they often come from what’s planted in yards around the preserve. Burning bush and purple wintercreeper are two examples of common landscaping plants that don’t stay where they are planted; birds eat the fruits and spread them far and wide. Acres of this forest are now covered with invasive burning bush, purple wintercreeper, periwinkle, spindle tree, and other invasive landscaping plants.