Tag Archives: department of natural resources

Word on the Street: The weird invade Indiana


Remember, in the spring, I encouraged my fellow Indiana bloggers to Watch out for Weirdos!

Drum roll, please.

I am delighted to announce that the Clay County tree I submitted to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Weird Tree Search was chosen to appear in the DNR’s online publication, “Invasion of the Weird Trees 2012.”

In an email last week Sam Carman, Education Director and Aficionado of Weird Trees, IDNR-Division of Forestry, Indianapolis wrote:

Just a quick note to let you know that it’s now official.  If anyone has ever accused you of having an eye for the weird … well, they were right!  A tree that you submitted for our Weird Tree Search was selected as the weirdest in its county by our panel of experts.  Indiana’s District Foresters served as the judges, and believe me, these guys and gals know “weird” when they see it.

Congratulations on having your tree selected.  While having your photo selected doesn’t come with any prizes, awards, or ticker tape parades (unless your community wants to organize one for you), it does mean that your photo appears in our on-line publication, “Invasion of the Weird Trees 2012.”

To view this publication and see my Clay County tree (Page 6) along with all of the other freaks of nature, here is the direct web link:

www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/files/fo-InvasionWeirdTrees.pdf

It is a very large file, so it may take a minute or two to download.

Enjoy viewing the “Invasion,” Carman wrote.  “This publication is updated every 4 years, so the next update will be in 2016, although submissions are accepted anytime.  So get out there in the woods, have your camera handy, and keep watching for the weird!”

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Wednesday Word on the Street: Preservation Photo Contest


The Indiana Department of Natural Resources welcomes photographers to participate in its eighth annual Historic Preservation Month Photo Contest. Subject of image should be in Indiana and “historic,” or anything at least 50 years old. 

Boone’s Mill, built by my ancestor, Squire Boone Jr., brother of the famous Kentucky frontiersman, Daniel Boone, is more than 200 years old. It is on the historic Squire Boone Caverns site, just a few miles south of Corydon, Indiana’s first state capitol. I’m not submitting these photos; just wanted to post an example. 

I did not know that Squire Boone Jr. had carved the following inscription on one of the mill’s foundation stones until after my visit. 😦 

“My God my life hath much befriended, I’ll praise Him till my days are ended.” 

Squire Boone Jr.’s remains were moved from beneath the original cave entrance to deep within Squire Boone Caverns.

The waterfall room most likely witnessed first by Squire Boone Jr. after escaping Indians through an above ground entrance to the original cave.

The contest deadline is April 6. Preservation Month is observed nationally in May so the selected photos will be displayed in several locations throughout Indiana during May.

Click here for more contest guidelines and a printable form that must accompany each photo. (Each photographer is limited to three entries.)