Nearly all of Indiana has had the pre-pioneer old growth forest stands harvested at some point within the last two hundred years. Remnants of a theoretical natural (relative) past to this area are very small and somewhat impure by this fact.

Natural (relative) stands of river bottom species do exist and persist in this harsh ecological niche. "Sycamore Island" is a very good example of a dominant species struggling to exist and reproduce in such a restricted and unsettled environment.

Sycamore Island

Perhaps you may feel as these youngsters do: positioned in harsh, yet beautiful surroundings, yet again; to be subjected to the unpredictable floods of change. Are they much different from any  other individual? ...from any other species? Natures lessons of humility surround us in every aspect. Please give our cousins and friends the space and freedoms that we would hope for ourselves.   

The upland hardwood forest that currently stands is a mixture of oak, maple beech, hickory, ash, tulip with various other species present. Fringe  or intermediately disturbed areas are usually represented by dogwood, redbud, and sassafras species. 

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