Adams Lake Prairie (Adams County) -- Located in central Adams County, this southern Ohio nature preserve features wildflowers such as the fawn lily, golden ragwort, puccoon, long-spurred violet and the shooting star. Adams Lake Prairie, one of the first sites to bloom in the state this spring, is located in Adams Lake State Park, one mile north of West Union on State Route 41.

Caesar Creek Gorge (Warren County) -- This 483-acre state nature preserve is located in northeast Warren County, south of Dayton. Known for its beautiful hillsides, Caesar Creek Gorge is one of the best places in the state to view the shooting star, a flower with a pointed yellow beak and swept-back petals giving it the illusion of a flaming meteor. Caesar Creek Gorge is located three miles north of Oregonia on Corwin Road.

Clifton Gorge (Greene County) -- Located in northeast Greene County, Clifton George is home to flowers such as the hepatica, Virginia bluebell and shooting star. These wildflowers will be one of the first in bloom. Clifton Gorge is located on State Route 343, one-quarter mile west of Clifton on the east end of John Bryan State Park.

Lawrence Woods (Hardin County) -- This 500-acre preserve is Ohio's newest state nature preserve and home to one of the largest tracts of old-growth forest remaining in western Ohio. The forest's unique soil supports a wide variety of spring wildflowers, including trilliums, hepaticas, swamp buttercups, blue cohosh, and several species of violets. Lawrence Woods is located on southeastern Hardin County, west of State Route 292 and south of Kenton.

Marie J. Desonier Preserve (Athens County) -- Set in the Appalachian woods of southeast Athens County, Marie J. Desonier State Nature Preserve offers a wide variety of wildflowers -- including trillium, bellwort, Solomon's seal and trout lily. Due to its location, this preserve is one of Ohio's best-kept secrets and is not as heavily visited as other preserves. From the Village of Coolville, travel 3.5 miles west of U.S. Route 50, one-quarter mile east on County Road 56 then one-half mile north on County Road 65.

Fowler Woods (Richland County) -- Each spring, before the canopy darkens the forest floor, a spectacular array of wildflowers blankets Fowler Woods, Ohio's first state nature preserve. Far removed from any major highways, this preserve features a wide variety of wildflowers, including marsh marigold, bloodroot, trout lily and a variety of trillium species. This preserve is also home to nearly a dozen species of violets. Fowler Woods is located approximately 15 miles north of Mansfield, one mile east of State Route 13 on Olivesburg-Fitchville Road.

Gahanna Woods (Franklin County) -- Located near Columbus, Gahanna Woods was created by the glaciers which covered the state as recently as 16,000 years ago. As skunk cabbage blooms in the swamp forest, a variety of wildflowers will also bloom in the preserve's woodland area. This preserve is an ideal place to view swamp buttercups. Gahanna Woods is located off Taylor Station Road, north of State Route 16 in Gahanna.

Goll Woods (Fulton County) -- Located in southwest Fulton County, this nature preserve features one of the best remaining mature forests in the state, with some trees nearly 300 years old. A variety of wildflowers are found here, including violet, trillium, hepatica, trout lily and bloodroot. Beginning in Archbold, travel 2.5 miles north on State Route 66, three miles west on County Road F, then one-quarter mile south on County Road 26.

Lake Katharine (Jackson County) -- From this Jackson County nature preserve, visitors can view one of the state's most beautiful wildflowers -- the pink lady's slipper. One of Ohio's largest wild orchids, the lady's slipper lives in swamps and open woods. Other wildflowers to be seen at Lake Katharine are the trailing arbutus, marsh marigold, mountain laurel, Solomon's seal, trillium and hepatica. Beginning in Jackson, travel two miles west on State Street, then two miles north on County Road 85 (Lake Katharine Road.)

Rockbridge Preserve (Hocking County) -- Located in the foothills of Hocking County, this preserve features the crested-dwarf iris, a small purple flower commonly found on the hillsides and bluffs of southern Ohio. Rockbridge is also home to trillium and wild phlox. From the Village of Rockbridge, travel 1.5 miles southeast on U.S. Route 33, then left on Township Road 503 (Dalton Road, 1/2 mile to preserve).