Ecological Features
Merry Lea is amoung the best assembled land preserves in Indiana and contains a diverse group of Indiana ecosystems. The 1,189-acre preserve contains a wonderful complex of wetlands, bogs, lakeshores, upland and lowland forests, prairies, and meadows. A special geological feature is an esker (a gravel ridge formed by channels in the glacial ice) on the west side of the property. For more information on the ecosystems of Merry Lea use the links below.
Wildflowers of Merry Lea
Spring Forest Ephemerals
Prairie Forbs
Summer Forest flowers
Terrestrial Landscapes
Old Fields and Prairies
Shrubland, Upland Forest, Lowland Forest, and Plantations
Oak Woodland and Oak Savanna
Aquatic Landscapes
Lakes, Ditches, and Vernal Pools
Wetlands (Shrub-Forest, Bog, Fen, Shrub-Carr, Marsh, Wet-Meadow)