Smile

What makes Phil Cartwright smile? “I enjoy the solitude when I come out and walk the trails (at Blatchley Nature Study Club). We live three miles away so I come here a lot in the evening after work … It’s amazing to think you’re right in the middle of Noblesville and all of this suburban activity and can enjoy this nature. I like it when I can see the owls. We have a fox den on the property that sometimes we’ll see the fox … and sometimes will see kits but not this year so far. And I like the people, who have similar nature inclinations,” said the 70-year-old Noblesville resident. He was found leading Blatchley’s cleanup day in 2022 in preparation for the annual guided wildflower walks in April. He joined the club 17 years ago when he and his wife, Sherry, moved to the area. His wife, Sherry, is involved with the club also. She’s also a member of North Harbor Garden Club and does bits of work with the Blatchley club. Both are outdoor people and do a lot of hiking. “We’re really into butterflies. We have a 2,500-square-foot prairie in our backyard. We raise butterfly chrysalis.” They belonged to a similar club when they lived in Mishawaka, Wis. So when they moved here, they looked for a nature club to join. “We happened to wander by the same day they were having their wildflower walk,” Cartwright said. The upcoming wildflower walks are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 15 and 29 at the Blatchley Nature Study Club grounds in Noblesville. Each year, he hopes to meet new folks who are just like them, looking for a new place to venture. Read more about the wildflower walks in the Betsy Reason column in today’s edition of The Times.