Posted by Alex -- intown Atlanta z8a I will be coordinating a series of weekend outings/hikes focused on finding inland populations of palms and typically coastal plain plants. If you live in the South and you're interested in any of these outings, please reply to this post with an email address. The focus of my outings will be the western half of Georgia/eastern third of Alabama north of the Fall Line. Here are a few of the trips that I am planning:
on October 17, 2007, 1:42 pm
208.46.48.166
This message was posted on the Hardy Palm Board but I wanted to add it here as well.
1. Day trip to Ballplay Swamp in northeastern Alabama, including kayaking into the central parts of the swamp. We will see scattered populations of Sabal Minor and a variety of plants that are normally not found outside of the coastal plain.
2. Exploration of the northern and eastern edges of Lake Weiss in northeast Alabama and other locations in the Coosa River valley east and north of Lake Weiss in Alabama and Georgia, west of Rome Georgia in search of disjunct populations of Sabal Minor. There have long been rumors that at one point in time, not only Sabal Minor but Needle Palms could be found on the bluffs of the Coosa River in Georgia between the Alabama state line and Rome Georgia. Unfortunately, much of this area is heavily farmed now, and the moist shady bottomland habitat that Minors like so much is fairly scarce in this area now. On a trip to Lake Weiss last Spring, Hayes Jackson and I and several others (including Rob from Chattanooga) located a large population of Sabal Minor on the edge of Lake Weiss well north of what was thought was their northerly most occurence around the Lake.
3. Exploration of several counties in west central Georgia/east central Alabama for inland (above the Fall line) populations of Spanish Moss, Sabal Minor and possibly Needle Palm.
4. Exploring the Flint River and tributaries of central Georgia at Sprewell Bluff State Park and farther inland for Sabal Minor. Minor occurs in Sprewell Bluff, which is just above the Fall Line, but it is not common. Our objective will be to try to locate the inland most population of Minor in this part of Georgia. Prevalence of Minor on the shores (often in full Sun) of the Flint near Sprewell suggests that Sabal Minor seeds have washed down the river from upstream. We will try to find out how far upstream. This is a spectacularly beautiful part of Georgia characterized by steep ravines, a pristine river and a blend of Coastal Plain, Piedmont and even mountain species of plants and animals.
Be aware that our good friend Bill Boyd is leading hikes to further explore the excitement of above the Fall Line locations in the eastern half of central Georgia, particularly in the vicinity of Monticello, Georgia and in the Piedmont Wildlife Refuge. Bill's GPS led hikes are incredible, but don't plan to stay on a path. Bill is THE authority on Sabal Minor populations in central Georgia.
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