Posted by Alex -- Atlanta z8a on January 30, 2008, 10:59 am
208.46.48.166
The second annual hunt for the most inland native palm populations in northeast Alabama and northwest Georgia is this Saturday February 2 for anyone who would like to join us. The weather is forecast to be near perfect – highs in the 60s and sunny.
Last year, we discovered wild Sabal Minor was farther north and farther inland than the previously documented populations. Previously, the most inland populations of Minor that our group has confirmed were located on Ballplay Creek, north of the previously documented populations in Ballplay Swamp. Reports exist of Minor near the Lake Weiss dam close to Coosa River loop, but we have not confirmed the presence of Minor there. On our trip last year, our group – consisting of Hayes Jackson, myself, Rob Garren, Bill Boyd and Walter Bland – found Sabal Minor north and east of Centre, Alabama, fairly close to the edge of Lake Weiss.
Soil profiles, elevation and climate east and north of Lake Weiss in both Alabama and across the border in Georgia are compatible with Sabal Minor's preferences. On my own, I have privately explored a few areas around the Black Bluffs and Foster's Bend areas of the Coosa River near the Alabama/Georgia border without locating any native palms, although there are anecdotal reports that not only Sabal Minor but Needle Palm once was found growing in these areas.
FIRST STOP -- 9:00 am (EST) Calhoun, Georgia (zone 7a) – meet at corner of Red Bud Rd. (Highway 156) and Hunts Gin Road, NE. Red Bud Rd. is an exit off I-75 in Calhoun
This Saturday, we are going to explore two specific areas. The first area will be in the Coosawatte River floodplain just northeast of Calhoun, Georgia in Gordon County. There is an unconfirmed report from a sod farmer that "wild palms" (presumably Sabal Minor) grow in areas around the river near the location of this farm. Our source, who spoke with the farmer, had the impression that the farmer knew the difference between palms and yuccas, the latter of which are often referred to by north Georgians as "palms". Given the absence of any other reports or rumors of Minor populations this far inland and north in Georgia, we do not feel there's a high likelihood of palms being native to Gordon County, but the locations where they were reported are specific enough to confirm their presence or absence.
After our group assembles at the meeting spot, we will head off to a few locales that we believe might be possible locations for Minor based on our analysis of aerial images and soil conditions. We do not plan to spend more than a couple of hours here because we will want to get to our main stop of the day.
SECOND STOP – Noon (EST) 11:00 am (CST) Spring Creek area near Forney, Ala near Georgia border (zone 7b) – Meet at Tim McCord's residence on Cherokee County Road 29, north of Forney. Driving from Georgia one would take Georgia Hwy 53 South from Rome Georgia. After crossing the Alabama state line, the first mile marker will be 257. Near mile marker 255 turn right (north) onto County Road 29. Drive north for about 2 miles, and Tim's house is on the left right after a small bridge over Spring Creek.
Tim lives east of Lake Weiss and near the Alabama Georgia border. There is wild Sabal Minor near his home and conditions are favorable for Minor to be found across the state line (only two miles to the east) in Floyd County, Georgia. The significance of this is that if Minor is found in Floyd County, this will be by far the most northerly/inland populations of Sabal Minor in the State of Georgia, with the possible exception of the Georgia/South Carolina border. One would have to venture within a few miles of the Fall Line (separating the Piedmont from the Coastal Plain) to find inland (above the Coastal Plain) native Sabal Minor in Georgia. The next most inland populations of Sabal Minor that I'm aware of are the ones near Monticello that trip participant Bill Boyd has documented so well.
Alex (Atlanta z8a) and Phil (Atlanta z8a) are coordinating this trip, and can be reached at AWoollcott@thompsonhine.com and philip.l.bennion@citi.com. Please try to let us know if you would like to join us. All are welcome. We will send cell phone contact information and additional details to those who will join us.
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