05 August, 2010

Cascade Spring Nature Preserve

It's been such a loooong HOT summer. Well really the summer seems to have flown by, but the intense heat has persisted. Despite being our 1st or 2nd hottest summer on record (depending on what data you look at and who you ask...) I still have the undying urge to get out into the woods.

My latest exploration was a work endeavor as part of the Atlanta Champion Tree Project with Trees Atlanta and Fernbank. Yesterday I spent most of the morning at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve. This is a true gem of a greenspace hidden in Southwest Atlanta. YOU SHOULD VISIT!! Here's why....

This is just about the best concentration of Bigleaf Magnolia I've seen in Atlanta
bigleaf magnolia

Peak bloom time for Cranefly Orchid (Tipularia discolor)
cranefly orchid

False Solomon's Seal
Solomon's Plume

bark webs
bark webs

box turtle
male box turtle

White Oak fiesta!
white oak
white oak2
knarly white oak cave

Nice (underutilized) outdoor classroom
outdoor classroom

Another metro-Atlanta population of endangered Starvine:
Bay Starvine
Starvine2
Schisandra glabra
Starvine3

Utoy Creek runs along the edge of the preserve:
Utoy creek

doing my thing
measuring circumference

final shots
pine snag
upland vista

Did I mention i found a couple new champs! Also the biggest dang Sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) I've ever seen. I'll be going back soon and you should too!