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Hike Description:
Southeastern Grasslands Institute ecologist/botanist Zach Irick will lead an educational tour of the native savanna and creekside scour grasslands. We’ll view nearly every genus of the aster family in their prime. Come explore with us for a view of native grasses, fall wildflowers, shrubs and trees of the WMA which is bordered by two scenic waterways - the Obed Wild and Scenic River and its tributary, Daddy’s Creek. You’ll also hear bobwhite, see migratory birds, numerous butterfly and native bee species and will come away with ideas for savanna and prairie plantings, rock garden and rain garden designs, natural growth patterns, as well as identification of many native plants that are often available for the landscape. We will visit a creek site where the endangered Cumberland rosemary (Conradina verticillata) thrives and rare Southern racemose/black warrior goldenrods (Solidago arenicola) have been found.
This incredibly rich plant community returned after pine bark beetles damaged the pine forest. The clearing of the residual trees plus prescribed burns allowed spontaneous savanna regeneration on the plateau’s gently rolling hills of acid soils which overlook the gorges cut by the scenic waterways just below. There are several uncommon species and endemics to be found in the region. Keep an eye out for several Lespedezas, bundleflower, goat’s rue and many other pea family relatives, goldenrods, sunflowers, asters of all types, Rudbeckias, goldenasters, ironweeds, bonesets, gentians, milkworts, blazing stars, Lobelias, Cinnamon, Royal and Hartford ferns, Culver’s root, milkweeds in fruit, Allegheny chinquapin, Alabama arrowwood viburnum, dwarf prairie willow, American plum, post oak, blackjack oak, short leaf pine, any many more.
Hike Leader: Zach Irick is the Southern Appalachian Grasslands Ecologist for the Southeastern Grasslands Institute. Zach has broad experience in field botany, plant taxonomy, plant community ecology, and restoration ecology throughout the interior southeast. Through his affiliation with SGI, he has worked with federal, state, private, and non-profit entities to lead research and restoration projects in the Southern Appalachian region. In his spare time, he likes to study the plants of the southern Table Plateaus (Lookout and Sand Mountain), southern Ridge and Valley (Coosa valley area), northern Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee (Big South Fork and Obed), and anywhere else really. He also enjoys drinking coffee all day every day.
Rating: Easy at savanna to Moderate at creekside scour due to rocky or slick areas. Trails conditions are variable and rain dependent. An easier gravel road is available that loops around the outer margins of much of the grassland for those not interested in exploring more interior trails, but less is viewable from that route.
Distance: Comprised of a 2.5 miles loop in the savanna and a short out and back exploration trail alongside the creek.
Duration: Approximately 4 hours on site, plus 1 hr 50 minutes each way driving due to slow gravel road in the WMA. The lunch break will be at the savanna between stops. Participants will have the option of departing early at any stage or staying on for extra viewing of other sites along the return trip if desired.
General: Bring snack/water/lunch, insect repellent, sunscreen and hat, appropriate shoes for light trail hiking and, if desired, hiking poles/stick for some slick uneven stone surfaces at the creek scour. No pets at any of our Wild Ones hikes please.
This program is free and open to Wild Ones members and their guests.
Limit 20 participants |
