NOTE: Preregistration is required. Please email the trip leader, Hal Massie, at: massiefarm@aol.com
Description: The main goal of this trip will be to see the last major wildflower display of the season in Central Georgia, kidney-leaved grass-of-Parnassus. Soapwort gentian, Gentiana saponaria, should be flowering in the same area. We will almost certainly see a few other late-flowering plants still hanging on, such as southern harebell, Campanula divaricata; southern oak-leech, Aureolaria pectinata; late aster, Symphyotrichum patens; and several others. Hopefully, we’ll also get to see some good autumn leaf color. Both Georgia oak, Quercus georgiana, and Alabama cherry, Prunus alabamensis, two unusual trees, are common on this section of Pine Mountain.
Special Considerations: A Georgia State Parks pass, either day or annual, is required to park at the trailhead.
Directions: From the north, take I-85 South to US 27 Alt, just below Newnan. Stay on US 27 Alt through Greenville and Warm Springs. In Warm Springs, US 27 Alt turns to the right at a stop light, then climbs the north slope of Pine Mountain for about 3 miles. At the crest of Pine Mountain, turn right onto GA 190 and drive 2.1 miles to the Rocky Point Trailhead parking area on the left. (The last time I drove this route, there was a detour just north of Warm Springs. The detour adds at least 7-8 minutes to the drive.) If you are coming from the south, take US 27 Alt from Columbus. Just past the small town of Shiloh, the highway begins to climb the south slope of Pine Mountain. At the crest of Pine Mountain, turn left onto GA 190 and drive 2.1 miles to the parking lot on the left side. If you are using Google Maps, enter ‘Rocky Point Parking Lot’.
Meet: 10:00 am at the Rocky Point Trailhead parking lot on GA 190.
Facilities: None.
Difficulty: Walking is mostly downhill on the way in, but uphill on the way out. It is slightly more than one mile from the Rocky Point Trailhead to Sparks Creek where the grass-of-Parnassus population occurs. The trail is rocky, but not particularly difficult. The grass-of-Parnassus occurs in a seepy, springhead, but it is possible to see them without getting your feet wet. (Depending on how many people register, I reserve the right to set up a shuttle and walk from the Boottop Trail Trailhead to the Rocky Point Trailhead. Total distance will be about the same, but we will add a few interesting plants and we won’t have to backtrack.)
Bring: Lunch, water, camera, hand lens, and a sense of adventure. Keep an eye on the weather (use Pine Mountain or Warm Springs) and dress accordingly. Mid-November in west-central Georgia is usually fairly mild.
Contact: Hal Massie (478-957-6095), cell reception may be poor on morning of trip. Register for the trip by sending an email to massiefarm@aol.com.