Preregistration is required. Please email Brandi Griffin at:
Field Trip Leader: Brandi Griffin
Description: We will explore Tall Timbers Campus, a great example of the pyrodiversity found in The Red Hills region ecosystems of North Florida. We will look at the Stoddard Plots set up in 1960 and burned continuously since, demonstrating the effects different fire intervals have on species composition. We will visit The Scrub Course, a shortleaf pine oak-hickory dominant forest with an intact old growth understory, and the forest-reference site for this natural community type in Florida. Then we will stop by the Season of Fire plots that contain Spigelia gentianoides and Schwalbea americana (which will likely not be flowering) among many other interesting old growth shortleaf pine indicator species. Then we will visit Woodyard hammock, our old growth Beech Magnolia forest to look at a completely different species composition with a different disturbance regime, that of hurricane rather than fire. Very easy hiking short distances from vehicles, we will caravan around to the different sites. Please be sure your transportation has some height as the roads we will travel are rough or you can find someone to car pool with or if you are tough you can ride in the back bed of my truck.
Location & Directions: From Downtown Thomasville, GA, turn onto west Jackson street. Continue straight on highway 319 S for 15 miles. Turn right onto Co Rd 12/ Co highway 12 for 2.7 miles. Turn left onto Henry Beadel Dr, Parking is in the field behind the Wade Research Center. We can meet in the barn/Komerick building to the right of the Beadel House, signs abound. Google Maps works well for our address, Tall Timbers at 13093 Beadel Drive, Tallahassee, FL.
Meet At: The Barn.
Bathroom Facilities: Some before we go out, and some to come back to.
Walking Difficulty: This hike is easy to moderate.
Bring: Lunch, snacks, & water. Remember to dress for the weather and wear comfortable hiking shoes. We will go somewhat off trail so I recommend close toed shoes and pants to protect your legs. Dress in layers so that you can adjust to changes in the temperature and your activity level. You may wish to bring binoculars, hand lens, notebook, and camera.