No one has seen anything like this habitat for trout lilies, trilliums and orchids near Cairo, Ga. Photo by Robin Kennedy
Victory!
Money is in the bank, and Wolf Creek tract will be purchased
as heritage for future generations; private donor makes difference
| By Michael E. Abrams A private donor has provided the money, and now the dream will come true. The destiny of one of the most awe-inspiring botanical landscapes in the flowering South is now in the books. A local plantation owner has stepped forward to fund the balance of funds needed to permit Grady County to purchase the Wolf Creek Trout Lily tract, according to Dan Miller, the project coordinator. The purchase will close by June 30, 2009. "The Native Plant Societies of Florida and Georgia wish to thank the many supporters of this preservation effort for their help and financial assistance," said Miller. Any funds received in excess of the amount needed for purchase will be used for stewardship purposes, he said. A few weeks ago $48,000 stood between dream and realization of the prize, according to backers of the plan who were working on saving 140 acres in rural South Georgia as a nature preserve for future generations. It's home of the greatest expanse of trout lilies known to exist anywhere, say experts. The fertile land spills over with orchids, trilliums, violets and beautiful oak, pine, beech, magnolia and hickory. The effort, spearheaded by Miller, a prominent native plant nurseryman of Tallahassee, resulted in a $342,750 grant from the Georgia Land Conservation Program. That would have been half the price asked. A lower total price from the landowner, along with $51,500 in private donations, brought the April 1 deadline within reach. And now the goal has been reached. |
All of this work is the
result of a collaborative effort of the
Magnolia
Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, the Georgia Botanical
Society and the Georgia Native Plant Society.
The land will be owned by the Grady County Commission, which is also behind efforts to preserve this fragile habitat. As proposed, the county will own the land and it would be managed as a passive nature preserve in collaboration with The Red Hills Land Conservancy and the nearby Bird Song Nature Center. The rare trout lilies thrive in moist, cool, rich soil under very special conditions. They were first noted by botanist Angus Gholson of Chattahoochee, Miller told a large group from the Plant Society. The trout lily is an endangered species in Florida, and rarely seen in South Georgia. It is a harbinger of springtime. Among plants present are the Trillium maculatum, bloodroot, the crane fly and green fly orchids, and the Southern tway blade orchid. Visitors to the site in early February 2009 were full of wonder at the expanse of flowers. |
 Trout lily - Erythronium umbillicatum |
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'Thanks to all' -Dan Miller |
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