Today’s Ramble was led by Linda Chafin.

All the photos in this post, unless otherwise credited,
were taken by Hugh and Carol Nourse, former leaders of the Nature Ramblers.

Today’s post was written by Linda Chafin.

Today’s Focus:
The Rock and Shoals Granite outcrop.

25 Ramblers met today.

Today’s reading:
No reading today.

Announcements: The Garden is participating in a “Plantapalooza” plant sale this weekend (Saturday). Click here for the details and a link to the species offered.

Today’s route:
Ramblers met today at the Botanical Garden and carpooled to the Rock &
Shoals Natural Area off Barnett Shoals Road. Mid-April is peak blooming season
for the Piedmont granite outcrop specialties and endemics.

Piedmont granite outcrops are found from SE Virginia to
central Alabama, totaling about 12,000 acres, but 90% of them occur in the Georgia
Piedmont. There are approximately 5,000 granite outcrops in Georgia larger than
¼ acre. Unfortunately, only 11 of them are protected, including Rock and Shoals
(R&S), which is owned jointly by Athens-Clarke County and Georgia Department
of Natural Resources. Though small, R&S supports many of the
outcrop endemics and four rare species.

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This Ramble
Report was written by Don Hunter. Don’s photo album of the ramble is here.
The photos included in this post are all Don’s.

On Tuesday,
December 17, 2013, twenty-one eager and kindred souls gathered at the Barnett
Shoals Elementary School, on Barnett Shoals Road, for a ramble through the Rock
and Shoals Natural Area, organized by Ramblers Joan and Sandra.  It was probably still in the 30’s as we all
arrived and mingled a bit at the school, enjoying hot coffee, chocolate banana
bread, cranberry bread, both still warm from the oven, and mixed fruit, all kindly
provided by Joan and Sandra.  

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