40TH ANNUAL Mertensia virginica SPRING WILDFLOWER 2009 Pilgrimage PILGRIMAGE

GEORGIA April 03 - 05, 2009 BOTANICAL Rome SOCIETY Floyd County, Georgia Rome, Georgia Stylophorum Northwest Georgia is home to some of the most spectacular wild- diphyllum fl ower displays in Georgia and in fact, in the whole southeastern United States. In particular, the areas blessed with limestone derived Trillium decumbens sweet soils, such as Black's Bluff, Whitmore's Bluff, Carter's Lake, the foot of Cloudland Canyon and Pigeon Mountain, are rewarded with a suite of plants that put on a tremendous show in early spring. We will also visit other great wildfl ower displays from sites with more acidic soils, such as Little River Canyon, the upper portion of Cloudland Canyon, Pocket Recreation Area, Keown Falls and John's Mountain. And, who knows what they'll fi nd on the exploration trip to the Horn mountain "pocket" formation above the Girl's Scout Camp in northern Floyd County. In fact we will be visiting all the great early spring wildfl ower locations in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. All of this awaits you at the 40th Annual Spring Wildfl ower Pilgrimage in Rome. Please come and join in the fun!

Pilgrimage Schedule Friday, April 3 9:30 am - 3:30 pm Cloudland Canyon State Park, led by Rich Reaves. 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Registration and welcoming social - Trinity Methodist Church, Rome. 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Evening presentation at Trinity Methodist Church Fellowship Hall: "Northwest Georgia - A Dendrologist’s Lure" by Ron Lance. 9:30 pm Late Registration. Saturday, April 4 7:30 am - 8:15 am Early registration at Days Inn. 8:30 am Field trips assemble at Days Inn and depart for destinations. 1:30 pm Afternoon fi eld trips assemble at Days Inn and depart for destinations. 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm All fi eld trips return. 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Mini-social at Trinity Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Banquet dinner at Trinity Methodist Church (catered by Ms. Annie Morgan). 7:45 pm - 9:00 pm Evening presentation at Trinity Methodist Church Fellowship Hall: "Changes in Our Understanding of the Flora of Georgia: Is Change a Good Thing?" by Alan Weakley.

Sunday, April 5 8:30 am Field Trips assemble at Days Inn and depart for destinations.

Have a safe trip home! 1 Evening Programs:

Friday, 7:30 pm Northwest Georgia: Ron Lance A Dendrologist’s Lure Abstract: Amongst the diverse landscapes and geology of Georgia’s northwest corner, a myriad of plant species meet and mingle. The fl ora there has drawn many generations of botanists seeking unique, rare and common species alike and continue to yield surprises with new explorations. This program will present a dendrologist’s view of the situation: a look at signifi cant woody plants of the region and the sometimes-peculiar natural habitats that they help to defi ne. Unique occurrences, disjunct ranges and simply nice places where interesting plants grow will be described through the experience of one plant-hunting visitor who has been regularly exploring the region for 22 years.

Biographical Information: Ron Lance has been employed in the fi elds of biology, forestry and horticulture since 1975. Receiving an Associate Degree in Wildlife Management from Haywood Community College and immediately employed as biological technician there, 33 years later his array of job experiences have included consecutive decades in education, forestry and lumber trades, and horticulture/resource management. He has served Board and offi cer posts for the Inter- national Oak Society since 1997, including Conference Chair, President, Secretary, and Journal Editor. Four books were prepared: Woody Plants of the Blue Ridge (Haywood Community College Press, 1994), Hawthorns of the Southeastern United States (self-printed, 1995), A Surveyor's Guide to the Trees of North Carolina (North Carolina Association of Surveyors, 2000), and Woody Plants of the Southeastern United States, a Winter Guide (University of Georgia Press, 2004). He has co-authored Hawthorns and Medlars with James B. Phipps and Bob O'Kennon (Timber Press, 2003) and the pyracantha treatment for the Flora of North America in 2007. Numerous crataegus treatments have been supplied for various botanical publications since 2001. Presently he is preparing two publications on the native woody plants of the Southeastern United States using his own illustrations and keys. Currently he is employed as Senior Naturalist and Land Manager at Balsam Mountain Preserve in Sylva, NC.

Saturday, 7:30 pm Changes in our understanding of the fl ora of Georgia: Alan Weakley Is change a good thing? Abstract: Since its publication in 1968, Radford, Ahles, and Bell's Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas has been the primary fl oristic used by Georgia botanists. But 40 years of botanical exploration and taxonomic inquiry (in- cluding the widespread application of new-fangled systematic tools, such as molecular phylogenetics) have resulted in many changes, additions, emendations, and corrections to the Manual and to the fl ora of Georgia (which, of course, the Manual was never intended to cover). We will explore the nature and scope of these changes and their implications for fl oristics, Georgia botany and conservation. We will touch on some of the following questions: How many trilliums ARE there in Georgia, the center of Trillium Universe and how fast can trilliums walk? How have the last billion years shaped Georgia's fl ora? What does an alien species have to do to be recognized as a naturalized component of our fl ora? What happened to Aster (I liked Aster)? Why did it take a century to raise another cane? Why are the new names always longer and harder to pronounce than the old ones? Was John Kunkel Small right? Is change good?

Biographical Information: Alan Weakley grew up in Virginia and is a plant systematist, fl oristician, and community ecologist specializing in the Southeastern United States. He holds a B.A. in Botany and Comparative Literature (UNC at Chapel Hill) and a Ph.D. in the Environment (Duke). He has had an extensive and varied career in botany, ecology, and conservation, including work as a botanist, ecologist, and assistant coordinator for the NC Natural Heritage Program, Senior Regional Ecologist and later Chief Ecologist for The Nature Conservancy and NatureServe. Since 2002, Alan has been Curator of the UNC Herbarium of the NC Botanical Garden, and Adjunct Assistant Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill in the Curriculum of Ecology and Department of Biology. He serves on the Flora of North America’s Board of Directors, as Trustee of the NC Natural Heritage Trust Fund, Chair of the NC Plant Conservation Program Scientifi c Committee, Chair of the NC Natural Heritage Program Advisory Committee, and is a co-founder of the Carolina Vegetation Survey. He is a regular reviewer of articles for Castanea, Sida, Vulpia and other regional and international journals. His primary research interests include eastern North American fl oristics, plant systematics, and phytogeography, classifi cation and mapping of vegetation types, bioinformatics, conservation planning theory and practice, conservation biology, and natural lands management and restoration. Alan is working on several fl ora projects, including a new Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, and adjoining areas and the Flora of Virginia Project.

2 Pilgrimage Field Trips at a glance...

Friday Field Trip - unlimited participation Fri all day FT# 1 Cloudland Canyon State Park led by Rich Reaves

Saturday Field Trips - each Saturday trip will be limited to 20 participants. Sat morning FT# 2 Black's Bluff and Lock & Dam Park led by Richard & Teresa Ware Sat morning FT# 3 Armuchee Elementary School Trail led by Terrell Shaw & Jim Drake Sat morning FT# 4 James H. Floyd State Park led by Tom Patrick Sat morning FT# 5 Dr. Ken Davis' Farm led by Stu & Anita Smith & Max Medley

Sat afternoon FT# 6 Black's Bluff and Lock & Dam Park led by Richard & Teresa Ware Sat afternoon FT# 7 Armuchee Elementary School Trail led by Terrell Shaw & Jim Drake Sat afternoon FT# 8 James H. Floyd State Park led by Tom Patrick Sat afternoon FT# 9 Dr. Ken Davis' Farm led by Stu & Anita Smith & Max Medley

Sat all day FT# 10 Pigeon Mountain trip led by Steve Bowling Sat all day FT# 11 Pigeon Mountain trip led by Lisa Kruse Sat all day FT# 12 Whitmore's Bluff led by Tom Govus Sat all day FT# 13 Pocket Recreation / Keown Falls / John's Mountain led by Hugh & Carol Nourse Sat all day FT# 14 Little River Canyon, AL led by Al Schotz Sat all day FT# 15 Explore the Pocket of Horn Mountain led by Rich Reaves

Sunday Field Trips - each Sunday trip will be limited to 20 participants. Sun morning FT# 16 Whitmore's Bluff led by Steve Bowling Sun morning FT# 17 Pigeon Mountain led by Mike Christison Sun morning FT# 18 Richard Wilson's Farm & Barnsley Gardens led by Richard Wilson Sun morning FT# 19 Carter's Lake Rereg Dam Trail led by Tom Patrick & Max Medley Sun morning FT# 20 James H. Floyd State Park led by Linda Chafi n Sun morning FT# 21 Berry College, Buckeye Trail led by Richard & Teresa Ware Sun morning FT# 22 Black's Bluff and Lock & Dam Park led by Malcolm Hodges

Illustration of twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla) by Jean C. Putnam Hancock in Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Georgia 3 Friday Pre-Pilgrimage Trip (unlimited participation) Trip # 1 Cloudland Canyon State Park Leader: Rich Reaves Date and Time: Friday 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM Meeting Place: Meet at Cloudland Canyon State Park Overlook parking area on right by the restrooms. Bring: $3.00 parking fee or valid state park pass. Directions: From Atlanta: take I-75 to exit 320 (Resaca). Go west on GA 136 through Villanow, Naomi (slight jog to left and then right), and Lafayette (take the US 27 bypass around town to the north and follow the signs to stay on 136) to Park's main entrance. Proceed to the Overlook parking area. From Rome: take US 27 north (the highway next to the Days Inn) from Rome to Summerville. In Summerville, turn left onto GA 48 toward Menlo, go through Menlo and continue to top of mountain to turn right onto GA 157. At junction of GA 136 turn left (west) and look for park entrance on right after passing GA 189. Conditions: Hiking will be mostly along improved trails, but there are almost 600 very steep steps from the parking area to the bridge (including 1 short area that is very muddy at the base of a wet cliff face), an approximate 4-5 mile loop once we cross the bridge and those almost 600 steps back up. The walking will be generally easy on the way down but is going to be moderate-strenuous for the long uphill climb back to the top at the end of the day. Description: We will walk down from the top of the canyon, enjoying a few early spring fl owers until we reach the bot- tom of the stairs. Then, we will cross the bridge and continue on down into the canyon, where the fl oristic richness of Cloudland Canyon State Park will become apparent. Dwarf larkspur (Delphinium tricorne), decumbent trillium (Trillium decumbens), blue phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifi da), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) and bellworts (Uvularia sp.) are some of the treats that await us. There may be some lingering bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), harbinger of spring (Erigenia bulbosa), trout lilies (Erythronium sp.), and toothworts (Dentaria sp.; at least 3 species) as well. Bring a lunch to enjoy along the trail. There will be no facilities after we leave the parking area. For more information, contact Rich Reaves at (770) 827-5186 or [email protected].

Saturday Pilgrimage Trips

Saturday Morning Trips: (each trip limited to 20 participants) Trip # 2 - Black's Bluff and Lock & Dam Park Leaders: Richard & Teresa Ware Date and Time: Saturday 8:30 AM - 12:00 Noon Bring: $2.00 parking fee for Lock & Dam Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Conditions: Easy, mostly roadside walking at Black's Bluff. Mostly easy walking at Lock & Dam, but depending on the route we may have one moderate hill. Total walking is 1 - 2 miles. Description: Black's Bluff is a wonderful limestone bluff south of Rome on the Coosa River and is a Nature Conservancy Preserve. The steep bluffs here were discovered many years ago to possess many rare and beautiful wildfl owers, trees and shrubs. Our trip will include a glimpse of the remaining bluffs that escaped mining and the associated fl owers like hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Dutchmen's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), early meadow rue (Thalictrum dioicum), limestone ragwort (Senecio obovatus), wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata), purple phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifi da) and two species of toothworts (Dentaria heterophylla & D. laciniata), harbinger- of-spring (Erigenia bulbosa) and early saxifrage (Saxifraga virginiensis). Lock & Dam is a Floyd County Park on the Coosa River. We will enjoy the early spring fl owers here and on the adjoining Coosa River Preserve, especially a small limestone outcrop harboring a population of the rare shrub Alabama snowwreath (Neviusia alabamensis; not bloom- ing). Also here we'll see a different toothwort (Dentaria multifi da), Canada wild ginger (Asarum canadense), lance-leaf trillium (Trillium lancifolium) and Wister's Coralroot (Corallorhiza wisteriana). No facilities at Black's Bluff. Facilities are available at Lock & Dam Park.

4 Saturday Morning Trips (cont.): Trip # 3 - Armuchee Elementary School Trail Leaders: Terrell Shaw & Jim Drake Date and Time: Saturday, 8:30 AM - 12:00 Noon Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Conditions: Easy walking on constructed trail with small slope, possibly some bushwhacking. Description: Terrell Shaw (who teaches at the school) has constructed a wildfl ower trail that descends a small slope behind the school and runs along a small creek. Some of the early fl owers we may fi nd are dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), eastern blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium atlanticum), yellow star grass (Hypoxis hirsuta), Solomon's seal (Polygonatum bifl orum), Solomon's plume (Smilacina racemosa), golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea), blue star (Amsonia tabernae- montana), slender toothwort (Dentaria heterophylla), rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), windfl ower (Anemone quinquefolia) and round-lobed hepatica (Hepatica americana). Time permitting we will visit Armuchee Creek for early spring fl owers. Facilities at Armuchee Elementary School.

Trip # 4 - James H. Floyd State Park Leader: Tom Patrick Date and Time: Saturday, 8:30 AM - 12:00 Noon Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn and carpool / caravan to the site. Bring: $3.00 parking fee or valid state park pass. Conditions: Walking will be on a state park trail which goes to the old marble mine and continues up the north side of Taylor's Ridge, where it intersects on the top of the mountain with the Pinhoti Trail. Going in will be moderate to strenuous with several fairly steep inclines, where small sections could be muddy and slick if there has been a lot of rain. Coming out will be easy downhill on the same sections of trail. Description: First we'll explore a nice wet weather drainage near the main road in the park and then we'll head up the Marble Mine Trail to the old mine and as time permits further up the north face of Taylor's Ridge on the Pinhoti Trail connector. Some of the early spring plants we hope to fi nd in bloom are red buckeye (Aesculus pavia), bloodroot (San- guinaria canadensis), Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), wild comfrey (Cynoglossum virginianum), mercury spurge (Euphorbia mercurialina), sharp-lobed hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba), dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), may apple (Podophyllum peltatum), Solomon's plume (Smilacina racemosa), spiderwort (Tradescantia sp.) and perfoliate bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata). Facilities at park.

Trip # 5 - Dr. Ken Davis' Farm Leaders: Stu & Anita Smith & Max Medley Date and Time: Saturday, 8:30 AM - 12:00 Noon Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Conditions: This should be easy walking; depending on how much exploring up the mountain is done. Dr. Ken Davis' farm will require a walk across a pasture and then some exploring at the base of a mountain (north facing slope of Simms Mountain). Description: We will explore along the creek and the lower slopes of Simms Mountain and hope to see the following early spring wildfl owers in bloom: Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans), wild ginger (Asarum canadense), showy orchid (Galearis spectabilis), hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), phlox (Phlox divaricata), violets (Viola sp.), jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), trout lily (Erythronium umbilicatum) and trilliums (Tril- lium sp.). No facilities.

5 Saturday Afternoon Trips: (each trip limited to 20 participants)

Trip # 6 - Black's Bluff, & Lock & Dam Park Leaders: Richard & Teresa Ware Date and Time: Saturday, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM Please see FT # 2 for the trip instructions and descriptions.

Trip # 7 - Armuchee Elementary School Trail Leaders: Jim Drake & Terrell Shaw Date and Time: Saturday, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM Please see FT # 3 for the trip instructions and descriptions.

Trip # 8 - James H. Floyd State Park Leader: Tom Patrick Date and Time: Saturday, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM Please see FT # 4 for the trip instructions and descriptions.

Trip # 9 - Dr. Ken Davis' Farm Leaders: Stu & Anita Smith & Max Medley Date and Time: Saturday, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM Please see FT # 5 for the trip instructions and descriptions.

Illustration of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) by Jean C. Putnam Hancock in Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Georgia 6 Saturday All Day Trips: (Bring lunch for all day trips; trips limited to 20 participants) Trip # 10 - Pigeon Mountain Leader: Steve Bowling Date and Time: Saturday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. Conditions: Possible rock hop across creek, easy level walking on board walk, very rocky, muddy & slick walking to bottom of waterfall, moderate old road to above falls, easy on east side of mountain with optional moderate walk to cornfi eld sink of ½ - ¾ mile (one way). Total walking 1 ½ - 2 ½ miles. Description: This trip will begin on the west side of the mountain (Pocket) and end on the east side. Pigeon Mountain has long been "the" destination for BotSoccers to see the premier display of early spring wildfl owers in Georgia. Not only does it have a wonderful display of fl owers, but also many of them are very rare, and with some, practically the only place in Georgia where you can see them. Of course the big display in the "pocket" is formed by the Virginia bluebells (Mer- tensia virginica), the celandine or wood poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) and the bent trillium (Trillium fl exipes), but there are many other fl owers to see, such as: decumbent trillium (T. decumbens), trout lily (Erythronium umbilicatum), yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea), Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra), toothworts (Dentaria sp.), wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata), Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), spring beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) and the list goes on. On the east side of the mountain we will try to catch the rare twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla) in bloom, and if time and energy permits we'll hike to the cornfi eld sink to see another rarity: goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). No facilities.

Trip # 11 - Pigeon Mountain Leader: Lisa Kruse Date and Time: Saturday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Description: See Trip # 10 for details. This trip will be the same only beginning on the east side of the mountain and with a different fi eld trip leader. No facilities.

Trip # 12 - Whitmore's Bluff Leader: Tom Govus Date and Time: Saturday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Conditions: The day will be spent exploring three separate limestone bluffs north of Rome on the Oostanaula River. The hiking will be moderate to strenuous and includes steep slopes, bluffs, rock of varying sizes, loose rock (scree) and huge boulders. (This hike is for the sure-footed only.) Description: Those hardy enough to make this trip should be rewarded for their efforts. We can only mention a few of the 334 species cataloged from this site in the early 1990s by Richard Ware, including 15 species of ferns, such as walking fern (Asplenium rhizophyllum) and bulblet fern (Cystopteris bulbifera). A few of the other early spring fl owers are: Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens), lance-leaf trillium (Trillium lancifolium), 3 toothworts (Dentaria laciniata, D. diphylla and D. heterophylla), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), sharp-lobed hepatica (Hepatica acu- tiloba), wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata), shooting stars (Dodecatheon meadia), wild columbine (Aquilegia canaden- sis), rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), green violet (Hybanthus concolor), stonecrop sedum (Sedum ternatum), blue phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifi da), Canada wild ginger (Asarum canadense) and if we are lucky we'll catch the rare Georgia rockcress (Arabis georgiana) in bloom! No facilities.

7 Saturday All Day Trips (cont.):

Trip # 13 - Pocket Recreation Area / Keown Falls / John's Mountain Leaders: Hugh & Carol Nourse Date and Time: Saturday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. (There may be a parking fee at both locations, although the last time we were at the Pocket there was no fee unless you were camping). Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Conditions: At the Pocket the walk will be 1.1 miles, easy and relatively fl at. The Keown Falls walk will be a 1.8 mile loop trail of moderate diffi culty with an elevation gain of 415 feet. Description: The early spring fl owers that we expect to encounter at either the Pocket Recreation Area or at Keown Falls include: giant chickweed (Stellaria pubera), violet wood-sorrel (Oxalis violacea), pussy-toes (Antennaria plan- taginifolia), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), bluets (Houstonia caerulea), common blue violet (Viola sp.), toothwort (Dentaria sp.), rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), perfoliate bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata), bird's foot violet (Viola pedata), early saxifrage (Saxifraga virginiensis) and trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens). At Keown Falls we should see a relatively uncommon alumroot growing under the overhang of the rock formation because it doesn't like to get wet: small-fl owered alumroot (Heuchera parvifl ora)! Above the second falls look for rock-cap fern (Polypodium virginianum). A little past the falls we should fi nd mountain spleenwort (Asplenium montanum). Facilities available.

Trip # 14 - Little River Canyon, AL Leader: Al Schotz Date and Time: Saturday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Conditions: The entire day will consist of several stops to acquaint folks not only with the plant life, but also the scen- ery. With the exception of the venture into the canyon (which will be roughly 1.5 miles round trip), the excursions will be short and easy. Participants are suggested to bring a lunch and wear sturdy footgear. The hike into and out of the canyon is rated as strenuous. Description: We will visit the Little River Canyon National Preserve in northeast Alabama. Little River has the unique distinction of being the longest mountaintop river in the nation - meandering for several miles on the summit of Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama. The river has chiseled and carved its way through a series of sandstone and shale to create some of the most spectacular scenery to be found anywhere in the Southeast. Long recognized for its botanical diversity, the Preserve is home to some of the region’s most cherished wildfl owers. Among the several habitats to be vis- ited, participants can expect to see an array of rare and common wildfl owers, including yellow sunnybells (Schoenolirion croceum), mountain witch-alder (Fothergilla major), elf orpine (Diamorpha smallii), trilliums (Trillium sp.), dwarf iris (Iris cristata) and various kinds of violets (Viola sp.). Facilities available.

Trip # 15 - Explore the Pocket of Horn Mountain Leader: Rich Reaves Date and Time: Saturday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Conditions: Strenuous. This trip will be 100% bushwhacking over broken, rocky terrain with steep slopes. There will be stream hopping and seep exploration - expect to get your feet wet! Description: We will walk upwards into the "Pocket of Horn Mountain", the highest point in Floyd County. We will generally follow a major stream and explore at least one large (several acres) mountain seep. I expect that we will en- counter more than one seep before the day ends. This area is basically unexplored since the 1930s from the standpoint of fl oristics and we will see what we fi nd. We hope to rediscover some elements listed in a 1940 dissertation for Floyd County and some not found in the county since then, such as mountain wood sorrel (Oxalis montana), Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans), Bowman's root (Porteranthus trifoliatus), brook lettuce (Micranthes micranthidifolia), and spring ladies tresses (Spiranthes vernalis). Bring a lunch to enjoy along the trail. There will be no facilities. Hopefully, we will be able to fi nd the cars at the end of the day. 8 Sunday Pilgrimage Trips - each trip limited to 20 participants.

Trip # 16 - Whitmore's Bluff Leader: Steve Bowling Date and Time: Sunday, 8:30 AM - ???? Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Description: See Trip # 12 for details about this trip. Note: different fi eld trip leader. No facilities.

Trip # 17 - Pigeon Mountain Leader: Mike Christison Date and Time: Sunday, 8:30 AM - ???? Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Description: See Trip # 10 for details on this trip. Note: different fi eld trip leader. No facilities.

Trip # 18 - Richard Wilson's Farm & Barnsley Gardens Leader: Richard Wilson Date and Time: Sunday, 8:30 AM - ???? Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. There may be a charge to enter Barnsley Gardens. Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Conditions: Walking will be easy as we explore along a creek on Richard Wilson's property in Bartow County. There is a possibility that we may also visit Mostellar springs and we also are planning a visit to Barnsley Gardens, near Kingston. Description: The main attraction on Richard's property are shooting stars (Dodecatheon meadia), but there are other goodies such as Catesby trilliums (Trillium catesbaei), dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), maybe pink lady slipper (Cyp- ripedium acaule) if the logging didn't get them, Solomon's seal (Polygonatum bifl orum), Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), dayfl ower (Commelina sp.), foam fl ower (Tiarella cordifolia), wild ginger (Hexastylis arifolia), wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia), hepatica (Hepatica sp.), rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), hearts-a-busting (Euonymus americanus), bluets (Houstonia sp.), violets (Viola sp.) and water cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum). Facilities available.

Trip # 19 - Carter's Lake Rereg Dam Leaders: Tom Patrick & Max Medley Date and Time: Sunday, 8:30 AM - ???? Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Conditions: Mostly easy and short walking, but may explore small hills to see interesting plants, with a diffi culty rating somewhere between easy and moderate. Could be some wet / muddy areas if we've had good rains. Description: This is another one of those wonderful limestone areas that supports a wide array of early spring fl owers like harbinger-of-spring (Erigenia bulbosa), shooting stars (Dodecatheon meadia), wild hyacinth (Camassia scilloi- des), yellow trillium (Trillium luteum), southern nodding trillium (T. rugelii), Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), narrow-leaf toothwort (Dentaria multifi da), Atamasco lily (Zephyranthes atamasca), dwarf larkspur (Delphinium tricorne), wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), green violet (Hybanthus concolor) and a very large population of American columbo (Frasera caroliniensis) which shouldn't be in bloom this early but we should at least see the basal leaves. Facilities available.

Trip # 20 - James H. Floyd State Park Leader: Linda Chafi n Date and Time: Sunday, 8:30 AM - ???? Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. $3.00 parking fee or valid state park pass. Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Description: See Trip # 4 for details on this trip. Note: different fi eld trip leader. Facilities available.

9 Sunday Pilgrimage Trips (cont.): Trip # 21 - Berry College Buckeye Trail Leaders: Richard & Teresa Ware Date and Time: Sunday, 8:30 AM - ???? Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn to carpool / caravan to the site. Conditions: Walking will be mostly easy on mostly fl at ground, could be wet in places with at least one creek crossing. The walk will be between ½ and 2 miles depending on whether or not we can get a key to drive in. Description: This will be an exploratory trip (although not diffi cult) to see if we can relocate some of the more interest- ing plants that Teresa and I have found there in the past, including things like trout lily (Erythronium umbilicatum), showy orchid (Galearis spectabilis), rattlesnake plantain (Goodyear pubescens), Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virgi- nica), yellow buckeye (Aesculus fl ava), cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata), Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans) and leatherwood (Dirca palustris). Four of these plants may not be found elsewhere in Floyd County. No facilities.

Trip # 22 - Black's Bluff and Lock & Dam Park Leader: Malcolm Hodges Date and Time: Sunday, 8:30 AM - ???? Bring: Water and lunch to eat on hike. $2.00 parking at Lock & Dam. Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Days Inn and carpool / caravan to the site. Description: See Trip # 2 for details on this trip. Note: different fi eld trip leader. Facilities at Lock & Dam only.

General Pilgrimage Information Headquarters (Lodging & Field Trip Departures): The Days Inn in Rome will be the headquarters for the 2009 Pilgrimage. We have 60 rooms blocked at a special room rate of $62.00 + tax. The rooms may include 1 king or 2 double beds and up to 4 people in a room. Continental Break- fast is included and the rooms contain both a refrigerator and a microwave. The parking lot has 173 parking spaces with easy access from the rear of the parking lot to a traffi c light at the junction of Turner McCall Boulevard and Riverside Parkway.

Please register with the hotel by March 16, 2009 to avoid the higher regular rates! Do not use the Day’s Inn toll free number for your reservations, but call the hotel directly at 706-295-0400 and mention you are with the Georgia Botani- cal Society. Our contact at the hotel is Mike Patel.

An additional 20 rooms have been booked at the Country Hearth Inn & Suites (712 Avenue A, Rome, GA 30165). This is a new hotel. Rooms are $64.99 + tax and contain both a refrigerator and a microwave. For reservation call 706-314- 1115. Our contact at the hotel is Rekha Patel.

Camping should be available at the Lock & Dam Park south of Rome - 706-234-5001.

Headquarters (Friday Registration, Friday and Saturday Evening Programs & Saturday evening banquet): Trinity United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall (606 Turner McCall Blvd., Rome, GA 30165) will be our headquarters for evening programs, the Saturday nights banquet and all registration (with the exception of an opportunity to register early Saturday morning at the Days Inn before the fi eld trips depart). Directions from Days Inn to church: Please do not attempt to turn left onto Turner-McCall Blvd., but instead exit from the rear of the Days Inn parking lot. Turn right down the hill on West 2nd Street, then another right onto Riverside Parkway. At traffi c light (Turner McCall), turn left. Go across river and turn left at the fi rst traffi c light (Avenue A). Trinity Method- ist Church is on the right, facing Turner-McCall, with ample parking behind the church (See map on page 11)). 10 General Pilgrimage Information (cont.):

What to Bring and Wear for Field Trips: Dress for an entire day in the fi eld. Wear sturdy shoes and layers of clothing. Be prepared for any temperature extreme. In northwest Georgia at the beginning of April we could have below freezing at night with temperatures soaring to the 70s or 80s during the day. Also, be prepared for rain: although we hope to avoid it, you can never tell. Bring everything that you'd normally need on a fi eld trip, such as sunscreen, hat, walking stick, extra socks and shoes, insect repellent (although I don't think you'll need it this early). Please bring your own lunches for the Saturday all-day and Sunday fi eld trips. No box lunches will be provided. Both the Friday and Saturday night socials will also be held at the church fellowship hall, therefore, no alcohol will be allowed. This is an excellent time for making new friends and renewing old friendships with fellow BotSoccers. Residual food from the social will be available before the banquet on Saturday night. Evening dress for the presentations, social hour and banquet is casual.

Volunteer! Volunteers are needed for bringing food for the Friday evening social. Please contact Teresa Ware to offer your assistance (email: [email protected] or phone 706-232-3435).

Registration -- Must be mailed by Tuesday, March 10, 2009! Please use the enclosed registration form or download a form from our website: www.gabotsoc.org. Clearly indicate your fi eld trip choices by number (not name). Itemize and total all fees and make your check payable to the Georgia Botanical Society and mail with your registration form to: Richard Reaves 2718 Stillwater Lake Lane Marietta, GA 30066-7906

Directions to Days Inn and Trinity Methodist Church: From Atlanta take I-75 north to exit 290 (GA 20, Rome / Canton exit). Turn left and follow GA 20 and US 411 to Rome. After going through 4 traffi c lights the road forks with US 411 going left and GA 20 going right. Take the right fork and follow GA 20, which then merges onto US 27 toward downtown Rome. You'll go past KMart, Home Depot, Outback and Chili's, then cross the Etowah River. Go through 2 more traffi c lights and up a hill; just as you start down the hill the Day's Inn will be on your left. To reach Trinity Methodist Church from Days Inn exit from the rear of the Days Inn parking lot. Turn right down the hill on West 2nd Street, then another right onto Riverside Parkway. At traffi c light (Turner McCall), turn left. Go across river and turn left at the fi rst traffi c light (Avenue A). Trinity Methodist Church is on the right, facing Turner-McCall, with ample parking behind the church.

The Days Inn 840 Turner McCall Boulevard Rome, GA 30161 706-295-0400 (Do not use Day’s Inn toll free number.)

Trinity United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall 606 Turner McCall Boulevard Rome, GA 30165

11 BotSoc Pilgrimage Shirts - 2009 Limited Edition All profi ts from the sales of Pilgrimage shirts benefi t the Marie Mellinger Field Botany Research Grant Fund

Our beautiful 2009 T-shirts and sweatshirt, de- signed and drawn by Jenneke Somerville, depict features of three distinctive fl owers found in rich Mertensia virginica limestone areas in northwest Georgia. The scene will be printed on a natural (cream) colored shirt. The shirts will be a special limited edition 2009 production based ONLY on the number of orders Pilgrimage received. To order, please use the Pilgrimage Registration Form and place your order by the GEORGIA March 10 deadline. Short sleeve t-shirts are $13 BOTANICAL ($15 for XXL and XXXL); long sleeve t-shirts are $15 ($17 for XXL and $18 for XXXL); sweatshirts SOCIETY are $19 ($21 for XXL and $22 for XXXL).

Rome, Georgia If you will not attend the pilgrimage but would Stylophorum like a shirt, please include $5.00 for postage for diphyllum the fi rst shirt and $1.50 for each additional shirt

Trillium with your order.

decumbens

Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper recycled post-consumer 100% on Printed

www.gabotsoc.org

Marietta, GA 30066-7906 GA Marietta,

2718 Stillwater Lake Lane Lake Stillwater 2718

PERMIT NO. 1 NO. PERMIT

ATHENS, GA ATHENS,

PAID POSTAGE U.S. NONPROFIT ORG. NONPROFIT

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