Charles Rose
THE SHOALS-Fresh Air Family, taking education out into Nature’s biggest
classroom and Shoals Environmental Alliance will be hosting spring wildflower walks with Charles Rose.
These outing are free to the public, but you should register. Registering ensures you will be notified of any last minute changes or cancellation, due to weather, the leader’s work schedule, etc.
To register or get more info, contact Charles Rose at chuckrivers@comcast.net or
Registering is easy; all we need is:
1. Your name.
2. The number of people in your party.
3. A contact phone number, preferably a cell phone.
Saturday, March 26 — Bull Skull Hollow Wildflower Hike
Meet 9:30am at Jack’s Hamburgers, 3211 Woodward Ave. (US-43) in Muscle Shoals, AL, on the south side of the building.
Google Map, showing location of Jack’s Hamburgers
https://goo.gl/maps/pDx5ArCrems
Bring lunch, water and snacks. Wear sturdy footwear.
The Hicks family hosts this event on their 300-acre tract on Spring Creek, near the Lagrange community in Colbert County.
We will hike along beautiful Spring Creek, in search of spring wildflowers.
On this date, expect to see Trout Lily, including White Trout Lily, various Toothworts, Hepatica, Spring Cress, various Trilliums, Bloodroot, Saxifrage, Spring Beauty, Virginia Bluebell, native Azaleas and many more.
Sunday, March 27 — TVA Rockpile Trail Wildflower HikeMeet: 1:00pm at the Nature Trails parking lot at the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation.
We will leave some cars here and then carpool the short distance to the Wilson Dam visitors center parking lot to start our hike.
We will hike one-way on the historic Rockpile Trail from Wilson Dam back to the Nature Trails Parking Lot.
Description: Moderately-rigorous, with several steep uphills and downhills. The distance may vary, depending on how much participants want to see, but the minimum distance will be around 2.5 to 3 miles.
Bring snacks and water. Wear hiking boots or other sturdy footwear.
The emphasis will be on spring wildflowers and local history as we traverse the Rockpile Trail from Wilson Dam downstream to Southport, once the site of a thriving steamboat port. Wildflowers of interest will include Red Buckeye, Wild Blue Phlox, Rue Anemone, Jacob’s Ladder, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, False Rue Anemone, Cut-leaf Toothwort, Yellow Woodlands Violet and many more.
Sunday, April 3 — Shoal Creek Preserve Wildflower Hike
Meet 1:00pm at the preserve.
This is a moderate, app. 5 mile hike, with up-hills and down-hills.
Bring water and snacks. Wear hiking boots or sturdy footwear.
Expect to see many spring wildflowers, including White Trillium, Twisted Trillium, Bellwort, Eastern Blue Star, Trillium, Yellow Mandarin, and more.
Shoal Creek Preserve is in Lauderdale County, just north of Florence, AL. Its 298 acres feature 4.5 miles of hiking trails, horse trails, pristine, cascading creeks and a great variety of flora. It was purchased by the State of Alabama under the Forever Wild program.
Sunday, April 10 — Wildflower Hike at Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve
Meet 1:00pm at the preserve.
Moderately rigorous: our exact route is indeterminate at the moment, but expect around a 5-mile hike, with a 300 ft. elevation change and several up-hills & down-hills.
Participants may choose to leave earlier if they don’t want to hike the full 5 miles. There are good, well-marked trails the whole way.
Blooming wildflowers on this date will include the rare French’s Shooting Star, native Azaleas, Yellow Ladies Slipper, and much more. The Preserve includes waterfalls, including the 60-ft. “Big Waterfall”, scenic vistas, flower-strewn boulders & cascading creeks.
