Saturday, May 3, 2008

Join us here at DeSoto for a great day of hiking and learning about many different species of plants.  Springtime at DeSoto State Park is truly beautiful, with Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel blooming around every corner.

You will be able to choose from 3 separate hikes during the day.

DeSoto's trails vary from fairly flat terrain to slightly steep inclines. Be sure to bring water and snacks and wear appropriate footwear.

All hikes are free to the Public!

Hikes to choose from:

1. The Azalea Cascade Hike-Starts on DeSoto's Azalea Cascade Boardwalk and ends  back at the Country Store.

Meets behind DeSoto's Country Store on the deck

9:00 a.m.       1:00 p.m.      3:00p.m.

2. The Rhododendron Trail Hike-Goes from Country Store towards DeSoto's Pool area and down the yellow trail, ending at Indian Falls.

Meets inside DeSoto's Nature Center

9:00 a.m.       1:00 p.m.      3:00p.m.

3. Little River Hike-Starts at Indian Falls, follows the yellow trail and circles back to Indian Falls.

Meets behind DeSoto's Country Store on grass.

9:00 a.m.       1:00 p.m.      3:00p.m.

Please make sure to meet at the appointed place for your chosen hike on a timely basis.

Schedule:

7:00 a.m.-DeSoto's Lodge begins serving breakfast buffet.

9:00 a.m.-1st Hike of the Day

11:30a.m.-Lunch at DeSoto's Lodge

1:00 p.m.-2nd Hike of the Day

3:00 p.m.-3rd Hike of the Day

6:30p.m.- Lodge begins serving Wildflower Buffet.

7:15p.m.- Wildflower Presentation

Canyon Room

Leaders:    Brittney Hughes

                Larry Beane

                 Bobby Floyd

More details coming soon!

Trail Maps & Wildflower Checklists can be found at the Country Store & Nature Center.

We ask that larger groups RSVP to help us make everyone's wildflower experience better!

Contact: Brittney Hughes 256.997.5025 Brittney.Hughes@dcnr.alabama.gov

Northeast Alabama boasts over 900 species of wildflowers,From the prevalent Bluet to the rare Catesby’s Trillium, DeSoto State Park is home to many common and unusual wildflowers.

One of DeSoto State Park’s most spectacular wildflowers, which draws enthusiast every year, is the Pink Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium acaule). This impressive Orchid produces a leafless stalk bearing one flower with a distinctive pink, inflated, slipper-like lip petal. Veined in red it has a fissure running down the front. Also known as the Moccasin Flower, it prefers dry forests, especially pine woods. Pink Lady Slipper is dependent on a certain fungi called Mycorrhiza associated with Pines, which allows the plant to germinate and grow. Without Pine trees and this fungus the Pink Lady Slipper would be even more rare. For this reason the Pink Lady Slipper cannot be propagated easily. One of North Americas largest Native Orchids, it is found in low sandy woods and in higher, rocky woods of the mountains. At times several hundred of these magnificent flowers can be counted within a small area. The Pink Lady’s Slipper propagates poorly and is difficult to grow in wildflower gardens.           Visitors to this site:

Check Out the Wildflower Photo Gallery

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