Marc Lafountain

The West Georgia Chapter has had a very busy Spring. In February our public program was “Native Plants in Carrollton Parks and on the Greenbelt”, presented by Kent Johnston, Director of Parks for Carrollton Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts, who discussed the use and maintenance of native plants in Carrollton parks and along the 18 mile Carrollton GreenBelt, a paved walking/biking trail that traverses public and private lands.

In April our Spring Workshop, “Grow your own pollinator plants from seeds: Established practices for successful seed germination and transplanting seedlings of pollinator plants”, featured James Hembree, Grounds Superintendent at the University of West Georgia and an organic farmer. This was a hands on workshop focussing on how to successfully germinate and transplant the seedings of important pollinator plants. Each person took home seeds, transplants, and finished plants.

Also in April, we had the grand opening of the Meadow Entrance to the Buffalo Creek Trail where it meets the Carrollton GreenBelt. Once only a thicket of invasive plants and an overgrown meadow, this area now features a kiosk, boardwalk, pollinator garden, rain garden, meadow, and birdhouses. Members of local organizations and government who have made our work possible joined us for this celebration. We dedicated the boardwalk to our dear friend and founding member, Wendell Hoomes, who passed away earlier in the year.

Our June public program will be “Owls of Georgia”, presented by Jim Ozier, Wildlife Biologist, Environmental and Natural Resources, Georgia Power.

Photos clockwise from upper left: Spring propagation workshop, native clematis (Clematis pitcheri), Carol Hight and Diane Rooks on May 28 hike to Flat Shoal Creek in Harris County to see the shoals spider lilies, Fire Pink (Silene virginica). Both plant photos were from the creek hike.

Photos clockwise from upper left: Spring propagation workshop, native clematis (Clematis pitcheri), Carol Hight and Diane Rooks on May 28 hike to Flat Shoal Creek in Harris County to see the shoals spider lilies, Fire Pink (Silene virginica). Both plant photos were from the creek hike.