Wildflower Saturday is an annual event held in DeSoto State Park atop Lookout Mountain in Fort Payne, Al.
Springtime at DeSoto State Park is truly beautiful, with wildflowers and trees blooming around every corner. Join DeSoto State Park staff and guest speakers for a wonderful weekend of learning about the many species of blooming plants found on Lookout Mountain. Choose to stay the whole weekend, or just come for the day to enjoy the hikes and programs.
Times: Friday: Welcome Social-6:00 till 7:15 p.m.
at DeSoto
State Park Lodge
Saturday: 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. hike times, with a presentation at DeSoto's Lodge at 7:15 p.m.
(All times are Central Time Zone)
Fee: Free & Open to everyone.
No pre-registration required.
Wildflower Saturday Poster(PDF) Website
FRIDAY NIGHT PROGRAM:
“Friend or Foe Among the Flora”
There’s "food underfoot” if we recognize what our mothers and grandmothers gathered to feed their families in hard times. They knew what to gather in season for medicines they would need if illness struck. And many a meal was flavored with wild herbs and spices. All this is still available for us to learn today. Collecting plants is rewarding & fun, but identification is very important.
So what’s “friend” and what’s “foe’? Is it “edible and incredible” or “edible and forgettable”? Take an armchair hike with Naturalist and Wildcrafter Ila Hatter to discover what is safe to collect and what lookalikes to avoid.
Date: Friday, May 1
Time: 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Where: DeSoto State Park Lodge-Fort Payne, Alabama
Fee: Free & open to everyone, no pre-registration required (groups over 10 please RSVP).
SATURDAY NIGHT PROGRAM:
Sandstone Glades of Lookout Mountain
A glade is an open area where the bedrock is at or near the surface, and where soils are so thin, trees and shrubs find it difficult to grow, yet you’ll find thriving, rare and unique plant communities that depend on the chemistry and conditions the environments provide.
Through hot and dry summers and cold and wet winters, beautiful and tough plants live on in these sunny and hostile islands of rock among the sea of shady forests.
Join naturalist Michelle Reynolds for a slideshow on sandstone glades of Lookout Mountain, Little River Canyon, and DeSoto State Park. Learn about this unique environment and the rare and beautiful plants that inhabit it.
Date: Saturday, May 2
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Where: DeSoto State Park Lodge-Fort Payne, Alabama
Fee: Free & open to everyone, no pre-registration required (groups over 10 please RSVP).
Saturday Hikes: DeSoto's trails can vary from fairly flat terrain to slightly steep inclines and rocky ground. Each hike is marked for its difficulty level. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear and bring along water and snacks for along on the hikes. Throughout the course of the day you will be able to choose from three separate hikes during the day, each hike with different leaders.
Trail Maps and Wildflower Checklists can be found at the Lodge, Country Store and Nature Center.
All presentations and hikes are free to the public and no registration required.
Officials ask that groups over 10 to RSVP to help make everyone's wildflower experience better.
Hike Leaders:
Brittney Hughes
Dr. Robert Carter
Mandy Pearson
Larry Beane
Michelle Reynolds
Ila Hatter
LC Moon
Christine Bock