The Coosa Valley Prairies site is a 900-acre conservation easement on industrial pinelands held by The Nature Conservancy, and is considered one of the most significantly biodiverse hotspots in northwest Georgia/northeast Alabama. Located at the western edge of Floyd County, Georgia, bordering Alabama, near the charming hamlet of Cave Spring, the site consists of remnant tall-grass prairie barrens imbedded in rolling pine woodlands. Rare plants abound, including whorled sunflower, thought extinct for over a century until rediscovered here in the 1990s. Among the plants we should see are prairie purple coneflower, Mohr’s Barbara-buttons, side-oats grama and prairie dock, as well as many other very special species. We will discuss conservation management (including prescribed fire) and rare-plant-community restoration within the context of a working landscape.

Trip difficulty: Moderate (short to moderate walks through occasionally uneven or muddy grasslands and woodlands)

Carpooling encouraged

Trip details sent upon registration