On our way back from Florida this past week, I convinced my
husband to depart from I-16 to visit George L. Smith State Park in
Emanuel County. This 1634-acre park has a 412-acre lake that was the mill pond for
the historic Parrish Mill. It includes a few walking trails and you might even
find a gopher tortoise (Georgia’s state reptile) or see a indigo snake. Much of
the draw for this state park is the lake where folks enjoy paddling and
fishing.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPlz9H2AvNLhqDAXSvITXCOgmOlGuVzBNKnpmx3D-GIU8dGMO3X2RFsIvckkMidAxO1o2VL-EG-tDrgmJUpRxTHpJH_zsPjUATBL_g97VKJnNJPSFouWL5wdTEr0ppeO9iC0zx0pyoaVe7q1fE0JQCFEzmaZaABJN9z2gXUJoiCwe-AB8C-_JN4lOy=s320) |
Trees stretched on and on |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJxsVRx0K45eUJuS1mxuvbe1SpijC8cUIZ9SjinZ2CJeFXHYNB4i5xQV7taAfmoMww-pYB7gba-2XGlbMnLGNvO7gZSxedakCetZrjxgB8EaN7Yff8rBI-O3fURBnyJTt-W1tCCNcm92gvPlTZPzl_j-akHvljC0fJJoB3FLo1UIlFf-gOM1jIIu6J=s320) |
Pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) |
We did not come prepared to paddle, so we walked around the
lake shores a bit, admiring the blackwater and the beauty of the trees
reflected in it: pond cypress (Taxodium
ascendens), bald cypress (Taxodium
distichum), and swamp tupelo (Nyssa
biflora). We saw several kinds of native fruits: ogeechee lime fruits (Nyssa ogeche) were floating in the water
near the mill while a swamp tupelo (Nyssa
biflora) was heavy with fruit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5ieS3R6RwTtkiHndpkPxRxDU53qtqDqV-BjLhei_-iw4a4sX-K9beFwIOtkLojzG1oBm91nN33wUnihf33Pd7ulEr9Z97dXWgiAAoEXfazvEWuGPCRaTHni_Ps1EkKurXCXXP6PD0Sylw46TyEa4uxA8z_vB_oipQGp-ym0MYulYg3YYxkYOXxlU6=s320) |
Nyssa biflora fruit |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJZ_9OYhPkXLQZCOw0mV6CJ01IUxyxZd0GcnO6fNJPnIXWMJFeORBenetoq8AVb5Mu__v5gfyML8qawKFSLrnEMQbCVi2F9S5yFmZea0u_djj71OEffngXQ6Ea1EdUaZNE0dYYLLDEXnFIPHPsJXnrwlwAW5161n6BekIL8HQHakVArSxEjVc14lXb=s320) |
Nyssa ogeche fruit |
Evergreen plants provided good botanical interest: sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia
virginiana), Carolina cherry laurel (Prunus
caroliniana), and wax myrtle (Morella
spp.) were in several areas. According to a botanical inventory shared with
me by Bobby Hattaway, there are actually 3 species of wax myrtle in the park: cerifera, caroliniensis, and pumila.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRoiKDHNy9sGh2rfw0EWLaDniYbKk7xa5WeA6lKQC1unw__4HTV-4njQlMOX-QC9TkMrLK4uSUU_ujV4xshIL5eZ6ghsWP68DilFUu9Tl7p6x8052gwez8gAZmkVxHZQ0MlM1v84i2tP7m2SIi2UKXfLPsSrQHmTRZ5KXcXjfcVqr0jjKNMdhbOBWi=s320) |
Cyrilla racemiflora provides color |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCn6a1uUsVQkNfZfdWbzJ6ZGiPvF1G9sR4OmsV0OVm8quuKTG2o3TfCv7AbtUfZ22tcxPjLUpKcpvEXrm9kTLuOcYUezrKm60AF7cd10YlFGyfPDCWyehcaXSq3wGx6c4qWJk4fxmtZKLnzXD9Em9WPhUg2l2-3mrw8CClU6calCj5WcEQ_2fnXi5D=s320) |
Vaccinium arboreum |
We also saw plenty of tardily deciduous plants showing a bit
of color: swamp titi (Cyrilla racemiflora)
and sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)
both had a nice mix of colorful leaves, while horse sugar (Symplocos tinctoria) had the occasional purple leaf and water oak (Quercus nigra) was a mix of green,
yellow, and brown.
I look forward to coming back during spring or summer to see
more plants, especially when they are in flower.
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