As Far As The Eye Can See

Erythronium umbilicatum

In 2009, I heard about a place in south Georgia with an amazing population of dimpled trout lilies (Erythronium umbilicatum). A fundraising effort was underway to help save the place from being developed. Private donations and a matching grant from the Georgia Land Conservation Program eventually raised enough to preserve the place now known as Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve. It is located in and owned by Grady County, on Wolf Creek Rd between Cairo and Whigham.

This is now the largest known population of this species and the plants are estimated to number in the tens of millions. How did this population come to be? From their website:

The huge colony at Wolf Creek is considered to be a product of a phenomenon called Pleistocene refugia. Thousands of years ago, as the Southern climate became warmer and the glaciers retreated north, some colonies of what are now more northern plants remained in locations that were suited to them. Apparently, Wolf Creek is an ideal environment, as this is the largest expanse of dimpled trout lily known anywhere. There are many millions of the plants at Wolf Creek covering over 10 acres. A square foot may have 100 plants. The slope is north-facing, the canopy mostly hardwoods and spruce pine with a heavy layer of leaf litter, the pipe clay under the soil's surface must hold just the right moisture in winter, when the plants emerge and grow. The gray pipe clay or Fuller's earth is dense and plastic. Moisture cannot penetrate through it, so the water flows downhill over the clay layer, holding the moisture above it. At Wolf Creek the clay is only six inches to two feet under the surface of the soil.

I was familiar with trout lilies because they are indigenous to the county in which I live in north Georgia. Our populations are attractive but no one could ever consider them to be a ‘carpet,’ which how this southern population was described. I put a visit to the Preserve on my “someday” list and kicked the can down the road for the next 8 years. This year, word got out that the bloom season was shaping up to be pretty spectacular, and the pictures shared on Facebook were mighty tempting.

Dimpled trout lilies (Erythronium umbilicatum)

As you can guess, I finally went there. The trout lily spread encompasses about 15 of the 140 acres of the Preserve. You can stand in place and look all around you – the tiny bright yellow blooms stretch out for as far as you can see. It really is amazing to be able to see so much of one plant in place (besides our suburban lawns!). Here is a link to a video that I took with my phone.

I was fortunate to arrive when Dan Miller was the volunteer leading a tour. Dan was one of several instrumental folks who helped to secure this place and is a very knowledgeable botanist. Dan told us how volunteers have worked for years to remove invasive plants like privet. They have also created trails, maps, and excellent signage. Many different plants were labeled for visitors, from the tiny southern tway-blade orchid (Listera australis) to the towering trees such as American elm (Ulmus americana), Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), spruce pine (Pinus glabra), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and several different oaks. 

Listera australis

Trillium maculatum

Bee on trout lily

Vaccinium elliottii

It was a pleasure to be able to learn about the native plants of this area through the signage: two different palms are on site, Elliott’s blueberry (Vaccinium elliottii) was abundant, and spotted wakerobin (Trillium maculatum) sprinkled itself through the trout lilies. One path led us right past the unusual green fly orchid (Epidendrum magnoliae). Dan said the volunteers plan to expand the trails further through the property in the future. Although not yet visible, many other special plants bloom throughout the year here.

As with any large population, it's fun (and possible ) to find plants that are a little unusual. I found a white trout lily and a spotted trillium with a paler flower color.

The flowers are now finished for the year, but I hope you'll consider a trip next year. Maybe we can ride together.

Erythronium umbilicatum

Trillium maculatum