Objectives
This field course is designed to provide students with an understanding of 
the botanic and aesthetic composition of representative plant communities
in three major physiographic regions of the Southeast: in the Piedmont, Coastal 
Plain and barrier Islands, and the Southern Appalachian Mountains.  
We will use both quantitative and qualitative techniques.  
Additionally the course provides opportunties to observe community dynamics and the 
effects of various disturbance factors.

A variety of field methods are employed, including quantitative sampling, using 
both quadrats and transects; field drawing and/or watercolor interpretation of 
field sites and specific plants; written description; and analysis/interpretation 
of field-observed phenomena.  Sharing ideas, observations, and results of drawing 
exercises in an integral (and expected) activity.

This course is a planned sequence of field trips for the Maymester period .  Being 
a field course, students should be prepared for field conditions, with the 
following: rain gear, insect repellant, sunscreeen and drinking water.

Itinerary:

Course overview,
Plant community concpets,
Introduction to native plant communities of the Southeast,
Logistical details,
First field session - plant id, quantitative sampling exerices at Lake Herrick 

Dry-mesic Piedmont forest studies 
Plant identification, quantitative sampling, drawing/painting 

Coastal Plain week:

Barrier Islands, Seminole State Park, Red Bingham State Park and Doe Run Pitcher 
Plant Bog - study sand ridge, mixed coastal plain hardwood forest and beech - 
magnolia mesic forest

Greenwood Plantation, Longleaf Pine forest/savanna including the Big Woods - 
(a 500 acre old-growth stand with some 400 year old longleaf pines)

A walk with drawing on sand ridge trail, Seminole State Park
travel across south Georgia
Crooked River State Park

St. Mary's and Cumberland Queen Boat Landing
Cumberland Island, Maritime evergreen forest beach and dune complex
Salt Marshes along St. Mary's River

Okefenokee Swamp, hike to Fire Tower 
Watercoloring, canoe expedition up Suwanee Canal into swamp canoe trial
Sandhills at Kite, Georgia

Mountains Week:

North Georgia low-elevation communites and North Carolina high-elevation 
communities
Low-evelation forests 2500-4500 elevation of the Southern Appalachians 
Blood Mountain trail - streamside forest to slope forest to ridge forest
Watercoloring along trail

Sosebee Cove
Vogel State Park
DeSoto Falls Trail - plant identification, water coloring
North carolina
Blue Ridge Parkway - Asheville, NC
Mt. Mitchell State Park for high elevation 6600, forests of Fraiser Fir, Red 
Spruce, and associated species.

Burnsville, NC
Cragy Gardens Shrub Bald, Blue Ridge Parkway
Black Balsam Gap Grassy Bald in Shining Rock Wilderness area

Heggie's granite outcrop at Appling, Georgia
watercoloring, plant identification
return to Athens