Exploring a Sense of Place
A Year Long Exploration of the Chattahoochee Hill Country
Chattahoochee Chorography, a Sense of Place Blog
Join us for a a year-long experiential workshop series exploring local natural and cultural history. These workshops will enable participants to develop deeper connections with the Chattahoochee Hills landscape and with local ecosystems.
Over monthly talks and trips led by scientists, historians, and local caretakers, participants will journey together through geologic deep time, among lichen-encrusted gneiss outcrops, between rows of organic vegetables, along a rock-lined path through a labyrinth, and down the Chattahoochee River by boat.
Each monthly workshop includes a Thursday night Orientation, at the Rico Community Center, and a Saturday Exploration, at various places in and around the Chattahoochee Hill Country. The Thursday night Orientation provide the background and information needed to fully appreciate the Saturday Explorations.
PLU credits will be available.
Register
Sponsored by the Serenbe Institute
Complete Schedule
JANUARY: Piedmont Prehistory
Thursday Jan 17, Saturday Jan 26 (PLU Th 1/21)
This month, we will explore the prehistory of the west Georgia Piedmont. During our evening gathering, Dr. David Crass, Georgia State Archaeologist, will give a presentation on the archaeology of prehistoric Georgia. On our Saturday outing, we will first travel to Etowah, the ruins of a city inhabited by ancestors of the Creek Indians. There, we will view the artifacts in the museum collections, and tour several of the mounds. After lunch, we will carpool southwest to McIntosh Reserve, former home and burial site of Chief William McIntosh, a prominent Creek Indian leader in the early 1800s. Carole Harper, local historian, will guide us on our journey through the Reserve.
David Crass, Ph.D. David Crass currently serves as State Archaeologist in the Historic Preservation Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Dave has conducted terrestrial archaeological research in Northern Ireland, Mexico, the American Southwest, and the southeastern seaboard states, and underwater research in Georgia’s rivers and coastal waters. He currently serves as Vice President of the National Association of State Archaeologists and as a special advisor to the Society for American Archaeology.
Carole Harper Carole Harper is a local historian and founding member of the Hill Country Heritage Association. Carole has conducted significant research on Indian inhabitants and white settlement history of the Chattahoochee Hill Country, and compiled the first edition of The History of Palmetto (currently available in reprint from Hill Country Montessori School).
FEBRUARY: Civil War in the Chattahoochee Hills
Thursday Feb 7, Sat Feb 16 (PLU Th 2/21)
This month, we will move forward in time, to the American Civil War, when Palmetto and the Chattahoochee Hills region were occupied by the Confederate Army of Tennessee. During our evening gathering, Dr. Keith Bohannon of the University of West Georgia will provide us with an overview of the history of the Civil War in Georgia. On our outing, we will carpool north, to Pickett’s Mill State Park, one of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields in the United States. After lunch, we will return to the Chattahoochee Hills area, to view evidence of the Civil War occupation of the region. A highlight of the afternoon will be a visit to the building where Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, met with General John Bell Hood of the Army of Tennessee, to plan what to do next after the fall of Atlanta.
Keith Bohannon, Ph.D. Keith is an Associate Professor of History at the University of West Georgia. He is co-editor of a volume entitled, A Georgian with "Old Stonewall" in Virginia: The Letters of Ujanirtus Allen, Company F, 21st Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry (LSU Press, 1998) and the author of numerous published essays. He currently teaches classes on 19th Century American history and the history of Georgia.
MARCH: Hill Country Geology
Thursday March 6, Sat March 8 (PLU Th 3/13)
This month, we will learn about the geologic history of the Chattahoochee Hills region of Georgia. During our evening gathering, Dr. Julie Bartley of the University of West Georgia will offer participants an overview of the geologic history of Georgia. On the Saturday outing, we will tour geologic features in the area, including outcrops at Cochran Mill Park, and possibly on the Serenbe natural lands as well. A gneiss time is guaranteed to all.
Julie Bartley, Ph.D. Julie is an Associate Professor of Geosciences at the University of West Georgia. She also serves as Director of Learning Community Programs at West Georgia and Director of the West Georgia Microscopy Center. The author or co-author of numerous refereed articles on sedimentology, stratigraphy, and related fields, she currently teaches introductory geology courses, upper level geology seminars, and a class on the geology of Georgia.
APRIL: Art of Field and Stone in the Hill Country
Thursday April 17, Sat April 19 (PLU Th 4/24)
This month, our attention will shift to the visual arts, particularly work inspired by local landscapes. In our Thursday evening program, we will visit StudioSwan at Serenbe, an art gallery owned and operated by Thomas Swanston and Gail Foster, where we will meet local artists and view their work. (Please note that this session will NOT take place at Rico Community Center.) On the following Saturday, we will carpool to Panola Mountain State Park. There, under the guidance of Phil Delestrez, park naturalist and artist, and Valerie Hayes, scientific illustrator, participants will have the opportunity to spend several hours drawing atop the mountain. A number of wildflowers, many endemic to granite outcrop habitats, will likely be in bloom at the time of our visit.
StudioSwan, located in Serenbe Community, is a gallery owned by Thomas Swanston and Gail Foster. Tom draws his artistic inspiration from the visual and spiritual dimensions of south Fulton County's natural landscapes, over the seasons and over the course of each day. Gail's artwork is inspired by fairy tales and myths, ritual and dance.
Phil Delestrez Phil is the Assistant Park Manager at Panola Mountain State Park. His background is in wildlife ecology, as well as studio art. He has worked at Panola Mountain for seven years.
Valerie Hayes Valerie is a published professional natural science illustrator who works in a variety of media. She is currently working on an MS degree through the University of West Georgia, where she is studying Eastern box turtles.
MAY: Hill Country Gardens
Thursday May 8, Sat May 17 (PLU Th 5/22)
This month, we will explore the possibilities of gardening in Chattahoochee Hill Country. For our evening presentation, Mike Cunningham of Country Gardens Farm and Nursery will give a talk on gardening with plants native to the region. Our Saturday outing will begin with a visit to Wilkerson Mill Gardens, to view the hydrangeas and other plants in the garden collections, along with the only mill structure still in good repair here in the Hill Country. From there, we will take a short drive to the west and south, to historic Dunaway Gardens. After arriving and having lunch, we will take a guided tour of the recently restored gardens on the site.
Mike Cunningham Mike is the owner of Country Gardens Farm and Nursery, a retail garden center in Newnan, Georgia. An advocate of gardening with native plants, Mike has worked with the local Master Gardeners association and several garden clubs on educational programs and other activities. Mike is also past president of the Georgia Flower Growers Association.
Elizabeth Dean and Gene Griffiths are the owners of Wilkerson Mill Gardens on Wilkerson Mill Road in the Chattahoochee Hill Country. Their gardens include a renowned assortment of hydrangeas, along with other trees and shrubs, perennials, and vines. Elizabeth has presented to botanical gardens, arboretums, and garden clubs nationwide, while Gene has led numerous walks and talks for visitors to Wilkerson Mill’s display gardens.
JUNE: Trees & Lichens of the Chattahoochee Hill Country
Thursday June 12, Sat June 21 (PLU Th 6/26)
With the arrival of summer, our attention will turn to the natural history of the Chattahoochee Hills. This month, we will explore the botanical wonders of the region, from trees to the lichens encrusting both them and the rocks near where they grow. We will be joined for both meetings this month by Dr. David Morgan, Associate Professor of Biology at the University of West Georgia, as well as by Sean Beeching, a renowned Southeastern lichenologist. For the evening meeting, Dr. Morgan will offer us an overview of the kinds of plants growing in this part of the state, while Mr. Beeching will provide an overview of the lichens of the Georgia Piedmont. On the Saturday outing, we will visit a variety of local habitats in order to identify plants and lichens. We will focus our attention primarily upon the diverse habitats in Hutcheson Ferry Park, although we may visit other local natural areas as well.
Sean Beeching is widely considered one of the finest lichen taxonomists in the Southeastern United States. Megalaria beechingii Lendemer is an entirely new-to-sciene lichen named for him, which he discovered during a Botanical Society of Georgia outing. Sean has also found a number of new-to-North America species of lichens and lichen parasites. One of his most recent projects has been the preparation of lists of both the complete lichens of south Fulton County and the common lichens of the Georgia Piedmont, both of which have been based primarily upon his own field outings.
David Morgan, Ph.D. David is Associate Professor of Biology at the University of West Georgia. His research interests are primarily in the fields of phylogenetic evolution and plant systematics, in which the goals are to reconstruct the evolutionary history (phylogeny) of a group of organisms and to find out how the organisms and their characteristics have originated and changed over time. David teaches classes in introductory biology, botany, and the taxonomy of flowering plants and ferns.
JULY: Hill Country Turtles and Toads
Thursday July 10, Saturday July 19
This month, we will turn our attention to the reptiles and amphibians (referred to collectively as “herps”) of the Hill Country region. An evening presentation will highlight the variety of herps that call this area home, from Eastern box turtles to green tree frogs. On the Saturday outing, we will tour the live herp collection at Cochran Mill Nature Center, and also go on a “herp” walk in a nearby natural area.
Valerie Hayes is a natural history illustrator and herpetologist. She is currently pursuing an MS in Biology from the University of West Georgia, studying the ecology and behavior of Eastern box turtles.
Rick McCarthy serves as animal specialist at Cochran Mill Nature Center. Known to many school students as “Reptile Rick”, he cares for the center’s collection of venomous and non-venemous snakes, turtles, and other reptiles.
AUGUST: Birds, Butterflies, and Beyond: Flying creatures of the Chattahoochee Hill Country
Thursday Aug 7, Saturday Aug 16
This month, our natural history explorations will continue, as we turn our attention to the skies. During an evening talk, an ornithologist (possibly joined by an entomologist as well) will offer participants an overview of the birds, dragonflies, and butterflies that live in and around the Hill Country. On our Saturday outing, we will visit area haunts of flying creatures, which may include a local pollinator garden and the Newnan Wetlands Center.
Tara Mostowy is a passionate birder and outdoor adventure trip guide. She received her BS in Biology from the University of West Georgia, where she currently serves on the faculty of the Intramurals Department.
Greg Payne is a professor of Biology at the University of West Georgia, specializing in entomology and toxicology. He currently serves as Chair of the Student Works Advisory Committee at West Georgia.
SEPTEMBER: In Farmer Days: Agricultural history of the Chattahoochee Hill Country
Thursday Sep 18, Sat Sep 20 (PLU Th 10/2)
During the month of September, we will explore the agricultural history of the Chattahoochee Hill Country, as intimated by scatterings of rusting farm equipment and inscribed on the landscape by terrace patterns. Our evening talk and Saturday outing, both led by Dr. Joe Anderson of the University of West Georgia, will explore the traces of that history in the Hill Country region. We will conclude our Saturday outing with a look at modern-day agriculture, by visiting a local organic CSA, Serenbe Farms.
Joe Anderson Joe is an Assistant Professor of History at the University of West Georgia. His research interests include public history; United States society and culture, 1865-Present; American agriculture and rural life; and the American Midwest. Joe has taught courses on United States History, public history, and museum education and interpretation.
Paige Witherington Paige is the organic farm manager for Serenbe Farms in Chattahoochee Hill Country, Georgia. She holds a degree in Biosystems Engineering from Clemson University in South Carolina. Prior to coming to Serenbe Farms three a couple of years ago, Paige previously worked as vegetable production manager at a large CSA farm in upstate New York.
OCTOBER: Canoeing Down the Chattahoochee
Thursday Oct 9, Sat Oct 18 (PLU Th 10/23)
As the air begins to cool and leaves change colors, we will embark on an odyssey down the Chattahoochee River by canoe. At our evening meeting, participants will learn about the river’s water quality, as presented by Steve Lawrence of the US Geological Survey, along with Chris Tabit, aquatic ecologist at the University of West Georgia. The highlight of the month will be our Saturday canoe trip, accompanied by both scientists. We will take in the scenery while we learn about the environmental challenges currently facing the middle Chattahoochee River. And, we will pause partway on our journey to enjoy a riverside BBQ lunch.
Steve Lawrence Steve works at the United States Geological Survey’s Georgia Water Science Center, where he serves as coordinator for the Chattahoochee Riverway BacteriALERT Network.
Christopher Tabit, Ph.D. Chris is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of West Georgia. His research in aquatic ecology and conservation has focused around the biological integrity of streams in West Georgia, and the impact of continued growth and development on the biodiversity of fishes. Chris has taught courses in ichthyology, vertebrate anatomy and evolution, and marine biology.
November: Ecological and Cultural Restoration in the Chattahoochee Hill Country
Thursday Nov 6, Sat Nov 15 (PLU Th 11/20)
This month, the workshop will explore sense of place education opportunities at Hill Country Montessori School, here in the Chatt Hill Country. For our evening meeting, Sharon Smith of Fulton County's Adopt-a-Stream will talk about the stream monitoring program, and Dr. Clifford Blizard, Middle School teacher at HCM, will give a brief introduction to Questing (a place-based treasure hunt).
Our Saturday outing will take us to Cochran Mill Park, where participants will learn from HCM students about their chemical and biological monitoring studies on Bear Creek. Participants will then have the opportunity to participate in a Quest, a kind of treasure hunt focusing on the park's history and ecology, created by Hill Country Montessori students. The event will conclude with a potluck picnic lunch at the Cochran Mill Park picnic area -- an opportunity to join together in celebration of the close of the 2008 Sense of Place Workshop Series. Past participants who cannot attend the morning events are encouraged to meet us at the park picnic area around 1:00 pm.
Sharon Smith Sharon serves as the Adopt-a-Stream Coordinator for the Fulton County Water Quality Program. In this role, she has trained countless volunteer water monitoring groups in chemical and biological monitoring protocols. Sharon also serves as Public Education Committee Chair for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals and the Education SubCommittee Chair for the Georgia Water Wise Council.
Registration
| Complete Series | $200 | |
| Complete Series (Student/Teacher/Senior) | $100 | |
| Individual Monthly Topic | $25 | |
| Individual Monthly Topic (October Canoe Trip) | $60 | |
| PLU Credit (per month) | $20 |
