Tennessee Division of Natural Areas

DNA ecologist Luke Mahrenholz recently attended the 8th Fire in Eastern Oaks Conference in Bloomington Indiana, where he showcased an exciting multi-partner cedar glade restoration project in the Duck River State Natural Area.

We are in Chattanooga looking for the rare Skullcap (Scutellaria montana) in remote forests along the Cumberland Trail and the Tennessee River Gorge. It gets its name from the calix that closes like a box post-flowering to enclose the seeds and they look like hanging skull heads. We survey for the plant in deep forest, keeping our eyes on the ground scouting for the plant or for a potential rattlesnake to avoid conflict. Gently holding a leave from this skullcap should feel velvet soft - sometimes is the only way to identify the plant correctly. We thank members from the city of Chattanooga Department of Parks and Outdoors, also Tennessee River Gorge Trust for joining our surveys this year — it would have been even more strenuous without them.
Now you know, and if you ever think you see it — shake hands — if it’s velvet soft. You got it! DM us the Lat, Long so we can map it. In case is a new occurrence.
This survey is part of a long term monitoring and recovery effort with the USFWS to hopefully one day delist the plant from the Endangered Species Act.
Keep the forest - to keep the Skullcap. Or vice versa?

Members of Division of Natural Areas spent two days with staff from University of West Alabama’s Cahaba Biodiversity Center and The Nature Conservancy of Alabama in Bibb County, Alabama to learn about the ecology, wild land fire management, timber management, and recreational opportunities of the center’s property and the nearby Ketona Glades, Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge, and the Cahaba River Blueway. The late 1990s discovery of the Ketona Glades of Bibb County was a significant botanical find in North America, resulting in eight species new to science and numerous of state records for Alabama. This learning opportunity will aid TDEC in its management of glades and woodlands and has also fostered inter-state land-management and conservation opportunities.

Very interesting sightings from our field ecologists:
From Sequatchie Cave Natural Area:
Great spangled fritillary / Argynnis cybele visiting some of the flowering species at Sequatchie Cave SNA right now (butterfly milkweed / Asclepias tuberosa, common milkweed /Asclepias syriaca, and silky dogwood / Cornus amomum).

And last pic is a Flowering prickly pear / Opuntia humifusa at a at Duck River Complex SNA, Columbia Glade.

Join us in celebrating National Trails Day with a guided hike along the trail at Vesta Cedar Glade State Natural Area.

Saturday June 6 at 9:00 AM.

Register soon here:
https://reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/hike-at-vesta-cedar-glade-state-natural-area-

We are coming to Chattanooga this June! We will be searching for the rare Skullcap — lives in remote forests in the Cumberland Plateau. This is a threatened species and Tennessee has most of its wild populations globally — only exist at specific sites here and Georgia. Next time you’re hiking next to Chattanooga pay attention for this cryptic species / to successfully identify it one must ‘shake hands’ and feel its velvet leaves “, nothing else feels like it in the forest.

DNA participated at the Elsie Quarterman Wildflower Festival at Cedars of Lebanon State Park. We help lead botany hikes and a wildflower photo workshop. We had a great time joining the festival.

Last chance to register for our Nature photo workshop or for our Botany By Bike events this Saturday May2.
At CEDARS OF LEBANON STATE PARK.
Photo Workshop:
https://tspg.itinio.com/register/nature-photo-workshop---cedars-of-lebanon--?fbclid=IwY2xjawRcfv5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFuWXlubGYyOUd6VnQxeTFYc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsHU_KoRbNylKxttSIkueve97tEduKei4mVk2nPGC2wC0A_iNAWAZ4ZsSYs0_aem_IajvKJkCElcuc9i1I0Adfg

Bike + Botany:
https://tspg.itinio.com/register/48th-elsie-day--botany-by-bike5226?fbclid=IwY2xjawRcfv9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFuWXlubGYyOUd6VnQxeTFYc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHp7vfjYNbXHtswwG_KQwHncyl16c4Ai2Ekqs1caVykQnmQnoRamSBdeEjs7h_aem__NFIvEK8ptliEEJICXoILA

Thanks to Clark Edge and fellow scouts from Troop 538 for the construction and installation of a new Kiosk at Cedars of Lebanon State Natural Area. Clark is pursuing his eagle scout rank and completed the kiosk as an eagle scout service project. The kiosk is located along Cedar Forest Road at the intersection with McCrary Road. The kiosk looks great and is much needed benefit to the natural area. Informational signage coming soon.