South River PATH Trail Hike + free GA State University Botanical Garden Visit

IN a NUTSHELL:  Hope you can join us this Friday morning for a delightful "combo" hiking and nature appreciation event at GA State University's beautiful "Decatur Campus" in SE Metro Atlanta.  The weather forecast looks good - mostly sunny skies and in the 60s & 70s.  We'll gather a few minutes before 9:00 AM in the GSU Botanical Garden parking lot - see detailed directions & GPS info below.  After introductions we'll begin with an easy 2-mile "PATH trail" hike - then conclude with a series of fascinating Garden events hosted by a friendly expert on GA's native plants (that evolved naturally in the wild in Georgia).  If you need to return to work or home, etc. feel free to "split early" from our AOC group at any time, provided that you let me know you're doing so.

SOUTH RIVER TRAIL HIKE PLAN: After introductions near the Garden Entrance gate, we''ll depart on foot together at 9:00 AM from the parking lot and first enjoy about an hour of easy hiking (a little more than 2 miles).  We'll explore the lovely South River Trail from its newly opened eastern trailhead and bridge on the GSU campus and hike westward alongside the South River - then back to the GSU Garden via a similar route.  Portions of the trail adjoin two of the river's pretty tributaries, Doolittle Creek and Sugar Creek.

GSU GARDEN "WALK & TALK" PLAN:  Just after the hike we'll take a few minutes to walk through the GSU Native Plant Garden greenhouses, where hundreds of beautiful potted native plantsare displayed and offered for sale at very affordable prices by the friendly volunteers.  Then at 10:30 AM we'll join native plants expert Ernest Koone for a leisurely guided walk through the Garden focusing on the colorful sweet-smelling Native Azaleas that should be in full bloom about now.  Each spring and fall the Garden sponsors these weekly "Friday open-house walk & talk" events hosted by expert naturalists.  The garden is famous for its hundreds of species of beautiful trees, wildflowers, shrubs, vines, ferns and other fascinating plants.  Their "Ferns of the World" exhibit is said to have perhaps more different species of ferns than any other garden in the United States!
  Then at 12:00 Noon those of us who can afford the extra hour will regroup in a nearby classroom for a slide presentation also by horticulturist Ernest Koone highlighting the dozens of varieties of colorful Native Azaleas that are available from his own "Lazy K Nursery," in Pine Mountain, GA near Callaway Gardens.  The custom at the talks is for each attendee to bring a light picnic lunch.  We can enjoy them (and share any of our extra items) before and during the talk in the indoor classroom.  We can conveniently leave our lunches in our cars (in small coolers, etc. if we like) until about 11:45 AM.
  No problem if you can join us only for the Walk or for the Talk, but not both, etc.  Feel free to arrive and depart as your schedule permits.  

FOR MORE about GSU's BOTANICAL GARDEN and lots of lovely photos click on the following link:  http://gpcnativegarden.org/index.html
Note that the garden's location was formerly called the "GA Perimeter College Decatur Campus."  For a complete schedule of their free "Friday open-house walks & talks" this season (and their specific topics) click on "Plant Talks and Garden Walks" on the left side of the Home Page.  The Garden's Phone Number is 678-891-2668.

DIRECTIONS from the I-285/ I-85 "SPAGHETTI JCN" INTERCHANGE in NE METRO ATLANTA:
1. From the I-285/ I-85 Interchange (near Doraville) take I-285 southward about 15 miles and get off at the "Flat Shoals Rd" exit .  (This is Exit #48 which is 2 mi south of the big east-side I-285/ I-20 interchange).
2. Turn Right onto Flat Shoals Road and go just 0.2 mile (northwestward) to the traffic light at Panthersville Rd.
3. Turn Left onto Panthersville Rd and continue straight ahead for about 1 mile (southward). After passing through the traffic light at Clifton Springs Rd stay on Panthersville Rd but get in the rightmost lane of traffic.
4. About 0.1 mile beyond the above-mentioned traffic light look for a small "Botanical Garden" sign and turn Right (off Panthersville Rd) into the large parking lot.
5. Meet me and our AOC group a few minutes before 9:00 AM on the far right side of the parking lot, in the shade just before the Garden entrance steps.  (If you arrive early feel free to explore the garden a bit on your own before you meet us!)

For a zoomable map or satellite view of our meetup spot near the Garden entrance click on the rectangular blue &green "Event Location" icon near the top of this article.

You GPS Users may wish to augment the above directions by entering the following concise Lat/Lon coordinates of our meetup spot as your destination address: 33.6871,-84.2741

FREE Event with free Parking and never a Garden Entrance Fee!