If you are tired of traffic, long lines, deadlines, and cement, there is a green haven in southwest Cobb County called Heritage Park. Here you can walk, run, or stroll along the 1.7-mile Heritage Park Trail that passes through the woods along Nickajack Creek. Fido is welcome, too, as long as he's on a leash. At the trailhead there's a stone and wood visitors' building with restrooms, water, and picnic tables overlooking the forest. After winding through the woods and over a wetland spanned by a boardwalk, the Heritage Park Trail ends at an old mill site and links to the Silver Comet Trail.
What's this got to do with the Georgia Native Plant Society? GNPS decided it would be great to plant rescued Georgia native plants in a common area where they could thrive, where the community could learn about them, and where they could be enjoyed by people and native wildlife alike. So the GNPS entered into an agreement with "Keep Cobb Beautiful" to maintain 25 feet on each side of the Heritage Park Trail for the first two-tenths of a mile.
On the 2nd Saturday of each month, GNPS members meet at the trailhead to check on the progress of "our" small portion of the Park, add new plants, remove unwanted invasives and non-native plants, and to learn more about native plants in a native plant setting. We also bring native plants to trade with fellow volunteers. It is at once satisfying, educational, and beneficial to the Park, its furred and feathered residents, and to all who pass through it. The area contains many native plant species, including magnificent beeches, black walnut trees, umbrella magnolia, box elder, spicebush, red buckeye, mayapple, bloodroot, toothwort, muscadine vines, native cane, and others.
We invite you to enjoy this wonderful resource and to join other GNPS members at the trailhead of Heritage Park each 2nd Saturday of the month from10 a.m. until noon. Bring your gloves, gardening tools, and any native plants you'd like to donate to the park or trade with other workers. If you can't come then, we hope you can stop by at some point to experience this enchanting, natural place. Please visit the Events of Interest page under the GNPS Restoration Programs heading for more information and driving directions.
The Director of the work at Heritage Park is Nancy Shofner. Nancy has taken this challenging chore with an enthusiasm that should set an example for fellow GNPS members to help in maintaining a place where native plants are appreciated and enjoyed. Recently Veronica Hawk and David Zaparanick assumed the task of leading GNPS's restoration work. On the day these photos were taken, Veronica was at Heritage to help with the trail's maintenance work. Both Nancy and Veronica and the others shown in these pictures exhibit a drive that should be the envy of all participating in volunteer work.
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Nancy Shofner, who has graciously accepted responsibility for leading the maintenance work at Heritage. |  |
Nancy working at the big bend in the first portion of the trail. |
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Nancy has a dedicated determination to make the portion of the trail that GNPS maintains a fine showcase for native plants. |  |
Erich Schwerd, Carol Canning and Price Crafts. |
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The Cobb County Park personnel planned on moving the wooden edging. |  |
Denise Curcio |
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Price has excellent taste in hats. She has worked at Heritage for several years now. | |
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Erich and Carol at work on the hillside at the trail entance. |  |
Erich, Carol and Price planting ferns. |
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A view of the trail from the bridge over the swamp area. |  |
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A large magnolia tree along the trail. |  |
Beauty Berry, Callicarpa americana, growing in the meadow area at the trail's entrance. |