Stone Mountain Propagation Project
In November 2007, the Stone Mountain Memorial Assoc. formally offered use of the former Wildlife Trails area in Stone Mountain Park to GNPS to propagate native plants.
The Goals of SMPP:
* Provide plant material for Stone Mountain Park & other GNPS Restoration Projects
* Raise funds for GNPS via Plant Sales
* Teach native plants and their propagation to the GNPS membership, Stone Mountain employees and park visitors.
Division of Plant Material Raised at SMPP:
* 30% to Stone Mountain Memorial Association to increase native plants populations within park
* 50% to GNPS Plant Sales
* 20% to GNPS Restoration Committee
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(Chimney Cabin from parking lot - our sign visible) The GNPS Stone Mountain Propagation Project (SMPP) at Stone Mountain Park |
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( August Workday 2008) In our first year, we eliminated most exotic invasive plants in the upper 2 acres, where we have begun to plant display beds and mass plantings for selected plants to naturalize. |
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Plants are labeled in pencil on window blind slats. Most of the plants were donated by members. |
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We set up a container nursery area close to the cistern and spigot to simplify hand watering. |
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To ensure a legal water supply for irrigation, the Park installed rain gutters for us on this 40 foot long restroom building and on a cabin. We selected Mastershield (www.mastershield.com) gutter protection because the stainless steel micro filter screens out organic debris. |
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(Martin Taylor with Mastershield contractor) New rain gutters on each side of the cabin fill our 275 gallon recycled industrial tote tanks. The tanks were originally placed on a cinderblock base to feed water hoses or fill buckets using gravity. |
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Property Creations (www.propertycreationsinc.com ) designed a rainwater harvesting system and installed it at cost. |
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It includes a 3000 gallon cistern to collect water from the roof of the Park's restroom building uphill and a portable electric pump. The dark cistern color blends into the surroundings and discourages algae growth. |
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Property Creations also refit both of the 275 gallon tote tanks to cabin gutters and added overflow outlets and quick connect fittings for use with a pump. |
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Irrigation pump. |
Opportunities for YOU to help at SMPP:
* Keep inventory records of plants sold, shared, planted and donated on our Excel spreadsheet
* Plant or maintain a propagation bed
* Chair or volunteer on the Plant Sale Committee
* Arrange off-site seed collection and propagation
* Give a seminar at Stone Mountain Park in your area of expertise
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(Karen McCaustland) Or join the core group of volunteers on the "Watering Committee", who also weed, repot, plant, mulch, make labels, mark paths, construct hose guides, etc. |
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(Michael Jinks, Tad Berkowitz, Don Stewart) Members of the "Watering Committee". |
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(Elaine Nash) Or help to identify and label plants. |
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Or lead a native plant walk. Volunteers gather at the entrance to the Park's Nature Garden where Elaine Nash prepares to guide us. This one mile loop connects to miles of other woodland trails. |
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Or plan events at SMPP & activities to reward the volunteers. |
Opportunities for YOU to Learn:
* Discover new plants by working with donated materials
* "Hike" the miles of woodland trails and granite outcrop community with other volunteers - we teach each other
* Make labels with Common and Botanical names
* Propagate Plants by seed or cuttings
Learn to identify exotic invasive plants in our SMPP area: * This Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach) resprouted from an untreated stump cut earlier this year. |
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Learn to Identify Native Plants Persimmon Bark, ripe fruit & fall foliage in SMPP. |
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There are opportunities to observe native insects, toads, and other life forms. Passion vine (Passiflora incarnata) is the host plant for the Gulf Fritillary butterfly (Agraulis vanillae). These distinctive caterpillars feasted on our vines, posing for photos. |
Combine work at SMPP with exploring Stone Mountain Park trails Some photos of Stone Mountain granite outcrop in spring:
