Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land

09/02/2026

This week’s “What’s Bloomin’” spotlight shines on a beautiful native pollinator plant loved by hummingbirds and butterflies, the Cardinal Flower! Often found in wet areas such as marshes, stream banks, and low woodlands, this perennial is easily recognized by its vibrant red blooms and impressive height of up to four feet tall!
We’ve recently spotted Cardinal Flowers at Talking Rock Nature Park and Aerotropolis Nature Park, but keep your eyes peeled! These stunning blooms can continue to brighten the landscape well into fall.

08/31/2026

This week’s “Critter of the Week” is the Nine-Banded Armadillo, the only species of armadillo native to the United States! The name “armadillo” means “little armored one” in Spanish, referring to the bony, armor-like plates that protect their bodies.

Despite their name, Nine-Banded Armadillos can actually have anywhere from 7 to 11 bands on their armor. How many can you count on the armadillo pictured above, recently spotted at Canongate Nature Park?

08/28/2026

At the Southeastern Trust, we’re working across multiple parks and preserves to restore native meadow habitats, an effort that provides important benefits for both wildlife and people. By reintroducing meadows, we’re increasing native plant and pollinator diversity, improving water quality by filtering pollutants, and creating beautiful scenic landscapes for guests to enjoy.
Native meadows are declining due to factors such as the loss of natural fire, invasive species, and ecological succession. By restoring these important habitats, we’re helping bring back a vital ecosystem and providing food, shelter, and resources for the many species that depend on meadows to thrive.

08/26/2026

This week's Invasive Species Highlight is the infamous kudzu vine, often called "The Vine That Ate the South." Introduced to the United States in the late 1800s as an ornamental plant, kudzu was later promoted for livestock forage and erosion control, accelerating its spread.
Thriving in disturbed habitats, kudzu can grow up to 60 cm (2 feet) per day during the growing season. It climbs over trees, shrubs, power lines, and buildings, forming dense mats that block sunlight and eventually kill the vegetation beneath them. By smothering forests and reshaping entire landscapes, kudzu reduces biodiversity and destroys critical wildlife habitat.
Kudzu's rapid spread is a powerful reminder of how introduced species can profoundly alter ecosystems when they escape their natural controls.

08/24/2026

As migrants begin to leave Georgia and head back south for the winter, many birders will be out looking to spot one last glimpse of many species, including this week’s “Feathered Find”, the Swainson’s Thrush. Often heard first and seen later, this medium-sized thrush is numerous across most of North America, although hard to find due to their excellent camouflage. Keep your ears open for a beautiful flute-like song from deep in the forest and maybe you’ll spot one of these speckled singers.

08/22/2026

ATTENTION Cannongate Nature Park Users!

ATTENTION! Due to heavy rains in the last few days, the bridgebover the creek near the south end of the park has been move by flood waters. Unfortunately that means that the new trails on the south end of the park are closed and the bridge is off limits until we find a solution to move it back in place and anchor it. Thanks for all your help in keeping our park safe! We will let you know when that part of the park reopens.

08/21/2026

Introducing Daniel, our second VanSant intern of the summer!

Daniel is a recent graduate of Dalton State with a major in environmental biology, while attending college, Daniel volunteered for the Turtle Assurance Colony program where he cared for endangered turtle species. Daniel also assisted in field research on the invasive Joro spiders’ interactions with local spiders, and turtle trap surveys in the wetlands of Vietnam. Here Daniel developed a desire to continue working in the field, on the frontlines of conservation, and a strong interest for arachnology and entomology. Daniel is motivated to preserve the huge diversity of insects and vital eco services they provide. Some of Daniel’s hobbies include insect collecting, hiking, reading, and playing D&D as his friend’s Game Master.

08/19/2026

Today we're highlighting a common invasive insect in the United States: the Japanese beetle. This species of scarab beetle is capable of damaging more than 300 different plant species. It first arrived in the U.S. in the early 1900s, likely hidden within a shipment of ornamental plants imported from Japan. Since then, Japanese beetles have spread to nearly every state, feeding on the leaves, flowers, and fruit of a wide variety of plants, including birch trees, roses, hops, and grapevines.

08/17/2026

This week’s Critter of the Week is the Eastern Fence Lizard, a medium-sized reptile commonly found basking on tree trunks, fence posts, and rock piles throughout the eastern United States. This species is sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females have distinct appearances. Adult males are especially recognizable by the brilliant iridescent turquoise-blue to green patches on their undersides, while females and juveniles are more subtly colored, with grayish-brown bodies that provide excellent camouflage.

08/14/2026

Introducing Julia, one of two VanSant interns working with the Southeastern Trust this summer!

Julia is a rising senior at Reinhardt University, as biology major and chemistry minor. During the last school year, she served as secretary for Tri-Beta, a biological honors society, and prepares to serve as historian this coming fall semester. After graduating from Reinhardt, Julia plans on attending a Master’s program. She has experience through The American Chestnut Foundation, working to restore the species to its native range in the American Southeast. Julia’s interest in conservation began when she was very young, when she took an interest in learning about plants and animals. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer, walking her dogs, and plant pressing.