Ecologically Significant Areas
 
Perry Lakes Park is crowded with ecologically significant areas, plants, trees and wild creatures.

This is Aligator Bottom located on Round Lake Trail. In wet seasons this bottom blocks passage on Round Lake Trail. This is another area filled with Water Tupelo and Blackgum trees. Cardinal Flower blooms in August on the edges of this bottom.
 
Cardinal Flower blooming in August on edge of Aligator Bottom
Heather Bohannon and Caroline Kirkner along with Dr. Wilson pose among the cardinal flowers
   
Views of Round Lake from Ridge Trail

(move cursor over images for larger view)
   
Shoreline of Round Lake
Thomas Wilson flagging the route of Ridge Trail along Round Lake
   
Ridge Trail view of Round Lake shoreline
Perry Lake
   
Ridge Trail view of Round Lake
 Round and Middle lakes are full of old Ballcypress draped with Spanish Moss. Tupelo and Blackgum trees produce large drupe fruit that attract ducks, deer and many types of wildlife.

Large Pileated Woodpeckers, Osprey, and many egrets, cranes and wading birds frequent these oxbow lakes. An enormous egret rookery exists in the tall trees of Round Lake.
   
Baldcypress knee art
Ballcypress knee art
   
Jennifer Burnes and Carrie Giles tack an ID label on a big Water Tupelo
Earth Team members Jennifer Burnes and Carrie Giles stand on Cherrybark Oak log
   
Atamasco lily (March 2006)
 Wildflowers are abundant in the rich forest floor of this floodplain hardwood forest. This Atamasco lily is only one of the ways that nature speeks to Park visitors. Wild irires, Mayapple, Trillium, and Carolina Silverbell are all blooming in the Springtime at Perry Lakes Park.
   
Fern Bottom on Fern Trail is a bright green spot that makes the hiker pause and reflect on the beauty of this old river bottom.
Fern Bottom
   
Gully near Ridge Trail
Giant Cherrybark Oak near Overcup Oak Bottom
   
Alabama State Champion Slippery Elm on Ridge Trail There are five Alabama State Champion Trees in the Park. More champions are one the way.


This is the Slippery Elm Champion located on Ridge Trail.
   
Leah McKnight of the Judson College Earthteam labels a Red Buckeye tree
Beaver can find a Black Cherry tree if it is anywhere near water.
   
 
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For more information, contact:
Dr. Thomas Wilson
wils5789@bellsouth.net