Heavy fog dominated the landscape when I arrived at Crooked River, so thick that it was nearly an hour before I was able to get a photograph.
The easiest access to the river is via Crooked River State Park, situated on Elliot’s Bluff, near St. Marys.
Ancient shell middens characterize many of the forests along the river. Oaks and palmettos are the dominant plants.
Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) can be found in abundance in the forest understory in early March. It’s also known as firecracker plant.
Marshy banks are found below the high bluffs.
Twisted trunks and branches like the ones seen above are common along Crooked River.
Palmetto thickets are one of my f “favorite” things. They make good places for Diamondback Rattlers to hide, and one can make whistles from their stems too. Once many a decade ago, I came home from South Georgia Junior College for my first visit since I had started my freshman year. It was the beginning of Quail season and my brother John, and I were traveling along a dirt road to Tan Trough on Whitehead Creek when we encountered a large clump of Palmettos near the sandy dirt road. Zorro, our birddog, managed to trail into the patch and point. Anticipating a burst of birds flying from the Palmettoes, we slowly walked into the wind-swept shimmering fronds. As we did, we noticed the trusted dog was acting strangely. His eyes were dancing about, and he seemed nervous. I circled to the right with my double-barrel Fox ready, and brother John to the left with Daddy’s old Remington twelve gage in position to fire. Zorro soon decided to make the quartered game fly and in he jumped. To our immense surprise, birds didn’t burst into the air, but a huge Diamondback reared his head to strike the loveable dog. I threw my weapon up to shoot the snake, but the dog’s position prevented me from firing. To save the dog and the day, my little brother who stood in a better position got off a deadly shot and shredded the rattler’s head. That ended the day’s hunt. We took the monster snake to the public road and attached it to a tree for all travelers to see. That was the tradition of South Georgia at the time. That incident made a place in my memory for Palmettos and Rattle Snakes. Kids that grew up in the Wiregrass region of sandy South Georgia have many stores and memories of the culture and life ways of those days. Brian, you just make it easier to remember and share. Thanks. Jesse Bookhardt