One of my favorite things about riding dirt roads is encountering little swamps and wetlands. In fall and winter, they are at their most colorful.
Cypress Swamp, Irwin County
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Tag Archives: Georgia Wetlands
Hardwood Swamp, Ben Hill County
Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretive Center, Midway
If you enjoy natural areas, Cay Creek Wetlands Interpretive Center is one of the best day trips in Coastal Georgia. They have ample parking, picnic tables, and a boardwalk which covers several different ecosystems.
It’s a place for reflection, as well as a haven for amateur naturalists, birdwatchers and anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Best of all, it’s free and open to everyone, through the daylight hours seven days a week.
Interpretive signs located along the boardwalk provide ample information about the environment and its inhabitants.
Champney River Sunset, Darien
Bussell Pond, Irwin County
Bussell Pond is a well-known local natural landmark and even though I’m related to the Bussell family, I’ve never known much about it. It was once a busy millpond, and the remains of the old mill are still on the property, though inaccessible. Evelyn Stripling Walker noted that the pond was a baptismal site for Mystic Baptist Church and that she was baptized here in 1929.
Holmestown Road Wetlands, McIntosh
Holmestown is an historic Black community between Hinesville and Riceboro.
There is no Holmestown proper, though this area is central to the community, much of it characterized by wetlands.
White-tailed Deer, Okefenokee Swamp
White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are abundant in the Okefenokee and the ones I photographed at Stephen C. Foster State Park were nearly tame. Their are signs warning against feeding them, but people apparently do so anyway.
Okefenokee Swamp, Charlton County
The drive on the Okefenokee Trail (Georgia Highway 177) from Fargo to the entrance of Stephen C. Foster State Park will give an indication that you’re about to be in a real wilderness. There isn’t a sign of civilization for miles.
Practically tame, White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can often be seen grazing near the entrance to the state park.
Though the swamp had been in a drought for several years when I made these photographs, search and rescue boats were on hand to illustrate the real dangers of getting lost in the swamp.
The Trembling Earth Nature Trail is the easiest way to see a microcosm of the swamp at the park, though a boat is always best. Fred Deal designed this walkway when he attended Ware Technical school in 1967.
The boardwalk is always well-maintained. It’s a great place to watch birds. I caught a quick glimpse of this Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).
The swamp is quite different in the winter, especially in low water.
I’ve always found alligators in abundance in the Okefenokee, but didn’t see a single one on this visit.
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) is ubiquitous. As a native of South Georgia I appreciate its beauty and place in the ecosystem.
