2020 Trout Lily season to open in early February

Wolf Creek Trout

Lily Preserve

Over the last few years, Wolf Creek Trout Lily volunteers have collaborated with Whigham’s  local 383 Boy Scout Troop where they have created both signage for our Wolf Creek Road entry and an information kiosk at the trail head, to welcome and inform our visitors for the bloom season. Last year Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve was awarded a grant by Golden Triangle RC&D for permanent signage that identifies a number of trees and plants on the property. Even though Hurricane Michael downed several trees, we continue to restore the trails. All this is to say, Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve is ready for the 2020 Bloom Season. Based on our most recent work day, the trout lilies are just now emerging and should be ready for viewing around February 8.

This year’s bloom season most likely will last through February. The trout lily flower typically opens in early afternoon depending on sunlight, so greeters are on site beginning around 1:00 pm throughout the week. Guided tours are available Friday- Sunday or by request. If a group is interested in a tour, contact Margaret at (229) 378-7610 or check our public tour schedule on our website. The gates to the Preserve will be open throughout February for our visitors.

A reminder, please wear sturdy shoes that can grip mud, dress warmly and bring your camera. Pets (other than service animals) are not allowed. The full trail loop is hilly and we offer an upper trail that is more accessible. This natural resource is unique and not to be missed. Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve is home to the most extensive mass of this species known anywhere in the world. They are very rare in the Coastal Plain. There is no entry fee to walk the trails; however, most all the upkeep and improvements on the property are paid through donations and grants.

The Whigham Community Club continues to embrace the Preserve and their members act as greeters for our visitors. The businesses in the community also are ready for the 2020 season and the Whigham Café offers their very own “Trout Lily Special” at lunch each week-day and for their Thursday and Friday night supper. The Community Club will be selling Trout Lily t-shirts for $20.00. All the Whigham community welcomes visitors to Grady County.

The Volunteer Advisory Board of Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve is excited about all the improvements and is eager to welcome visitors for the 2020 Wolf Creek Trout Lily Bloom Season.  This year we will have hand-held trail maps for our visitors and we are offering a new option for navigating the trails through an app called AVENZA. It is a free download and the Preserve trail map can be downloaded from our webpage to your phone. Directions for using this app and other information about Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve, is available on our website:  www.wolfcreektroutlilypreserve.org.  For day to day updates and photos, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wolfcreektroutlilypreserve/ . We are encouraging visitors to post their photographs to Facebook using the hashtags #wolfcreek2020 or #troutlily2020.

We look forward to seeing you in Grady County and at the Preserve in February.