Lily Viewing in Georgia

The following viewing site was received via email:

I own a tract of land in Harris County, GA which has been in my family since the 1830s. It is on both sides of Flat Shoals Creek and contains a large population of Hymenocallis Coronaria, perhaps the largest compact population in Georgia. It has been studied by Dr. Larry Davenport. I have placed a Conservation Easement on the property, donated to The Georgia Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, Inc. and have the property willed to them.

Unfortunately, Harris County has decided to build an industrial park right next to my property, which poses a real threat to the spider lilies. I protested the park at the Zoning Board hearing and the County Commissioners hearing, with no support from anyone except The Nature Conservancy and one Harris County resident. The Education Department of Callaway Gardens refused to say one word to help protect the lilies. I have spent thousands of dollars of my own money in legal work on the Conservation Easement, plus hiring an Environmental Consultant, monitoring the stream, and contacting the GA Environmental Protection Division (which issued a stop work order at one point).

I have always opened the property to Garden Clubs, Environmental Groups, and local people asking to see the lilies, but after the Industrial Park became a reality, I have begun opening the property to the general public, publicizing the lilies in local newspapers, to make the public aware of what a treasure is there and how much it is threatened. So far I don't think I have gotten my message across. There is very little interest in nature and the environment in this area.

I will have the property open this year on three weekends in May from about 8 AM till dark:
May 7-9
May 14-16
May 21-24 (Memorial Day weekend)

There is no charge for admission. There is about a 1/4 mile walk through the woods to see the lilies, along a fairly level trail with chairs along the way for those who need to stop and rest. If the water is not too high, you can wade out into the water and see the lilies up close (bring old tennis shoes and a walking stick, and a bathing suit if you wish. Lots of shallow water and flat rocks.)

I have a cabin on the property with restrooms and picnic tables on the deck. For those who are handicapped or elderly and can't walk the trail, I have a telescope on the deck so you can just barely see the lilies which are farthest downstream.

There are 4 steps up to the cabin deck and the parking area is some distance from the cabin up a steep gravel driveway, so it's not very wheelchair accessible. (I hope to change this as soon as I get enough money to remodel the deck.)

Directions:
The address is 4725 Ga. Hwy 103, just outside the town of West Point, GA.
From Exit 2 of Interstate 85, go east on Ga. Hwy 18, then turn right on Ga. Hwy 103.
From this junction it is 2.8 miles to my driveway.
After you pass the Johnson Controls building (no relation to me) in the Industrial Park, look for a small white sign with #4725 on the left side of the highway, just north of mile marker 11. If you cross the Flat Shoals Creek bridge, you've gone too far.
Parking space is extremely limited, so car pool if possible.

If you can't come on a weekend and want to come during the week, you can park outside the locked gate and climb through the gate and follow the trail down to the creek and follow the signs to the lilies.

A. Stephen Johnson,
P.O. Box 7, West Point, GA