Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge – http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=43665

The patches of lilies that are viewed during the festival are located within the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the refuge was established September 25, 2002 to protect and manage this section of the Cahaba River and land adjacent to it. As mentioned on their website, the Cahaba River NWR is home to five federally listed species including the Cahaba shiner, goldline darter, round rocksnail, and cylindrical lioplax snail.

Friends of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge – http://cahabafriends.com/

The mission of the friends group is to support the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge in its efforts to protect, preserve, and restore its diverse, natural, and historic resources in a manner which will enhance the educational and recreational aspects for the public. The Friends host the annual Renew Our Rivers Cleanup which removes trash from the refuge. Members of the Friends group will be assisting with the festival and will be set up along the river for the tours.

Cahaba River Society – http://www.cahabariversociety.org/

The Cahaba River Society’s mission is to restore and protect the Cahaba River watershed and its rich diversity of life. They provide canoe trips along the Cahaba, including the canoes for the festival, but their activities go way beyond that. Their CLEAN program helps educate our young people about our waterways. They work with businesses and municipalities along the river to reduce sedimentation and erosion. They partner with other organizations to increase awareness of water issues. The lily festival is a great day to learn more about this exciting organization.

Living River: A Retreat on the Cahaba – http://www.livingriver.org/

Another partner of the festival is Living River, a retreat property currently under construction by the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley. If you are not familiar with the environmental care that is being taken in the planning of this property, come check it out at the festival. They provide the shuttle transportation to and from the river on the day of the festival.

The Nature Conservancy – http://www.nature.org

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. They work in all 50 states and in 35 countries around the world addressing threats to conservation. To find out more about what the Nature Conservancy is doing in Alabama, join us for the morning program.

Other environmental organizations participating in the festival include the Alabama Wildflower Society George Wood Chapter, Bibb County Citizens for Wildflowers and the Cahaba River Authority.

Want to join one of these organizations? Or just find out more? We’ll see you Saturday morning!

Now owned by the town of West Blocton, the ovens are the centerpiece of the Coke Ovens Park. A massive boardwalk allows visitors to ascend over the remains for a full view of the beehive-shaped ovens. Interpretive signs are available to explain the making of coke and it’s significance in Alabama’s industrial history. On the day of the festival, volunteers will be available to discuss the ovens and answer questions.

The ovens are overgrown with trees providing a wonderful setting for a walk. So, after you’ve been to the morning program and been to the river to see the lily, drop by the park and experience The West Blocton Coke Ovens Park. More information can also be found at http://www.cokeovenspark.com.

Image courtesy of Eric in SF (from Wikipedia)

If you love working in your yard, then you will find plenty of plants at the festival. Selection varies each year, but typically includes the Alabama state wildflower – the oakleaf hydrangea. Previous years have included shrubs such as the wild azalea, flowers such as black eyed Susans and trees such as the southern magnolia. The plants are available on the sidewalk in front of the Lily Center on Main Street so be sure to have a look as you enter the building. Your yard will be glad you did.

Dr. Davenport holds a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Alabama. He is a professor of Biological & Environmental Sciences at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He is considered to be an expert on Alabama’s plant life; aquatic plants; wetlands; and rare, threatened and endangered species, including the Cahaba Lily. He has presented the keynote presentation at every Cahaba Lily Festival since it began.

The festival offers the opportunity to see the lilies as close as you wish. After the morning activities on Main Street, shuttles are available for transport to the river. A short walk from the drop off point and you will begin seeing small stands of lilies. Walk a little longer and you will see larger stands. While the current in the river is often quite swift, some of the more adventurous attendees wade out among the rocks to see the lilies first hand.

If you want to see an even larger stand of lilies, canoeing is the best option. The Cahaba River Society provides canoes for rent on the day of the festival. The ride is self guided as you float down the river through the lilies.