Ramble Report April 11 2019

Today's Ramble was led by Linda Chafin.

All the photos in this post, unless otherwise credited, were taken by Hugh and Carol Nourse, former leaders of the Nature Ramblers.

Today's post was written by Linda Chafin.

Today’s Focus: The Rock and Shoals Granite outcrop.

25 Ramblers met today.

Today's reading: No reading today.

Announcements: The Garden is participating in a "Plantapalooza" plant sale this weekend (Saturday). Click here for the details and a link to the species offered.

Today's route: Ramblers met today at the Botanical Garden and carpooled to the Rock & Shoals Natural Area off Barnett Shoals Road. Mid-April is peak blooming season for the Piedmont granite outcrop specialties and endemics.

Piedmont granite outcrops are found from SE Virginia to central Alabama, totaling about 12,000 acres, but 90% of them occur in the Georgia Piedmont. There are approximately 5,000 granite outcrops in Georgia larger than ¼ acre. Unfortunately, only 11 of them are protected, including Rock and Shoals (R&S), which is owned jointly by Athens-Clarke County and Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Though small, R&S supports many of the outcrop endemics and four rare species.

Rock and Shoals Ramble December 17 2013

This Ramble Report was written by Don Hunter. Don's photo album of the ramble is here. The photos included in this post are all Don's.

On Tuesday, December 17, 2013, twenty-one eager and kindred souls gathered at the Barnett Shoals Elementary School, on Barnett Shoals Road, for a ramble through the Rock and Shoals Natural Area, organized by Ramblers Joan and Sandra.  It was probably still in the 30’s as we all arrived and mingled a bit at the school, enjoying hot coffee, chocolate banana bread, cranberry bread, both still warm from the oven, and mixed fruit, all kindly provided by Joan and Sandra.  

Recipes from Rock and Shoals Ramble

Yesterday's ramble at Rock and Shoals began and ended with homemade treats provided by Joan and Sandra. Several people asked for the recipes and Joan kindly provided them. Enjoy!

Cranberry Bread

2 C flour

1 C sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 C orange juice

1 Tbs. orange peel (grated from 1 large orange)

2 Tbs. shortening

1 egg

1 1/2 C cranberries (fresh)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix flour, sugar, powder, salt and soda in large bowl.  In another bowl, mix OJ, peel, shortening, and egg, then add to the dry ingredients.  Stir in cranberries.  Bake in a greased 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan at 350 degrees for about 55 minutes.

Banana Bread

½ C brown sugar

¼ C butter (1/2 stick)

2 eggs

1 ½ C Mashed Banana (3-4 ripe bananas)

1 Tbs. lemon juice

2 C flour

3 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

3/4-1 C chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs singly beating after each one.  Stir in bananas and lemon juice.  Add flour, baking powder and salt.  Mix quickly.  Fold in chocolate chips. Bake in a greased 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.