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You might not imagine a pocket of old growth forest could still be found near developed corridors barely three miles from downtown LaGrange, GA, but the Beason family has preserved such an historic property and invites us to take a tour. Their special forest contains 200 year-old and possibly older trees, including hickories, oaks, and impressively large Black Gums. The Beasons have done much work in removing invasive Privet from the forest understory, and telltale spring ephemerals and other wildflowers such as Wild Comfrey inhabit the forest floor. Though it’s not the best season to see early spring species, we should begin to see fall leaf color from this forest’s high diversity of hardwoods. This remnant of the original forest is especially significant because it is located on fairly flat terrain in the lower Piedmont, which in our area has been almost entirely farmed or clearcut and used for pine plantations. That this forest still exists speaks highly to the careful stewardship of the Beason family.

Our hosts, Ann and Ted Beason, have generously opened their family’s grounds to us and will share some history of the property. Ann Beason has recorded many of the species of trees, plants and wildflowers found on her property, and in addition to being a naturalist is also an accomplished artist and photographer, often finding her muse among the many species that inhabit her forest. An exhibit of her work is currently on view at the Lamar Dodd Art Center at LaGrange College, and after our walk in the old growth forest we are invited to a special viewing of the show, entitled “Chiaro Ombre,” after an optional lunch in downtown LaGrange. Limit 15 participants.

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More About Ann and Ted Beason

In addition to caring for their landscape Ann and her husband Ted Beason care for their community. Among other community leadership projects, Ted Beason helped launch Big Brother and Big Sisters programs for Troup County, was a member of the Board of Trustees LaGrange College, and he and Ann helped create the LaGrange College Leaders Inspired for Tomorrow (LIFT) program in 2013, which includes an Outward Bound experience in the North Georgia Mountains for 10 college freshmen every year.