Feb 27 Forty Acre Rock

Trout Lilies showing off

Resurrection Fern showing off

Lichen, Moss, Succulent Bouquet  

South Carolina's Heritage Trust preserves this place, Forty Acre Rock. I believe the SC Heritage Trust is similar to North Carolina's State Park System "State Natural Areas". There is no infrastructure here except 2 parking areas and a system of marked trails. It is quite apparent this area has been a playground for locals for decades. The fire rings, broken bottles and graffiti are a detraction. I've read there is a plan to try to remove the graffiti using smoke from fires. 

This is not spray painted on the rock. Elf Orpine is a small succulent plant. Its leaves absorb and retain water since its location of choice is seasonal pools on rock surfaces. It is a southeastern endemic. Small white flowers will form in late March. 

The preserve consists of a rather large rock complex, probably 40 acres. The headwaters of Flat Creek divide the two main rock surfaces. I can see from aerial photos, there are some separated rock outcrops buffered by forest. Still more to explore. At 2267 acres, it is a big place. 

This is the largest rock surface. It has this split level formation almost along its entirety. As you can see, people love to deface it with spray paint. 

Many of the small depression become vernal pools. Most were wet today and seemed to all have more growth than the rest of the rock surface, although, lichen seemed to be everywhere. In shaded spots, mosses and Reindeer Lichen grow. 

Near the highest point on the rock surface, the largest pools reside, holding a reserve of water. 

There are only 31 known communities of Pool Sprite. Only found in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.  It is endemic to granite rock pools. Each stem has 2 leaves and many will have a small white flower, blooming soon. 

Early blooming Atamasca Lily

The hike today, began at the Lower Parking Area, roamed through two separated open granite rock surfaces. passing 2 waterfalls, peering into a graffiti filled cave and then leaving that area for a walk around a beaver pond and then beside Flat Creek. An old section of now abandoned US 601 is within the preserve. Above, a 1926 bridge still crosses the creek. There was a large community of Bloodroot beside it.

Moving past here and back to the parking area, there was one more spot on the agenda. About a quarter mile from the parking area is a very small one car pull-off. An old road leads into the wood, by an old oil can dump. Very quickly, the road drops down to a creek with a double ledge waterfall and then a jumble of rocks with passages through them. 

The graffiti gremlins have invaded this area. You'll need some rock scrambling skills here. In the rock passage below, the creek disappears underneath a rock jumble to emerge on the other side. There is a lot to explore here.