Reflections on Longleaf Pine: Janisse Ray Visits the Chattahoochee Fall Line

By LuAnn Craighton, The Nature Conservancy

The Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Partnership (CFLCP) works to collaborate with an ever expanding circle of partners to accomplish longleaf outreach activities in our region. During March, in collaboration with The Columbus Museum, Trees Columbus, The Nature Conservancy, Chattahoochee RiverWarden, Coalition for Sound Growth and the Chattahoochee Valley Land Trust we hosted Janisse Ray, award-winning writer, naturalist and author of "Ecology of a Cracker Childhood" for a lecture entitled,  “An Evening with Janisse Ray: Reflections on Longleaf Pine.” 

Janisse packed the auditorium at The Columbus Museum and inspired her diverse audience of over 250 people with readings and reflections on longleaf and the natural world. After her lecture, she signed books until her pen went dry while the audience enjoyed a reception featuring locally sourced food.  In addition to her lecture, we invited key stakeholders to meet her during a dinner at a local farm, planted longleaf on a school campus with students from South Columbus Elementary and Eddie Middle School’s Green Team and enjoyed a hike on the new Chattahoochee Fall Line Wildlife Management Area with local conservation staff members and a small group of landowners.  Working with multiple partners on this event allowed us to cross-market our longleaf message to new audiences both inside and outside the traditional conservation community. This program focused on building awareness of the longleaf story in our urban constituents who often have great influence over longleaf restoration activities in the more rural portions of our landscape.

Image 1: Janisse Ray signs books and chats with guests after her longleaf pine lecture at The Columbus Museum.  Photo by D. Tipton

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