An arboretum is an area containing many different species of trees for the purpose of education and or/ research. Each of the tree views described below are unique learning labs within the Metro Atlanta area to observe the distinctive qualities of trees in the Piedmont Region.

Stone Mountain Nature Trail
Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve
The Peachtree Creek Nature Preserve
Yosemite
Glenn Creek Nature Preserve
Piedmont Park
Winn Park in Ansley Park Neighborhood
Sweetwater Park
Constitution Lakes in South DeKalb
Connally Nature Park Trees
The Frazier Center on Ponce de Leon
Georgia Perimeter Botanical Garden
Wildcat Trail located behind Westchester School off of Scott in the City of Decatur
Forty Oaks Nature Preserve in Clarkston
WD Thompson Park
Hahn Woods

Stone Mountain Nature Trail. Stone Mountain is under new ownership and they have created some very nice trails through the woods, creeks, and lakes surrounding the mountain. While highly utilized, the paths are well managed and the tree views are beautiful, especially of some gorgeous American Beech.

Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, 3850 Klondike Road, Lithonia. You might have heard of Arabia Mountain, one of the three major granite outcrops in the Piedmont region (Stone Mountain and Panola Mountain our the other two). This area was once a rock quarry and later and later became a unofficial dumping area. DeKalb County and involved Citizens have changed this into a 535 acre preserve and one DeKalb's greatest natural treasures. Be sure to not just go to the top of Arabia Mountain, but also visit Arabia Lake which is on the other side of Klondike Road for beautiful views of trees, turtles, and nice little lake. More info at www.arabiaalliance.org/

The Peachtree Creek Nature Preserve. East Coast Poplar Trees have been said to have rivaled the Sequoia Forests of the West Coast in size and majesty. Most of these trees were removed during the European settlement of North America. However, every once in while, you see a huge poplar tree that gives you a glimpse of what once was and may again in the future. South Peachtree Creek Nature Preserve has some huge Poplars around its perimeter. In addition, you can view a forest making a comeback on previously cleared farm land and a pond with great bird watching. This wonderful site shows what a dedicated group of citizens can accomplish. The Peachtree Creek Nature Preserves, Inc. is funded by local businesses and neighbors. Call (404)321-5460 to contribute or ask questions. The Preserve is located in the Medlock neighborhood near Decatur on Wood Trail Rd. Wood Trail Road can be accessed from Lawrenceville Hwy. or Medlock Rd. (off of North Decatur Road). Check it out.

Yosemite. I know this is outside of Georgia, but I just had to write about it. Recently I went to visit the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park. The Geology with the incredible outcrops are magnificent but be sure to visit the Sequoias off the Hwy 41. I found the use of fire particularly interesting in the management of Sequoias grove. For years fire was suppressed and more shade-tolerant trees, such as white firs, incense-cedars quickly spread, reducing sunlight, competing for moisture and blanketing the mineral soil with their needles and debris. The National Park Service has implement a series of "prescribed burns" to assist the Sequoias. Once the highly combustible debris is less prevalent, the more natural lightning will provide this service.

Glenn Creek Nature Preserve. This City of Decatur gem was preserved by contributions from Neighbors and the City of Decatur. A small creek is surrounded by beautiful poplars, beeches, and white oaks. I recently looked up the deeds on this and adjoining properties for the last 150 years and found that there is a strong possibility that these trees have never been cut since the land was never used for farming or other reasons. When it was developed in the 1920s they left over 100 foot buffers (good ole days) leaving the trees untouched. Today this beautiful stand of trees along the creek are hidden beauties of what once was and hopefully can be in the future. While significantly covered in Ivy, there are portions that remain untouched.  To access go east on Ponce De Leon past the City of Decatur. Across from the Avondale Marta Station, take a left on Sycamore, the first left is Fairview, go straight until it ends. It is currently closed to the public, but will be open soon, for more info go to www.glenncreeknaturepreserve.com.

Piedmont Park. Visit the living sculpture, Circle of Trees, at Piedmont Park located on Oak Hill off of 10th Avenue in Piedmont Park. Circle of Trees" is a permanent living sculpture, created by artist Maren Hassenger, now chair of the Rhinehart School of Sculpture at the Maryland Art Institute. Because the "Circle" is a living sculpture, it reflects seasonal changes. Hassenger installed this unique piece in 1985 on commission by the Piedmont Park Arts Festival. "Circle of Trees" consists of Bradford pears, Ginkgos and

I have some great in town tree views for you. Winn Park in Ansley Park Neighborhood on Peachtree Circle and 15th in Mid-Town. Today I attended a Trees Atlanta Tree Walk (www.treesatlanta.org) through this neighborhood. Greg Levine and Marcia Bansley of Trees Atlanta showed us the incredible breadth of trees in this neighborhood. If your looking to plant a tree and want to see a good sample, chance are you can find it in Winn Park. Excellent specimens of Yellow Wood, Green Ash, Service Berry, American Holly, Hackberry, Red Maple, Silver Maple, Sugar Maple and many more. On one side of the park in one of the resident's homes is a huge Japanese Maple that is worth the trip in itself.

Recently I visited Sweetwater Park about 30 minutes outside of Atlanta. If you have not visited this beautiful park with great trails be sure to treat yourself. Cross the streaming river by rock hopping to small islands, or listen to the muted river sounds in the dense forest. Go I-20 west out of Atlanta and take exit 12 (Thortan Rd.) and turn left and look for the signs. For more info go to http://www.msiintegration.com/swp.html.

Scott Petersen, a DeKalb resident and knowledgeable environmental maverick, recently gave me a tour of Constitution Lakes in South DeKalb. This property surrounds several lakes and is bordered by the South River and an offshoot of the Soapstone Ridge. It is gorgeous piece of land and testament to how a pristine DeKalb appeared before it was developed. It is a little off the beaten track but perfect for those of you that are more adventurous, or you can give Scott a call, he has been known to provide an excellent tour of the area with both historical and botanical backgrounds. Email me if you are interested in a tour and I will put you in touch with him. To get there on your own go Moreland past I-20, look for the Napa Truck Stop, take a left on Bailey, go one block and take a twisted right onto Fleetwood Drive at the five way intersection. Go 1/4 mile and take a right on to Kenton Place. Park towards the end but not at end and be sure not to block the driveway. Proceed on foot into a wonderful wilderness.

Visit Connally Nature Park Trees while they last. They are on the verge of being cut down for a school by the Fulton County Board of Education. The forest contains a grove of old white oaks, including the state champion. For photos, directions, and information go to http://www.treesatlanta.org/news5.html.

There is a beautiful hidden forest tucked behind The Frazier Center on Ponce de Leon and Lake Claire Neighborhood. It is about forty acres of typical Lowland Piedmont forest. Since it is tucked in such an Urban corner of the city it really gives you a sense of how this part of town looked before it was settled. The Pevine Creek also flows through this forest. The Frazier Center is off of Ponce De Leon South, which is the road that snakes parallel to Ponce de Leon on the South side of Olmstead Park. The Center is also the entry point for the Cato Woolford Gardens. Enter through the gate, pass the gardens on the left (also a neat place to meander), and park in the first parking lot on the right. At the end of that parking lot you will see a trail entering into the forest. Check it out! The gate seems to be open most weekdays and weekends, although some weekends you have to contend with weddings taking place in the garden. Have fun.

Recently we had a picnic at the Georgia Perimeter Botanical Garden. Towards the back there are picnic tables. The garden contains all Georgia Native Plants and trees. The shade garden is incredibly diverse and interesting. Hike a small trail towards the back of the garden to get a nice view of Atlanta's other River, the South River. To get there go to I-285, take Exit 36 (GA 155/Flat Shoals Parkway), turn south on Flat Shoals Parkway for 0.5 mile to Clifton Springs Road, and turn right. Travel 0.7 mile to Panthersville Road, turn left, and proceed another 0.2 mile. The parking area for the gardens is on the right behind a bunch of yellow buses. For more info go to: http://www.gpc.peachnet.edu/~ddonald/botgard/george3.htm

Visit Wildcat Trail located behind Westchester School off of Scott in the City of Decatur. This trail is a gem of nature hidden in the midst of an urban reality. The trail runs along a portion of the Pevine Creek. To locate go behind the Westchester School on Scott. The trail begins by the jungle gym behind the field in the back of the school. You can also access from the DeKalb/Decatur YMCA by following Harold Byrd Drive (directly across from parking lot) to its end where you will see a mulched trail that leads to Wildcat Trail.

Visit Forty Oaks Nature Preserve in Clarkston. A short wondering trail takes you along a creek and through a forest with pines and hardwoods. It is also the home of the Outbound School here in Atlanta and the headquarters for the adopt-a-stream program in DeKalb. At the stream you can see a stream restoration program in progress to help educate what the potential is for the stream near you. To get there go east on Ponce de Leon towards Clarkston. One road past N. Indian Creek is Market Street, go right for a mile or so and you will see a the Forty Oaks Nature Preserve sign. The address is 3790 Market Street, Clarkston, 404-508-7602. You may park by the blue house, walk back towards the entrance to find the trail head on the right.

WD Thompson Park. This inauspicious park sits quietly off of Clairmont near the Druid Hills Intersection on Mason Mill Road heading east. Towards the back of the park are some very special woods on a hill, including a White Oak that grows into a American Beech tree. Also lots of trees that combine with rocks to form the "tree-rock" combo that I love so much.

Hahn Woods can be found off of Houston Mill Road at Emory University. The South Peachtree Creek gently weaves through the middle. One of the best things about this park is that parking is always readily available in this busy intown location. This park is a great reprieve from the frenetic surrounding Emory area. A easy to follow nature trail guides you down through a glade of trees to the river with an excellent viewing platform. A beach is nearby, a great location to watch the water flow by. Go to www.environment.emory.edu/who/tour/tour8.shtml for more info about the area, including Wesley Woods.