Prairie Grove Glades

© Ed Orth

Why You Should Visit
In the springtime this glade comes alive with the colors of wildflowers! Our preserve contains the largest intact cedar glade complex known in Alabama, and visitors can see as many as twelve rare plants. This glade of flowers give offers the nature lover an inspirational view.

Location
Lawrence County in north Alabama

Size
191 acres

How to Prepare for Your Visit
This preserve is open to the public during daylight hours. Visitors can park at the entrance gate and follow the old roadbed behind the sign into the glade complex. Visitors should be careful to stay on the paths and we ask that you be mindful of fragile plants. Planned events allow visitors to participate in stewardship and educational activities throughout the year. For further information, call (205) 251-1155 or e-mail ktassin@tnc.org

Directions
From Birmingham:

• Take I-65 north to the Alabama Highway 157 exit near Cullman
• Take a left on AL 157 and head north to Moulton
• In Moulton, take a left onto Alabama Highway 24 and head west for about 13 miles
• Turn right onto County Rd. 43 and go about 0.9 mile
•  Bear right at the fork in the road and continue on for another 0.6 mile to parking area and preserve sign on the left

From Huntsville:

• Take I-565 south to Decatur
• At the junction with I-65, continue on into Decatur on U.S. 72
• Cross the Tennessee River on U.S. 31, get onto Alabama Highway 24 and head west through Moulton
• About 13 miles from Moulton (measured from the junction with AL Highway 157) turn right on County Rd. 43 and follow directions as above

Nashville Breadroot

What to See: Plants
The preserve is home to at least 12 rare plants. The glade is made of flat limestone outcroppings and shallow soils that are interspersed with islands of cedar trees and other hardwoods. The vegetation islands harbor rare species like the federal candidate Harper's umbrella plant, Alabama larkspur, and prairie Indian plantain. Open rocky areas are covered with beautiful yellow and white Alabama glade cress. Other glade flowering plants are the purple topped Nashville breadroot, and Tennessee milk vetch. During the springtime, watery seeps sustain glade quillwort and yellow sunnybells. Lyrate bladderpod, a small annual mustard, grows in the slightly deeper soils on the edges of the glades. This plant only grows in Alabama and it is federally listed as threatened.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
This preserve contains the largest intact cedar glade complex of this type remaining in Alabama.

What the Conservancy is Doing
The Conservancy constructed a fence to prevent dumping and vehicles (ATV's) from making deep ruts in the glades and destroying fragile plants. We need funding to establish more visitor friendly nature trails, and to continue our restoration efforts, which include prescribed burning.