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KISATCHIE NATIONAL FOREST

Bring your camera, a reliable GPS, and your hiking boots and experience the diversity of the Longleaf Pine Forest. Few know that it is only second in diversity per square meter to that of the Tropical Rain Forests near the equator. Composed of a beautiful mix of ferns, wildflowers, and native grasses beneath the stately longleaf pines that cover the softly rolling hills, periodic pitcher plant bogs that contain wild orchids, and a mix of oaks and other hardwoods that are scattered in the uplands and often fill vast bottomlands and can reach massive sizes. There truly is nothing like it!

<pstyle=”text-align: left;”=””>The wild turkey and white tailed deer populations are carefully managed and are highly sought after with youth, bow, and rifle seasons offered to hunters that come from far and wide to vie for the best spots. Kisatchie National Forest also offers some excellent fishing spots filled with bream and nice sized bass making for fun trips with children and adults alike. Most ponds and Fullerton Lake are not designated for motorized craft beyond a trolling motor but are perfect for canoes, kayaks, and other small boats. You can learn more about the trails, hunting, and fishing on Kisatchie National Forest’s Vernon District here.</pstyle=”text-align:>

AT ALLEN ACRES

HIKING TO THE OUISKA CHITTO, PHOTOGRAPHY, WILDFLOWERS, POLLINATORS, AND MORE

Photograph a wide variety of native wildflowers in the young Longleaf Pine Forest being developed along the front of the property and in the sandy soils along the hike to the Ouiska Chitto Creek out back. The same short hike that leads you to the creek, will bring you through gardens filled with pollinators like the many Swallowtail butterflies, Sulphurs, the smaller skippers, Ruby-Throated hummingbirds, and native bees that this region is host to. You could see the rare Louisiana Square Head, Indian Pipes, a pair of well-aged plant succession wheels, the massive mounds of Leaf-Cutter Ants, and the National Champion Large Gallberry tree. Strolling along the creek you may find the dainty Cranefly Orchid in flower, the white Swamp Milkweed, and the intensely colored red Cardinal Flower nestled along it’s banks.

RELAX WITH THE OPTION TO STAY CONNECTED

Relax on the front porch in comfortable rocking chairs and enjoy your coffee at sunrise and the hummingbirds at the feeders during the warmer months of the year. The quiet country atmosphere makes getting away from it all, at Allen Acres, easy. The large common rooms provide comfortable couches where you can catch the game or keep up with your favorite show or current events with cable on a large screen television. Free WiFi is available to all guests.

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LEARN ABOUT PLANTS WITH DR. CHARLES M. ALLEN

PLANT IDENTIFICATION COURSES – CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR BOTANISTS, BIOLOGISTS, WETLAND DELINEATION AND BEGINNERS

Dr. Allen’s plant identification courses can be customized to meet the needs of the experienced professional biologist, botanist, ecologist to the novice beginner plant enthusiast. He has many years of experience leading walks, talks, presentations, and teaching classes for beginning level to doctorate college students, to experienced plant professionals, Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, plant societies, and more. Dr. Allen’s calm demeanor, patience, and relaxed teaching style make learning about plants from one of the top botanists in the region fun and easy. He provides Best Recognizing Features (BRF’s) that make field identification of many species quick, easy, and reliable. Bring your notebook, your camera, and your plant press because there will be plenty that you will want to take home with you. The books he offers will become invaluable resources that reinforce his teachings as well. Courses cover but are not limited to:

General Plant Identification
Wetland Plant Identification
Graminoids – Poaceae, Junceae, and Cyperacae or grasses, sedges, and rushes
Composites – Asteraceae the sunflowers
Legumes – Fabaceae the beans or peas
Edible Plants
Custom classes, walks, talks, and workshops, are also available