Four Best Spots to See Fall Leaves in Piedmont Park

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Each year, September 22 marks the first day of autumn which is the also the first day we start obsessing over fall foliage in Piedmont Park. A predominately green park slowly sprouts spots of yellow, orange dark purples and bold reds. By the end of October, we get antsy about catching peak leaf season which can happen at any time into early November. The Park becomes more gorgeous than you thought was possible, and fall photos can be seen in every direction.

Come visit, and be sure to stop by the Piedmont Park Conservancy’s top four recommended places to see fall foliage in Piedmont Park!

Piedmont Park in Fall

14th Street Gingko Trees

Near the Piedmont Driving Club, the adjacent area is called the Front Lawn. Near the gate, you can spot some large gingko trees that will peak a bright yellow. On a nice day, the sun will shine on the trees and create a lovely yellow glow on the ground.

Many tree enthusiasts and Park lovers look forward to this short-lived beauty. If you want to snag a photograph like the one below, you must pay close attention to the leaves changing! These gingko trees will only peak for a few days before the leaves all fall off.

Gingko Tree’s Leaves Changing

Gingko Tree’s Leaves Changing

Park Drive Bridge Fall Leaves

Above the Dog Parks and by the Meadow, Park Drive bridge is another favorite location for peak leaf season.

Look near the water to spot bald cypress, Dawn redwoods and more. The trees will create a beautiful skirt around Lake Clara Meer that makes for fantastic photographs.

Nearby, you will also see a Pignut Hickory that turns a vibrant yellow as well as several other trees that vary in color along the path.

Red Dawn Trees Along Lake Clara Meer

Wide Open Views on Oak Hill

Oak Hill’s linear space offers visitors a wide view of beautiful oaks parallel to 10th Street. Stand on top of one of the hills and you can see gorgeous views and adjacent trees boasting vibrant colors along Piedmont Park and the Atlanta skyline.

Pignut Hickory on Oak Hill

Path Between Mayor’s Grove Playground and the Active Oval

Coming around the south end of Lake Clara Meer, you will find yourself on a pathway between a children’s playground and the athletic fields: Mayor’s Grove Playground and Active Oval. On a walk during peak leaf season, you can find a wide diversity of tree colors on both sides. Go up the stairs a bit to see the Active Oval city skyline with trees sprawling on all sides of the fields.

Sugar Maple Leaves

Red Maple Trees

Enjoy Piedmont Park’s Trees this Fall

Piedmont Park is home to thousands of trees, and each fall offers a new perspective for the Park’s visitors. Pull out your cameras, grab a blanket and come see Piedmont Park’s vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow and green.

Tag us on Instagram @piedmontpark with your latest fall photos. Also, check out Piedmont Park’s virtual tree tours.

Why We Counted Over 500 Trees in Piedmont Park

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Seeing the leaves change color in Piedmont Park was the best part of my first Atlanta autumn. It’s that time once again, and now I know a bit more about those leaves and the trees they came from! You see, one of my primary roles as a graduate intern for Piedmont Park Conservancy is to help document every single tree in the Park. If you think that sounds like a lot of trees, just wait till you start counting!

How we counted over 500 trees in Piedmont Park

Morgan Gobeli, 2020 Graduate Public Relations Intern, Lead with Green

How Many Trees are in Piedmont Park?

All that counting isn’t just for fun though, it’s part of Piedmont Park’s mission to become a certified Arboretum. As part of the certification, all our trees must be documented. Our Community Involvement and Events Manager Erica Glasener, with the help of Trees Atlanta, has been instrumental in spearheading this ambitious project. To get it done, a small team of volunteers and I use a custom mapping program called ArcGIS Survey123 to input the GPS location of each tree, identify the species and size of the tree, and note any health issues it may have. So far, I have personally counted over 500 trees in this manner, and there’s still plenty more to go!

How we counted over 500 trees in Piedmont Park

Maintaining a Healthy Urban Forest

When it’s finished, not only will our map tell us how many trees we have, it will also tell us how many species we have in the Park. Having a wide range and distribution of species is important for a healthy urban forest, so this is great information! The map will also allow us to monitor tree health, and to track pest and disease outbreaks. We can even upload pictures of diseased leaves for a faster diagnosis! So, the next time you’re in the Park, take a moment to stop and appreciate all those beautiful trees. You can even give one a hug if you want (they won’t mind)!

If you would like to learn more about our Park projects, recognitions and environmental management, visit our Lead with Green page.

Author: Morgan Gobeli

Monarch Marathon: Fall Butterfly Migration in Piedmont Park

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Perhaps the most iconic migratory insect is the Monarch Butterfly. These majestic butterflies are easily identified by their bright orange wings with delicate black line details and white dots around the border. What makes these butterflies so iconic is their migration, totaling nearly 3,000 miles for some butterflies.

Photo Credit: Grace Manning

Monarchs lay their eggs on Milkweed plants, soon to be food for the caterpillars. Those hungry caterpillars emerge and begin their journey to becoming a butterfly. Once they have completed their metamorphosis, they will either begin breeding, or depending on the timing, begin migrating. When the days get shorter and the weather a bit colder, adult Monarchs migrate from the United States and Canada south, to California and Mexico. It is there they will wait out the winter on the oyamel fir trees. When the days grow longer, the Monarchs fly back up north in search of their host plant, Milkweed, once again to breed. 

Photo Credit: Grace Manning

In Georgia we are lucky enough to be on the path. Come September these butterflies will head south, flying at about treetop height along their journey. One of the threats facing Monarchs today is the loss of their breeding plant, Milkweed. This plant plays a critical role in Monarch survival as the only place they will lay their eggs, and the only food for caterpillars. Looking to ensure a monarch sighting this fall? Plant milkweed in your yard, or in large planters on your patio.

Author: Dana Buskovitz, Piedmont Park Conservancy Education Coordinator

Want to learn more about migration? Read part one of our migration blog series about birds you can spot in the Park during the fall.

Aerial View Active Oval

The First Georgia vs. Auburn Football Game in 1892

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Cool weather, changing trees and tailgates are all the recipe for a perfect fall season. No matter what team you’re rooting for, college football is a part of southern culture. In the South, our fall seasons are filled with traditions, and when it comes to college football, our traditions are dutifully upheld.

Whether you are the biggest Georgia Bulldog fan in the south, an Auburn War Eagle, or somewhere in between, it’s hard to escape the South’s oldest rivalry. While Athens might be a far step from Atlanta, one of the Bulldog’s oldest traditions originated in the heart of Atlanta at Piedmont Park. 

In the middle of winter on February 20, 1892, the University of Georgia (UGA) and the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama (now known as Auburn) met head-to-head for the very first time [1][2] on what is now the Piedmont Park Active Oval. While football might have looked a bit different back then, the rivalry has always been strong. Georgia Bulldog fans might be sad to learn that they lost the game 10-0, but for Auburn, legend has it that the famous “War Eagle” cheer started at this game[1].

2020-Blog GeorgiaAuburnShare

So far, the traditional game has only been missed five times making it one of the oldest and most played traditions in sports history[1].

While many Georgia and Auburn fans won’t be in Sanford Stadium cheering on their team, they are still keeping the spirit of this traditional game alive from their living rooms.

Whether you yell “Sick ‘Em” or “War Eagle,” don’t forget about this game’s humble beginnings right in the heart of Atlanta at Piedmont Park.

Visit our Piedmont Park History page for more interesting information about the Park’s past!

Park History

Author: Olivia O’Brien


[1] NCAA.com, Brenden Welper. (2019, November 16). Georgia vs. Auburn football: All-time series history, scores, notable games. NCAA.com. https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2019-11-16/georgia-vs-auburn-football-all-time-series-history-scores-notable 

[2] Wikipedia contributors. (2020, May 31). Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_South%27s_Oldest_Rivalry

Small Weddings, Big Hearts – Helping Atlantans Host Small Weddings

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While our lives have slowed down with quarantines and reduced travel, hearts are still racing throughout the city. Some couples are bonding over the increased time together and are wanting to tie the knot. Others had pre-pandemic weddings planned and can’t wait to seal the deal.

Piedmont Park Conservancy offered elopements back in the summer of 2020 and hosted 23 small weddings over four months.

“We weren’t sure how many couples would need a safe and intimate venue, but calls kept coming in asking about private spaces so we decided to try it,” says Jane Rollo, Director of Facility Rentals.

One Couple’s Wedding Day in Piedmont Park

Looking back at one couple’s special day, Alison and Nigel Clarke were originally planning a big wedding and had to choose between postponing and moving forward.

2020 Blog - Small Weddings - Atlanta - 3
2020 Blog - Small Weddings - Atlanta - 3
2020 Blog - Small Weddings - Atlanta - 2
2020 Blog - Small Weddings - Atlanta - 2

Photo Credit: @Jelani (Instagram)

“We made the choice to elope because I really wanted to marry Alison. Nothing was going to stop us from being together” says Nigel.

Surrounded by their parents, a few other immediate family members and a beautiful lake backdrop, Alison and Nigel were wed at Dockside in Piedmont Park.

“We decided to hold our special day at Piedmont Park because it’s a one-of-a-kind place. The dock is such a tranquil & serene location. As soon as I saw it in person, I just knew that it was the perfect place,” says Alison.

Photo Credit: @Jelani (Instagram)

Looking for a venue near you?

Imagine your perfect wedding dreams unfolding in a beautiful park with Clara Meer Lake and Atlanta’s cityscape as your background. There are three venues available, all inside Atlanta’s Piedmont Park.

Alison and Nigel Clarke’s top compliments included easy parking, a gorgeous location and privacy in the Park. Alison also says “the best part about this location is that we can always return at any time to reminisce on our magical day!”

You can have your dream wedding. Start planning your wedding by contacting our team at [email protected] or calling (404) 875-7275, ext. 230.

Piedmont Park Conservancy Hosts Un-Party for Piedmont Park

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On Thursday, September 24, the Piedmont Park Conservancy hosted the Un-Party for Piedmont Park, the best event park supporters did NOT attend featuring Grammy nominated artist Shawn Mullins and celebrity Chef Ash Fulk,

Like many other nonprofits, the Piedmont Park Conservancy was faced with the challenge of hosting critical fundraisers within the limitations of the pandemic. The Conservancy sought a virtual lineup that would both highlight the passion for Piedmont Park and entertain guests in a technology-fatigued world. The Conservancy packed in musical performances, cocktail and cooking demonstrations, park testimonials, a silent auction, DJ dance parties in just 60 minutes.

Just over half of registered ticket holders and patrons logged in and virtually partied with the Piedmont Park Conservancy. The Un-Party event raised over $60,000 to benefit the Conservancy’s mission to preserve and enhance beautiful Piedmont Park.

Video Still Shot: Calvin the 3rd  Hosting the Un-Party for Piedmont Park

Video Still Shot: Charlotte Dixon gives a testimonial on why she supports the Piedmont Park Conservancy from her home.

Video Still Shot: Grammy nominated artist Shawn Mullins headlines the Piedmont Park Conservancy’s virtual Un-Party for Piedmont Park

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About Piedmont Park Conservancy
The Piedmont Park Conservancy is a member and donor funded nonprofit organization working in partnership with the City of Atlanta to maintain and enhance historic Piedmont Park. Founded in 1989, the Conservancy raises over $3 million each year to enhance and maintain the park. Today, the Conservancy manages over 90% of the overall maintenance and security of Piedmont Park.

Media Contact: Amy Han Risher
Director of Marketing, Communications and Public Relations
Piedmont Park Conservancy
E: [email protected]
P: (404) 480-3758

duck swimming in lake clara meer in piedmont park

Feathered Friends: Fall Bird Migration in Piedmont Park

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While fall migration through Georgia may not be as spectacular as springtime migration, it is still a sight to behold. Starting as early as August, many birds make their way south in preparation for the winter season. During migration, these birds use “stopover habitats” as resting places on their long journey. Stopover habitats are places to eat, sleep, and recharge, like a hotel room on a long drive.

Photo Credit: Clay Fisher

So, when fall migration peaks in late September and October, who is checking into Georgia, and who is checking out? Feathered friends including a few sparrow species, multiple duck species, kinglets and cedar waxwings come to Georgia. These species have been nesting up north all spring and summer long. We also have some species checking out in search of warmer weather. Warblers, thrushes, orioles and more will begin their journey south.

Photo Credit: Clay Fisher

How can you spot these travelers, and maybe even help out? While most of these birds will do the bulk of their traveling at night, you can still spot them while they stop for food. In fact, with the losses in stopover habitat, you can ensure a sighting by turning your backyard into a migratory bird oasis! Plants such as elderberry, sumac, and dogwood provide berries. Hackberry and American beautyberry provide nutrient-rich fruits. Providing a feeding place for birds helps fuel them up for their long journey, or helps them recharge after it.

Photo Credit: Clay Fisher

So grab your binoculars and field guide, and observe! Don’t forget that the best way to observe wildlife is to stop, look, and listen. 

Want to learn more about animals, plants and all things science? Check out our online resources here.

How to Stay Active During the Quarantine with Northside Hospital

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Many of us have grown used to the self-quarantine lifestyle. Most of our days are spent at home, either helping young family members with their schooling, working from home, or immediately returning home from your job. It can be hard to focus on your physical activity and move every day, especially after what could potentially be months of a sedentary lifestyle.

To increase access to health professionals and expert advice, the Piedmont Park Conservancy is collaborating with Northside Hospital Orthopedic Institute-Sports Medicine to host Move! Mondays in 2020, a virtual series on how to increase your physical activity during quarantine. 

In this special interview with Orthopedic Surgeon John Andrachuk, MD, we learn about how sports medicine is for everyone, advice on getting back into an active lifestyle and more.

 

About Northside Hospital Orthopedic Institute-Sports Medicine:

The team at Northside Hospital Orthopedic Institute-Sports Medicine offers comprehensive care and personalized services based entirely around the needs of athletes. As a center for orthopedics and sports medicine, their team takes care of your every need – from injury prevention to performance services and athletic training to orthopedic surgery. They provide services for athletes of all ages, including orthopedic and sports medicine care for children, across a wide range of specialties. Learn more.

Check out some of their videos: Nutrition Tips for Runners and Injury Prevention Running Tips.

Stay Active. Stay Healthy. Stay Safe.

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Getting some fun in the sun is so important for your mental and physical health, and Piedmont Park is the perfect space to enjoy some quality time in the outdoors. Staying safe and healthy is a top priority, and luckily we have four great tips on how to make sure we can all share the Park and feel safe!

The first tip is to remember to stay AT LEAST 6ft. away from other groups. With over 200 acres of Park to explore, everyone can enjoy. Maybe you’ll even find a new favorite spot!

The next tip is to make sure your circle is small. We’ve all been missing our friends and loved ones, and Piedmont Park is the perfect space to safely meet up with a SMALL group of your favorite people.

Getting fresh air is amazing for your well being, but remember to bring a mask and put it on when going through high traffic areas. This way, we can all feel safe and enjoy the Park!

Finally, let’s make sure we’re keeping it clean. Whatever you bring into the Park should either leave with you or end up in a trash or recycling bin. We’ve recently installed new recycling bins and trash cans to help make Piedmont Park green and clean!

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer and get outside and enjoy Piedmont Park. If we all remember these few rules, the Park will remain safe and open for everyone to enjoy.

Author: Olivia O’Brien

Combining Art and Safety in Six Feet

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Learn about each of the Piedmont Park Conservancy’s social distancing circles.

We all know one of the golden rules: stay six feet apart. Though, over time it can become difficult to remember to distance in addition to understanding exactly how far six feet really is. Piedmont Park Conservancy’s team came up with a creative and bold way to remind Park visitors of this important guideline to keep us all safe.

Six different six-feet circles can now be found all throughout Piedmont Park. Unveiling paintings of butterflies, herons and more, these circles serve as both a preventative health measure and artistic display. Learn more about each circle below.

Honeybee

Scientific name: Apis mellifera

The honeybee is Georgia’s state insect! Aside from producing honey and beeswax, it is also a valuable pollinator that humans (and plants!) rely on to thrive. You can spot native bees throughout the Park – especially in the Commons and near our Education Garden. 

Leading Artist: Kasey Sorel

Bald Eagle

Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus

The bald eagle has an impressive wingspan that can range from 6 to 8 feet. These birds of prey also construct nests that can be up to 13 feet deep! They are notoriously known for being used as a national symbol for the United States.
Leading Artist: Grace Yund

Great Blue Heron

Scientific name: Ardea herodias

These blue-grey birds have an average wingspan of 6 feet and are frequently found near bodies of water or other wetlands. They enjoy nesting high up in trees but are known for being superb fishers.Take a stroll around Lake Clara Meer and you might catch a glimpse of one, as this bird can commonly be spotted in the Park!
Leading Artist: Whitney Hendrix

Swallowtail Butterfly

Scientific name: Papilionidae

The swallowtail butterfly is Georgia’s state butterfly. Their blue and yellow coloring is striking and helps identify them! These pollinators start out as caterpillars and go through metamorphosis to play an important role in our ecosystem later on.
Leading Artist: Whitney Hendrix

Corn Snake

Scientific name: Pantherophis guttatus

Corn snakes can reach lengths of 2 to 6 feet.They are recognizable by their coloring – full of browns, oranges, reds, and yellows. These snakes are not venomous and are important due to their help with controlling rodent populations. 

Leading Artist: Juliana De La Rosa

[This circle is still in development. We will update once it is ready!]

Dogwood, Tulip Poplar, and White Oak Leaves

Scientific names: Cornus florida, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Quercus alba

All of these different types of trees can be found throughout Piedmont Park! Our Park has an incredible range of diversity when it comes to trees. Each type of tree goes through changes as the seasons pass and also provide a habitat for critters small and large. Check out our virtual tree tours or use our walking tour guide to check them out for yourself!
Leading Artist: Kaycee Walker

Cherokee Rose

Scientific name: Rosa laevigata

The Cherokee Rose is Georgia’s state flower and can be found statewide. The flower is named after the Cherokee indian tribe. The flowers bloom in the springtime and the white petals have a velvety texture.
Leading Artist: Kaycee Walker

Do you love these beautiful social distancing circles? Consider donating to the Piedmont Park Conservancy and check out @PiedmontLearns on Instagram!

Fields are Closed from wet conditions. Learn More