What's Happening In & Around DeSoto State Park-Wildflower Saturday

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DeSoto State Park

DeSoto State Park and park partners like Little River Canyon National Preserve, Jacksonville State University Field School, One World Adventure Company, Little River Arts Council, Seven Pines Survival and more, team up to bring you many fun events throughout the year.

Campfire Talks, Classes, Demonstrations, Guided Interpretive or Fitness Hikes, Tours, Outdoor Adventures, Workshops......topics covering art, science, nature, and much more!

Most programs are free, or charge a small supply fee.

DeSoto State Park also adds community events such as classes, festivals, workshops, local craft shows, etc to our calendar so that we can help our guests and visitors make their visit to Lookout Mountain, Alabama even more memorable.

There are 4 ways you can get info on the calendar of events:

1. Find events on DeSoto State Park's website.

2. See DSP’s Facebook Page (You do not have to have a Facebook account to see page).

3. Latest Calendar of Events (PDF file) we are constantly updating this list.

4. Contact us! We are always glad to help you with anything you may need.

Call 256.997.5025 or email for details.

Springtime at DeSoto State Park is truly beautiful, with wildflowers & trees blooming around every corner. Join DeSoto State Park staff & guest speakers for a wonderful weekend of learning about the many species of blooming plants found on Lookout Mountain. Choose to stay the whole weekend, or just come for the day to enjoy the hikes and programs. 

www.alapark.com/dsp-wildflower-saturday

May 4th-INaturalist 101  Part of Wildflower Saturday Join guest speaker Mike Ezell, Park Naturalist of Lake Guntersville State Park for a presentation introducing INaturalist, a free phone app that allows everyone to record their observations in nature. Mike will introduce INaturalist and show all the ways the app can be used, whether on a hike or in your backyard. He will also be able to show participants how to set up the app and make observations. During 2018’s Wildflower Saturday, we hope participants help us ‘observe’ the flora & fauna that can be seen in DeSoto State Park!  Project: DeSoto State Park Wildflower Weekend 2018

May 5th-Gardening with Native Plants  Join guest speaker Michelle Reynolds to learn how to celebrate backyard biodiversity by gardening with native plants and building habitat for wildlife. By extending refuge for biodiversity to our own landscapes, we encourage a greater knowledge and appreciation of the natural world. Managing our properties in a more sustainable way means we will use less water and fewer chemicals. And spending less time with maintenance means we will get to spend more time viewing the visiting wildlife and enjoying the benefits of the garden.

May 5th-Yoga on the Mountain  Hosted by One World Adventure Company & DeSoto State Park Interested in starting your day in a positive way? Enjoy a yoga class in a beautiful place! These yoga classes are alignment based which makes the class perfect for those beginning their yoga practice or for those wanting to try something new. Classes are open to residents and park visitors alike. No pre-registration required!

May 5th-Erase the Waste-Cleano` de` Mayo  Fort Payne, Alabama  Be a part of annual community cleanups scheduled this spring! One World Adventure will provide bags and gloves. One World needs volunteers with motorized boats to help pick up along the shoreline. Volunteers with children can pick up parking area. Adult volunteers are also needed to walk along Hwy 69 to reach litter along the guardrails.

May 4th-Sculpt your Own Flower Class  Orbix Hot Glass is a glass blowing studio and gallery on Lookout Mountain that offers fine decorative and functional glass, as well as very popular glass blowing classes. Have you ever wanted to actually sit at the gaffer bench and feel what it is like to shape hot glass? In this class, it’s all about a hands-on experience in a safe and fun atmosphere with a final product we know you will love. After watching us shape glass into a flower, it's your turn to sit at the bench to a sculpt your own from an array of colors.

May 5th-Craft Your Own Paperweight  Orbix Hot Glass is a glass blowing studio and gallery on Lookout Mountain that offers fine decorative and functional glass, as well as very popular glass blowing classes. This class is designed for those who really just want see what molten glass is all about - feel the heat, gather from the furnace, sculpt the glass into you own design. It is ultimately about the experience, some experimentation and a couple nice paperweights to take home or to the office to show your friends.

Coming up in May: 

May 10th-13th=42nd Annual Birmingham Audubon Mountain Workshop

May 12th=Alabama Forest Classroom

May 12th=Yoga on the Mountain with Bret

May 12th=Sculpt Your Own Flower

May 18th-20th=Mentone Rhododendron Festival

May 18th-20th=Little River Canyon National Preserve Annual Bioblitz 

May 19th=Plant Discovery Walk

May 19th=Yoga on the Mountain with Bret

May 19th=Third Saturday Sunset Cruise-In

May 26th=Alabama Forest Classroom

May 26th=Blow Your Own Ornament 

May 26th=Yoga on the Mountain with Deidra 

Did You Know?

You can use the iNaturalist app to snap a picture of your observations of the natural world and then share them with an online community of nature lovers at iNaturalist.org. You can use this app as a sort of mobile field notebook to help you keep track of the animals and plants you see in your community. Record the things you see as you hike around the countryside, take a walk around your neighborhood, visit a city park, or in your own backyard. Then, you can get help identifying the things you have photographed by syncing them with the iNaturalist online community. There are even special events like bio blitzes where you can record observations along with your fellow citizen scientists!

• Record your observations you find in Alabama State Parks​ Take new photos or add photos from your camera role or existing files, and complete the brief observation details page. Can't identify your find? No problem! Upload a photo, and ask the iNaturalist community to help!
• Add your records to a project​ Select the Alabama State Parks project in your observation details
• Share your observation ​Publish your entry to help bring awareness to biodiversity in Alabama State Parks