The Austin Peay Arboretum seems to be very interested in the plant life in Whites Creek Gorge. We have a leather flower that grows on cobble bars that has their attention. Cobble bar prairies are riparian stream side areas that get flooded often enough that it takes special abilities for a plant to survive. We have a solidago that is still being argued about and now this beauty:
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zf5DJw9LwL8/XQlW6WAwC9I/AAAAAAAAJEM/JKehxQN_C3E_-LJLDhRISsr4W5ALnqjlgCLcBGAs/s320/Leather-Flower-1.jpg)
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9PgQ2mPBC0/XQlW7Eez5sI/AAAAAAAAJEU/F5kdxRWO03ExdRn7LlFvFK--qkB-Q_xFQCLcBGAs/s320/Leather-Flower-2.jpg)
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SnwgjFtzkzc/XQlW6zs_pVI/AAAAAAAAJEQ/kH18ow365Wkx-hT9SME6Lphb9O8L-gEcACLcBGAs/s320/leather-flower-3.jpg)
I flagged it so we can find it easily when it's not in bloom.
There are other species that grow at higher elevations. We have those flagged as well. It's a wonderful world out there!
Whites Creek Palooza is Saturday June 29, btw! Here's the Facebook page:
Palooza