O'Connor-Related Events

Professors from the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Georgia College will set up mobile laboratories on the front porch of the main house and near the pond on three different Saturdays in September and October. The schedule will be very flexible, with guided activities conducted throughout the day from 10 to 4, so you can drop in and participate for as long as you want. There will be displays set up on the porch, too. Boy Scouts, gardeners, or anyone with a love for science and the environment will enjoy this fascinating series.

September 6 – Ferns & Fern Allies (Dr. Melanie DeVore) “On Andalusia Pond: finding ferns on the O'Connor farm.” Thoreau fancied ferns and was an avid plant collector. According to Thoreau, "Nature made a fern for pure leaves." We like to think nature made ferns for pure fun. The natural history of ferns is filled with tales ranging from rising from the "dead" to providing frontier photographers with flash powder. During the day we will spend time learning how to identify ferns and exploring ways you can include ferns in your garden. Like Thoreau, you too can become a plant collector and we will show you how to make a plant press and preserve specimens.

September 20 – Fungi (Dr. Andrei Barkovskii) “The Peacock meets Peter Cotton Tail: fungi and lichens.” Potter had her rabbit and O'Connor had her peacocks. Potter was more than a children's author. During her lifetime she documented fungi and lichens with detailed drawings and descriptions. In fact, Potter figured out the secrets of lichens before the botanical community did! Spend the day discovering the diversity of fungi and lichens hidden in the far corners of Andalusia Farm. If conditions permit, we will take a fungal foray with Dr. Andrei Barkovski and discover edible fungi commonly found in our area. We will definitely learn how to identify fungi and lichens and marvel at these mystifying, misfit “plants.”

October 4 – Algae (Dr. Kalina Manoylov) “The ultimate, unseen world of Andalusia Farm.” Drop for drop, Regina O'Connor's cattle pond has the greatest diversity of life than any other part of the farm. Algae enable us to weave our own tales documenting the water quality in Baldwin County. Come learn how to collect water samples and explore the hidden treasures tucked away in one tiny drop of water. Feel free to bring along a sample from your own stream or pond and learn how to decipher the array of hidden life lurking in your own backyard. Dr. Kalina Manoylov will provide the microscopes and the expertise to start you on your journey.