The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chickamauga a botanical gem
so, most of the cedars that we saw in the glades last weekend were stunted — including some that are probably several hundred years old.
Though uncommon elsewhere in Georgia, cedar glades are particularly well developed in the Chickamauga Valley. Despite their austere conditions, the glades have a remarkable beauty and host a rich array of wildflowers and other plants.
“It’s pretty in here. I love it,” Christison said as he led us through a glade. “Only a very few visitors probably ever see these places.”
Altogether, more than 300 plants grow in cedar glades. Many are highly specialized to withstand the thin soils, geology and harsh climate. A few occur only in the glades.
Among the blooming plants that we saw in the glades last weekend were the hairy phlox (lavender flower), hoary puccoon (yellow), fire pink (red), birds-foot violet (purple), glade sandwort (white), wild garlic (pur- plish white), early buttercup (yellow), western daisy (white), lyreleaf sage (purplish) and nettleleaf sage (lavender).
We also found in bloom a particularly uncommon but beautiful plant, the purple-flowered Nashville breadroot. We dubbed it our “plant of the day.” That was premature, however, because we later found a large patch of breathtaking shooting stars in bloom.
“This is the real find of the day,” declared our co-leader, Rich Ware of Rome. In the sky: The moon will be first quarter on Sunday — rising out of the east around lunchtime and setting in the west around midnight, said David Dundee, an astronomer at the Tellus Science Museum. Mercury is low in the east just before dawn. Venus shines brightly in the west at dusk and sets about three hours later. Mars rises out of the east a few hours after sunset and will appear near the moon on Monday night. The 5,300-acre Chickamauga Battlefield near Fort Oglethorpe was the scene of the last major Confederate victory — in September 1863 — of the Civil War. In 1895, it became the first and largest military park created by Congress — and the model for most national military and historical parks to come. It is one of the nation’s best-preserved Civil War sites. Its visitor center has an outstanding museum. The park also is the home of rare natural habitats called cedar glades, which harbor several plants found nowhere else in Georgia. Directions: From Atlanta, go north on I-75. At Exit 350, take Battlefield Parkway (Ga. 2) west for seven miles to Fort Oglethorpe. Turn left at Lafayette Road (U.S. 27 South). Go one mile on Lafayette Road to park entrance and visitors center on right. All units open sunrise to sunset. No entrance fee. Visitors center open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Christmas and New Year’s Day. Restroom facilities at visitors center. Address: P.O. Box 2128, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742. 706-866-9241, www.nps.gov/chch. Jupiter is very low in the west at dusk. Saturn rises out of the east a few hours after sunset and will appear near the moon Friday night. body’s immune system attacks its own tissues instead of foreign substances such as bacteria. Lupus causes inflammation that leads to pain and swelling in various parts of the body. There is no cure.
Today, Vazquez and her daughter and their team, “the Terminators,” will participate in the Atlanta Walk for Lupus at Piedmont Park, an annual event to raise money for and awareness of the disease.
As many as 6,000 walkers are expected to participate. (People can register today before the walk.) Last year, the walk raised $400,000, and organizers are expecting to raise close to $420,000 this year.
An estimated 1.5 million Americans have lupus. Nine out of 10 people who have lupus are women, and the majority are women of color.
Genetic factors may increase the odds of developing lupus, but scientists believe environmental triggers such as a cold, another virus or anything that causes stress to the body, such as surgery or pregnancy, also can contribute.
Although some people with lupus experience only mild symptoms, the chronic disease can be severe. It can damage any part of the body — skin, joints and vital organs.
Songstress Toni Braxton, a former longtime Atlanta resident who has been open about living with lupus, was recently hospitalized for a flare up.
“The reason the walk is important is because lupus is very misunderstood and misdiagnosed and such a challenging disease,” said Maria Myler, president of the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. “It’s very life-diminishing. It can attack every part of the body. A woman with lupus may be sick one day and not the next. People think, ‘If she’s better now, it’s can’t be that big of a thing.’ ”
Vazquez was diagnosed at age 30. Alexa, 16, was diagnosed four years ago. More recently, Alexa was diagnosed with lupus nephritis, which affects the kidneys.
Last year, the teen was hospitalized five times for extreme pain and swelling. This year, she landed in intensive care for two days after her blood pressure dropped to a dangerously low level.
On good days, the two enjoy working out and living a full, normal life. On rough days, they have no choice but to take it easy. When they are home-bound and in pain, they often turn to collage-like journals.
The creative outlet helps take their mind off the pain.
Despite the illness, Alexa is determined to do well in school. She is in the National Honor Society. She works on her homework — even if she has her legs propped up at home or hooked up to IVS in the hospital.
Vazquez, who recently started a support group for teenagers with lupus, said it has been devastating to watch her daughter grapple with this lifelong illness.
The disease can cause the body to swell, and steroid treatments can cause weight gain — not easy things for a teenage girl, Vazquez said.
“It’s not like you get the right medication and you are done,” she said. “This is a lifelong learning and listening to your body and having responsibilities other kids your age don’t have to think of.”