Daisy Days is Coming

daisy days

Get out of the house, get some fresh air and enjoy the beautiful yellow daisies (Helianthus porteri) that are growing around metro-Atlanta with the Daisy Days Triple Hike Challenge, running throughout September.

The event is free (although parking may require a small fee). Participants must hike three of four possible mountains to earn the prize: Arabia Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, Panola Mountain, and Stone Mountain. You can hike on your own or join a guided hike at some sites.

As you go, fill out your passport (coming soon) to win a daisy-themed prize.

Early signs of yellow daisies blooming on Arabia Mountain. Photo: Ranger Robby Astrove.

The yellow daisies (Helianthus porteri) are native to the rock outcrops of the Southeastern United States, especially in the granite formations of the Georgia Piedmont region. The metro-Atlanta area has a high concentration of the daisies, which bloom on our massive granite mountains. While these rock outcrops seem barren, especially during the scorching summers, fall and winter see a profusion of wildflowers grow out of patches of thin soil called “solution pits.”

The Daisy Days Triple Hike Challenge is an opportunity to celebrate the botanical bounty growing on the rock outcrops (also called “monadnocks”) as autumn begins. Participants will also receive a souvenir. Learn more about the event here.

Presented by the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Panola Mountain State Park, and the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, this event invites you to step into Autumn by hiking Georgia’s granite monadnocks.

Photo at top: Credit Julian Buckmaster.