Puttering Around the Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site

Jack’s Creek, which feeds into the Navasota River around the bend to the left of the photo.

Virginia Springbeauty, Claytonia virginica

A very chilly plain-bellied Watersnake, Nerodia erythrogaster.

The Navasota River

Hemisphaeric Liverwort, Reboulia hemisphaerica, with both male and female reproductive parts visible. I don’t usually see this species like this, usually it is in its non-reproductive phase.

Close up of the female archegonium, the globular structures, and the darker, male antheridiums above.

Leather Lichen, Dermatocarpon miniatum

Effervescent Tarpaper Lichen, Collema furfuraceum

A remnant fireplace, there were a couple of these around the grounds, if I recall correctly.

Pennsylvania Pellitory, Parietaria pensylvanica, growing out of the fireplace.

Rabdotus sp.

I’m fairly certain this is an old monarch chrysalis.

In one of my afternoon excursions away from my friends during our time at Fort Parker SP, I drove over to the nearby Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site. I didn’t even know this place existed until an Instagram acquaintance shared it a few months ago when she took a trip down to Fort Parker SP. Mid-afternoon seemed like a good time to go over and poke around the place and I found it empty. A car was leaving just as I pulled in but other than what appeared to be a groundskeeper who lived in an RV at the back of the property, it was quiet except for me and the wildlife. And as you can see, the wildlife weren’t all that enticed to do much moving!

I will say, there is a bit of an eeriness to this place. Probably because of the Confederate aspect of it all, which is a bit hard to reckon with even considering that some lines of my family tree have Confederate soldiers in them. Throw in the current deeply unsettling political times, it is probably easy to spook oneself in a place like this. Alas, the solitude was lovely and I was glad to have it. I would love to return here when plants are blooming just to see what else can be found here. I also wonder if you could put a canoe or kayak in here and paddle the river south to the state park? I wonder if there are any hazards on the river that would prevent anyone from doing so. Must research!

Entry is free. Worth stopping by if you are visiting the state park!