CAIRO — Learn more about an effort to preserve acreage home to trout lilies and other wildflowers in Grady County with a field trip to the site this weekend.

“It’s an effort to get the community in southwest Georgia and north Florida aware of the site and its botanical significance,” Dan Miller, advocate, said. “We also want to enlist everyone’s help to find funds to preserve it.”

The trip is expected to last a couple of hours. Parking space is limited and participants are encouraged to carpool.

“We want to give people the opportunity to see this very special place, let the local residents know about it and hope people will be inspired to support it,” Beth Grant, site advocate, said. “This is the last week the lilies will be in bloom. In the next month, they will go dormant and not be visible for the rest of the year.”

The Grady County Board of Commissioners approved in December 2007 the submission of a Georgia Land Conservation Program grant application by a group — including Miller — trying to protect 140 acres fronting U.S. 84 and Wolf Creek Road that contains more than 15 acres of trout lilies (Erythronium umbilicatum). Each plant takes about five years to reach maturity and begin reproduction. It can live 15-25 years.

The site is also home to several other unique and uncommon wildflowers, including Florida bellwort (Uvularia floridana), bloodroot (Sanquinaria canadensis), crane fly orchid (Tipularia discolor) and the greenfly orchid (Epidendrum magnoliae).

GLCP was created in 2006 to promote a means for local and state governments to permanently protect land and water resources having conservation value. It promotes partnerships between local governments and non-profits and strives to provide matching grants to local governments for worthy conservation projects.

A local match must be pledged before this grant can be approved. If it is approved, Grady County will own the land which will be managed as a passive nature preserve by an as yet undetermined conservation organization.

Pledges are being accepted to raise funds. If the grant is approved, tax deductible donations will be made directly to Grady County. If the project fails for any reason, donations will be returned in full.

The property purchase would occur after all financial, due diligence and property management issues are satisfied.

“Donation forms will be handed out on the trip,” Miller said. “We’re just soliciting pledges now.”