Page 26 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 4 - Fall 2023

Cue the
COLOR!
It’s “Leaf Watch” Time in Georgia
By Stasia Kelly
F Photography Courtesy of Georgia Forestry Commission
orests work hard for Georgia Cobb has been a tree fan since he was a kid year-round, yet autumn is the growing up in Cordele, GA. North Georgia and season for them to really show western North Carolina were favorite family off. When maples, sourwood, vacation spots, and he pursued his enthusiasm dogwoods and other leafy for the woods by establishing a career in for- beauties rotate through their estry. He worked at GFC’s Flint River Nursery
vibrant fall wardrobes, people come out in for more than seven years before transferring
droves to admire them. Mixed with the myriad shades of plentiful evergreens, locals and visitors alike are known to ooh and aah. North Georgia is celebrated for this fall foliage display and the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) tells everyone all about it through its annual “Leaf Watch” service.
“I have a passion for the mountains, the trees and the outdoors in general,” said GFC Manage- ment Forester Ben Cobb. “When my supervisor told me last year that I could be on the team that supplies fall foliage information, I jumped at the chance!”
to the agency’s Gainesville Area office.
“Fall foliage is a big part of the local econ- omy,” said Cobb, “and people come from all over the world to enjoy it. When I encounter them, they’re interested in what I do, and in the fall I can direct them to our website for infor- mation. Plus, for North Georgia forestland owners, I can tell them about all the services
GFC offers.”
It was almost two decades ago when GFC’s
Public Relations Department launched “Leaf Watch 1.0.” Staffers informally gathered foliage updates from agency foresters working in
24 | GEORGIA FORESTRY