Temple Flat Rock: TLC's First Acquisition

By Becky Bumgardner

In January of 1984, TLC acquired a conservation easement over a 5.2 acre tract in eastern Wake County. The easement was donated by Temple-Parker, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, with J.P. Temple of Goldsboro as president. An additional land donation by Jim and Grace Temple in 1995 increased the size of the preserve to 37 acres.

Temple Flat Rock is an unspoiled, one-acre, granitic outcropping—a prime example of the development of an ecological community from bare rock. Some of the more interesting plants to be found are moss-lichen mants, sandworts, Arenaria glabra and sedum smallii. It contains perfect examples of primary succession where lichens have eroded bare rock to create soil for higher order plantlife.