Alabama
PBS crew works to capture Alabama’s Cahaba lilies on film, in moonlight with moths
A film crew working on a documentary for public television has arrived in Birmingham to film day and night in Bibb County, south of Birmingham, hoping to capture a rare water lily as it flowers and is pollinated by moths on the Cahaba River.
Grizzly Creek Films, a production company based in Bozeman, Montana, has a crew in Alabama this week working on a documentary about the Cahaba lilies. The filming is taking place in the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge in West Blocton.
The Cahaba lilies, which appear between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, are in full bloom right now.
“They’re gorgeous this year,” said Beth Stewart, executive director of the Cahaba River Society. “We have the largest stand of Cahaba lilies in the world.”
The picturesque nature-scape of the white lilies in mid-stream has attracted the attention of the filmmakers from Montana.
“They’re making a documentary about the Cahaba lilies right now,” she said. “We’re going to be helping them. They’re going to be doing filming both during the day and at night because they want to try to capture pollination.”
The moon will be full on Thursday, and this week’s moonlight illuminates a hidden drama on the river.
“The lilies are night-pollinated,” Stewart said. “A couple of years ago we did a moonlight canoe trip, the only time we did an official one, because it’s a little scary to be out on those shoals in the dark. You can’t see where the bottom of the river is. You can’t see the rocks.”
What mostly goes unseen is the dance of moths on the moonlit lilies.
“The lilies are made for nighttime pollinations,” Stewart said. “At night, they are just blazing white. They exude this amazing dew that completely dots the inside and outside of the flowers and carries the scent of the lilies on it. The whole shoals just smells fabulous at night. That’s when these sphinx moths and other pollinators, but mainly these moths that are huge and have a really long proboscis, that’s when they come and pollinate. The PBS crew is trying to capture that.”
On Sunday, dozens of people drove their cars down a single-lane dirt road called River Road, at the bridge at Bibb County 24 near West Blocton, parked up against the weeds on the gravel, then waded out into the river to get photos of the large groves of Cahaba lilies growing in the middle of the river.
“That’s the largest Cahaba lily stand on earth,” Stewart said. “They’re called the Cahaba lily or the Shoals spider lily. They’re in South Carolina and Georgia too. We’ve got the most.”
The lilies are very particular about where they grow. They take root in the rocks of the fast-flowing river.
“They won’t grow if they’re not in a river, in running water in that particular habitat,” Stewart said. “People used to try to dig them up, take them home and put them in their garden. They won’t grow. They’ll just die. There’s a different species, called the swamp lily, or the Carolina lily, that looks a lot like the Cahaba lily. That will grow in a garden. It’s made for damp or swampy ground. It’s a different species and sometimes those are available in garden stores. That’s the only one that could work in a garden.”
Cahaba lilies can only grow wild.
“Cahaba lilies, the seeds sink,” she said. “They have to sink and wedge themselves in the crevices of the shoals of the rocks, and then they root. They will not grow unless there’s running water over them.”
They have banner years and less so, sometimes based on how development in the metro area affects stormwater flow into the river.
“The lilies are an indicator of the health of the river,” Stewart said.
“They’re threatened by everything that’s going on in the way that we’ve altered the flow of the river because of all the development in Birmingham metro area because we have so much more storm water runoff, because we have higher floods, more intense floods,” Stewart said. “That carries big chunks of trees that go through the lilies like a bulldozer. There’s also a lot of sediment from all of the extra stormwater flow. The Cahaba River has to get bigger because it’s carrying more rainwater on a regular basis every time it rains. That’s why the banks are collapsing. That’s why we see so much sediment. That’s why the river’s so brown after it rains.”
But right now, the lilies are fabulous. “They are beautiful right now,” Stewart said.
For details and tips on viewing the Cahaba lilies, check out the Cahaba River Society’s website.
The Cahaba lilies are shown in full bloom on Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Photo by Jessica Garrison)Jessica Garrison
Alabama
Governor Ivey Taps Glenda Allred as New Tourism Director, Announces Lee Sentell’s Retirement –
MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced the retirement of Lee Sentell, Alabama’s longest-serving Tourism Director. Governor Bob Riley originally appointed Sentell in 2003.
“Since Lee began serving at the Department of Tourism, we have grown the state’s tourism revenue from $6 billion to nearly $25 billion. Lee should certainly be commended for his passion for our state and for its many attractions,” said Governor Ivey. “From promoting Alabama’s pristine beaches to our award-winning food to Civil Rights history, space, outdoors and everything in between, Lee has always had a special way for sharing the many great facets of our state’s tourism industry. Thanks to his service, we have broken tourism records, supported more jobs for Alabama families and created significant and meaningful revenue for our state.”
Under his leadership, the Department has pioneered yearly campaigns spotlighting such diverse themes as small towns, the arts, barbecue, natural wonders, birding and the Alabama Bicentennial celebration, winning the national industry’s coveted Mercury award six times in 12 years.
“Alabama is a special state, and I have been so proud to show people all over our country and around the world all that we have to offer,” said Sentell. “Leading the state’s tourism efforts for more than two decades and serving under Governor Ivey has been the honor of my life. I look forward to Alabama’s continued growth in the years ahead.”
The Department’s U.S. Civil Rights Trail campaign received the International Travel and Tourism Award for best regional promotion at the World Travel Market in London, becoming the first U.S. state tourism agency to be honored. Most recently, Tourism helped execute Governor Ivey’s America 250 Alabama Celebration on the front steps of the Alabama State Capitol where she unveiled a massive special 250 edition of the U.S. flag.
Governor Ivey also announced she is appointing Glenda Allred to lead Tourism for the remainder of the Ivey Administration. She comes to the post from serving as Deputy State Treasurer in Treasurer Young Boozer’s Office. Glenda began state service in 2011.
“I am excited to have Glenda joining the Ivey Administration to lead our state’s tourism efforts. Before working in the executive branch, she had nearly two decades of private sector experience that included marketing and media relations,” said Governor Ivey. “Glenda will be a fantastic addition to our team as we finish strong these next six months. Alabama has a lot left to tell, and I know we can continue doing that with Glenda’s leadership.”
Allred spent 15 years in the private sector with a bank holding company managing media relations, shareholder relations, all publications to shareholders and advertising for a 72-branch franchise in Alabama.
“I am honored by Governor Ivey’s confidence and grateful for the opportunity to serve,” said Allred. “I look forward to working with the dedicated team at the Department of Tourism to advance our shared mission of improving the lives of the people of our state and all those who visit!”
She is a 1991 Huntingdon College graduate and currently serves on the Board of Trustees. Allred’s appointment is effective Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
An official headshot of Glenda Allred is attached.
###
Enter your email and we’ll send a secure one-click link to sign in.
WKRG News 5 is provided by Nexstar Media Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.
Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.
WKRG News 5 is provided by Nexstar Media Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.
Nexstar Media Inc. is a leading, diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports, and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms. The My Nexstar sign-in works across the Nexstar network—including The CW, NewsNation, The Hill, and more. Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Plaintiffs have appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court after a circuit judge last week dismissed their lawsuit against Republican gubernatorial candidate Tommy Tuberville.
The suit argues Tuberville does not meet the Alabama Constitution’s eligibility requirements to serve as governor.
In the appeal filing, plaintiff’s attorney Barry Ragsdale said the issue is “whether the circuit court had subject matter jurisdiction to hear Plaintiffs’ claims.”
It is unclear when the Alabama Supreme Court will rule.
Montgomery County Circuit Judge Brooke Reid ruled July 9 that the court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case.
The plaintiffs, two Alabama voters, claim Tuberville’s primary residence is in Florida and argue he does not meet the constitutional requirement that candidates for governor be Alabama residents for at least seven years before the general election.
On June 29, Tuberville’s legal team and the plaintiffs argued the case in Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Tuberville previously cleared a challenge from fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken McFeeters.
The Alabama GOP Candidate Committee unanimously ruled Tuberville is qualified to run for governor, citing documentation including an Alabama driver’s license, voting record and tax returns.
Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!
Copyright 2026 WSFA. All rights reserved.
-
Alaska1 minute agoICE: Alaska state attorney arrested by immigration officials, held in Tacoma detention center
-
Arizona7 minutes agoArizona Lottery Powerball, The Pick results for July 15, 2026
-
Arkansas13 minutes agoAGFC proposes WMA regulation | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
-
California19 minutes agoBecerra leads Hilton by wide margin in California governor’s race, new poll finds
-
Colorado25 minutes agoSee where the new Colorado Connector train will stop
-
Connecticut31 minutes agoThis Connecticut barbecue restaurant is ‘beloved’ for a reason.
-
Delaware37 minutes agoDelaware oversight commission debates authority to reject utility rate hikes
-
Florida43 minutes agoFlorida preacher buys VT campus to build Christian college | Fox News Video
