The Auburn Beatification Council and the Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau invited the public to enjoy the 2017 Auburn Floral Trail.
The trail is approximately 14 miles long and is divided into two sections, with signs and markers from the Auburn Beautification Council placed on the streets to show the way. It will be open until Friday.
The north trail lasts for 3.5 miles beginning on Laurel Drive off of North College Street and looping through Sanders Street and Cary Drive before ending on North College.
The south trail is 10.5 miles long and starts on South College Street before winding its way through sections of Kimberly Drive, Gay Street, East University Drive and Wrights Mill Road.
Auburn Environmental Services Assistant Director Catrina Cook said the weather this year has affected the duration of the floral trail, which she has helped organize for the past eight years.
“We started the trail a little earlier than we normally do,” Cook said. “Because we had the frost right there in the middle, we’ve extended the trail a little longer because we did have some flowering shrubs that were hit.”
The Donald E. Davis Arboretum, located on the corner of South College Street and Garden Drive, is an optional trail which features numerous blossoming trees and shrubs, such as the Auburn azalea series, a trillium collection and purple and white phlox.
Informational signs and brochures are located at the arboretum's pavilion and are available to educate the public on Alabama’s native plants.
“The work that the university does with the arboretum is beautiful,” Cook said. “Having those names of the trees and the things that are there is very helpful to people that want to get into nature and want to walk through nature and learn a little bit more about it..”
Another optional trail is available off of North College Street at Asheton Lane, which will take sight-seers through Watercrest Drive and Brenton Lane.
“I do hope that people get a chance to either walk or bike the trail and see what Auburn has to offer,” Cook said.
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