This was a very disjointed day – some great, some not so great! First, on arrival at the parking area for our Ashmore field trip it was apparent that bear hunting season was in full swing. Not great at all, although fortunately Penny had scouted there on Monday, before hunting season started, & had some pictures.  So, we needed to find a new location to visit. Note to scheduler – next year check hunting season dates!
Before moving on, there was a surprise presentation. Our President, Carol McCall, was honored by the Second Wind Hall of Fame, an organization that recognizes retirees over 60 for their volunteer work in the Carolina Foothills community, for her post-retirement volunteer service with Conserving Carolina, Tryon Garden Club, and Tryon History Museum. Carol was presented with her award by Carol Browning, the Tryon Chapter Director of the Second Wind Hall of Fame.
After the presentation, club members drove to the parking area for the 165-acre  Bald Rock Heritage Preserve, a new site to explore. See also https://public-lands-scdnr.hub.arcgis.com/pages/bald-rock-hp

Photography by Hugh Irwin, Sarah King, Penny Longhurst, & Joe Standaert. Botanical plant names seem to change almost every day, but for now we use those approved by ITIS, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Plants that are non-native to North America are indicated by an asterisk (*) placed after the species name. Click on any picture to zoom and view the slide show.