Sky Valley Road – August 15, 2025

Posted on August 18, 2025 by WCBC

Well, at least loads of rain means the dust was washed off the plants and they looked in great shape. We also completed the trip and lunch before the obligatory afternoon thunderstorms. 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. Photography by Ken Borgfeldt, Penny Longhurst, & Lucy Prim.  Click on any picture to zoom.

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Bear Pen Gap to Wet Camp Gap – August 8, 2025

Posted on August 10, 2025 by WCBC

Several days of rain makes plump mosses. Great cool weather compared to the past few weeks and no rain for a change! We caught the Spiranthes blooming for the first time in years, but there is definite encroachment of the trail and meadow by thorny Blackberries.

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. Photography by Cindy Carpenter & Penny Longhurst. Click on any picture to zoom and view the slide show.

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Kellogg Center – August 1, 2025

Posted on August 3, 2025 by WCBC

Great leaders! This was only the second time in several years that we haven’t been totally lost, even with several bridges out! Also our first visit in sweltering August!

The Kellogg Center was originally the summer residence of Kathryn A. Kellogg, who bequeathed the property to Wake Forest University in 1969. In 1987 it became the property of UNC Asheville, which used it as an educational and community conference center. The property includes two buildings and 46 acres of land. The Perry N. Rudnick Nature and Public Art Trail, which opened in May 2002, includes three distinct ecosystems – the trillium and fern wetland, a hardwood forest with rhododendron and mountain laurel, and the wildflower meadows. Perry Rudnick was a local philanthropist whose foundation supported arts and culture, conservation, education, health and human services, and youth activities. A grant from his foundation supported the 14 commissioned outdoor sculptures found along the trails and described in the following brochure:  Rudnick Art Trail at Kellogg Center. You can find GPS tracks for a route that visits all the sculptures on GaiaGPS or AllTrails

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. Photography by Penny Longhurst & Jim Poling. Click on any picture to zoom and view the slide show.

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Shut-In Trail – July 25, 2025

Posted on July 27, 2025 by WCBC

Since the Blue Ridge Parkway was closed northbound from Elk Pasture Gap we did the walk as an in-&-out and still found some nice plants, including TWO new Figworts and several superbums! We drove back to the Buck Spring Lodge for our picnic lunch. Once again it was a lovely day (cool compared to almost 90° down in the valley) & didn’t rain until we were driving home!

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. Photography by Cindy Carpenter, Penny Longhurst, Jim Poling, & Joe Standaert. Click on any picture to zoom & enter the slide show.

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French Broad River Meadow – July 18, 2025

Posted on July 20, 2025 by WCBC

Our walk was on the late Charles Pickelsimer’s private airstrip in Brevard. Mr. Pickelsimer left the 55 acre property, which lies in the French Broad River floodplain, to Brevard College and it was purchased by Transylvania County in 2020 for use as a recreational park.
With apologies to Noel Coward, apparently “Mad Dogs and Botanists Go Out in the Midday Sun”! It was HOT and not a cloud around, reaching 88 degrees by the time we crawled back to our cars.  But we saw some new and unusual plants, so maybe it was worth it.

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. Photography by Penny Longhurst & Joe Standaert. Click on any picture to zoom & enter the slide show.

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