Under a mix of sometimes blue, sometimes threatening skies on consecutive days, a total of 18 Blue Ridge Naturalist Network members set out to learn more about our local ferns and fern allies.  Our own David Phillips shared his incredible knowledge and passion in a way that was both relatable and practical, and helped to demystify these sometimes overlooked forest floor denizens.  From diminutive rattlesnake and bladder ferns to chest-high interrupted ferns we examined 23 species of ferns and fern allies and learned to look for the subtle clues distinguishing one species from the next.  

If you missed our last Zoom event on
Tuesday, May 11 at 5:30
here is the link to the recording:
PARI EVENT

In the last decade, humans have discovered thousands of planets orbiting other stars.  The characteristics of these planets range from potentially Earth-like to wildly inhospitable to life as we know it.  Most fall somewhere in between and require us to look at the way life on Earth has adapted to extreme environments and conditions to predict what could live in these strange places. We’ll look at how we discover exoplanets and determine what they are like.  We’ll examine different extremophiles that live on Earth, and, imagine how these unique organisms could potentially make new worlds more friendly to humans.

Better late than never, our May High-Elevation Wildflower Walk actually went forward on June 2nd, delayed a few weeks while we waited for the wildflowers to come to the party.  Sadly the June 3rd group was cancelled due to the threat of thunderstorms.  The wildflowers proved worth the wait, with a nice variety of spring and summer blooms on display.  Some highlights included plentiful patches of Thyme-leaved Bluets, Canada Mayflower, Clintonia, Cucumber Root, Sweet White Violets, Wood Betony, and some remaining Large-Flowered, Painted, and Wakerobin Trilliums.  The group was rewarded with some uncommon finds as well, particularly the native Lily-of-the-Valley, White Wood Sorrel, four and five-leaved trilliums, and two native dandelions.  Lovely clusters of Cinnamon and Interrupted Ferns gave a preview of our coming ferns expedition.  A few photos are shared here, courtesy of our own Steve Livingston.