On Saturday September 21st, eight hardy naturalists gathered to explore some of Western North Carolina’s less appreciated waterfalls.  Under the leadership of Ken Czarnomski, we began with a pleasant 1 mile hike to Laurie Falls in the Shining Rock Wilderness.  We had this fine waterfall all to ourselves, save for a yoga enthusiast enjoying the peaceful scene before we arrived.  Upon returning we made our way up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and had lunch at the Wolf Mountain Overlook, enjoying a profusion of blooming gentians and grass of parnassus, as well as a few lady’s tresses orchids.  After lunch we headed south to Dill Falls, a short hike from the end of a forest service road.  And from there to Courthouse Falls, a similarly beautiful waterfall with an inviting pool at its base, happily enjoyed by a couple of families and an enthusiastic labrador retriever.  On the way back to our meeting place, we stopped along 215 to visit Sunburst Falls, which has the distinction of cascading through a stone road bridge.  Perfect weather and perfect company made this an experience long to be remembered.
Photos by Randy Richardson

The Blue Ridge Naturalist Network is planning a significant presence at the inaugural Smoky Mountain Elk Fest!  https://visitncsmokies.com/smoky-mountain-elk-fest/ The festival will take place at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds during the weekend of September 13-14. We will have a booth there for Saturday where we will share information on both the BRNN and about the Arboretum’s Eco Explore program. In addition, Scott Dean, Ken Czarnomski and Randy Richardson have agreed to lead guided hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway nearby.