The Blue Ridge Naturalist Network and the West Asheville Public Library will host speakers from Appalachian Wildlife Refuge which is a nonprofit that coordinates the needs of wildlife rehabilitation in Western North Carolina providing care for injured and orphaned wildlife, support for the wildlife rehabilitation network and conservation education to the community. 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the West Asheville Public Library Free and open to the public.
Gary Kauffman, USDA Forest Service Biologist will give a presentation ‘with imagery’ about the Serpentine Bald, near Franklin.
Buck Creek Serpentine Barren or woodland, on the Nantahala National Forest in Clay County, is one of the rarest plant communities in North Carolina and the Southern Appalachians. The dominant rock types, serpentinized dunite and olivine, influence the striking vegetation present on this site. Over 20 grass species, including six listed species dominate the site. The grass dominance is reminiscent of prairie vegetation and presents a striking contrast to the regionally typical herbaceous layer consisting of mesophytic, broad-leaved forbs. Included in the grass matrix are three endemic herbs, Rhiannon’s aster, Buck Creek ragwort, and Buck Creek heartleaf. Twelve other state listed plants and six butterflies are present across the site. In the spring, emerging grasses have scattered displays of Indian paintbrush and Buck Creek ragwort. In mid September there is a display of blooming little blue stem and big bluestem grasses with showy pockets of bigleaf grass-of- parnassus and fringed gentian.
Tuesday, May 14, 5:30 to 7:00 pm at the West Asheville Public Library. Open to the public
There will be a field trip for BRNN members in September at the Serpentine Bald with Gary Kauffman.
The day after the Montford Festival, there’ll be a huge Native Plant Swap at Charlotte Caplan’s house on Courtland Avenue.
Plant swaps are a great way to diversify your garden collection at no cost. Now is the time to separate your perennials, dig up self-seeded “volunteers”, or take cuttings. Pot them up, keep them watered, and bring them to the event. For each plant you bring, you can take one away, for free. No plants to contribute? No problem. We’ll have a surplus for sale at modest prices.
The emphasis will be on plants that are native to the Southern Appalachians, so expect to see bloodroot, bee-balm, mountain mint, green and gold, joe-pye weed, little bluestem, rose pinks, sweetshrub, pawpaws, and more. But we’ll accept other non-invasive plants too, and even houseplants.
When: Sunday, May 12, 9 AM – 2 PM Where: 39 Courtland Avenue Parking: On the street, or at the North Star Academy on Montford & Courtland Questions: ccaplannc1@juno.com (contact me if you want to pick up some free pots)
Proceeds will support the Blue Ridge Naturalist Network, a 501(c)(3) non-profit “Connecting people who love the natural world”.
Our Mission
The Blue Ridge Naturalist Network is an outgrowth of the Blue Ridge Naturalist Program through the N C Arboretum. Our interest is in the natural world and environmental issues, with a foundation based in science.
