The annual BioBlitz is an event organized by the Cradle of Forestry.  This year’s BioBlitz is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 9:00am to noon. The objective is to identify as many species of flora and fauna as possible in a designated amount of time in a defined area of the Cradle of Forestry.  Our team of citizen scientists will use the iNaturalist tool to take photos and record observations of every species that we find.  This is a fun way to enjoy one of our unique mountain ecosystems.

Our group will form its own team(s) with a specially designated study location.  In order to help us with planning for the event, we ask that you RSVP so that we can confirm the size of our group to the organizers.   If you think you will join us for the BioBlitz, please reply with a short message to Penelope Reed closedgentian@gmail.com  indicating the names of those participating.  For those coming from the Asheville area, we will meet for carpooling 8:00 am at the Ingles in Mills River in front of the gas pumps.  We look forward to seeing you there! This is open to anyone that would like to join us!

On Tuesday April 16th, 22 intrepid explorers hit the trails at Big Creek for the annual BRNN Spring Wildflower Walk.  Long traffic delays on I-40 were soon forgotten when we finally arrived to a stunning show along the Big Creek and Baxter Creek trails.  The weather was gorgeous, with clear skies, bright sunshine, and temperatures that rose to near 80 degrees in the afternoon.  Heavy rains over the previous weeks left the creek considerably higher than normal, and seemed to prompt more blooms than we could recall from recent years.  Highlights from the walk were massive blooms of purple and fringed phacelia, foam flower, wild geranium, and trillium.  We also found some nice examples of Showy Orchis and Doll’s Eyes in full bloom.  In all our teams identified 56 wildflower species, with the majority of those in flower.