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Naturalists Wanted

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The Park at Flat Rock, 55 Highland Golf Dr, Flat Rock, is seeking certified naturalists or those enrolled in a certification program, to lead nature walks at the park.  The walks are held the second Saturday of the month, March – November, at 9am for 60-90 minutes.  The audience includes people of all ages and backgrounds.   Groups sizes usually range from 5 to 20.    Nature walk leaders are responsible for submitting the theme and description to the park ranger 45 days in advance.  The park ranger will handle publicity and advertising.   If you are interested please contact Park Ranger John Wilkerson, john@villageofflatrock.org, 828-435-0397. 

Nature Notes, Plants

2019 Holiday Gift & Winter Reading Ideas: Surprise! Nature Books

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by Linda Martinson, Blue Ridge Naturalist 

Does anyone else feel that the year has flown by? But undaunted by a late start, I have compiled several suggestions for gifts of books that help strengthen our connections with nature. Research results indicate that being in green spaces, parks, forests, and other natural surroundings reduces our stress and anxiety and makes us feel more alert and aware of our surroundings. Spending more time in natural settings increases both short- and long-term memory, as well as improving one’s attention span. Also, hospital patients recover more quickly if they are able to spend some time in green spaces. And so, here are eight books (with some long titles) to inspire us to spend more time outside: 

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Nature Notes

Over the River and Through the Woods…and Past the Beaver Ponds, the Organic Garden, and the Meadow…to a Monarch Migration

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October/November 2019 

by Linda Martinson Blue Ridge Naturalist

Our place over the river and through the woods is Richland Ridge, a 500 acre development in Transylvania County, with about 70% of the property under conservation easement. From the road, nothing about Richland Ridge looks special or different. But as with many seemingly ordinary places in western North Carolina, the 120+ acres along the river at the entrance to Richland Ridge is special because it contains many unique and diverse natural communities and because, fortunately, this land has not been totally obscured by human activity.

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