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.

The BRNN`s first event of 2019 was on Tuesday, February 12, 5:30 -7:00 at the West Asheville Public Library. Michael Skinner, Balsam Mountain Trust’s Executive Director gave a live birds of prey demonstration. This event was also sponsored in part by Friends of West Asheville Library. Michael`s companions were a screech owl, red-tailed hawk, barn owl and an eagle. It was a fun and informative evening!

The Balsam Mountain Trust is a local, non-profit whose mission is the stewardship of the natural and cultural resources on Balsam Mountain Preserve and the Blue Ridge Mountain region, through effective land management practices, scientific research, and environmental education.  The Trust has earned special distinction as a place where non-releasable birds of prey are taken in, cared for, and then utilized as wildlife educational ambassadors to local schools and civic groups.