Despite the long drive, we had a total of 22 members join us for our Wildflowers and Waterfall Walk at Station Cove on Wednesday April 5. The rain held off and we were treated to temperatures in the low 80’s, making this feel more like a summer event! The wildflowers did not disappoint, with highlights including Catesby’s Trillium, Pinxterbloom Azalea, Three-Part and Marsh Blue Violets, Perfoliate Bellwort, Showy Orchis, Virginia Pennywort, Whorled Stoneroot, Dwarf Crested Iris, Violet Wood Sorrel, and Eastern Blue Star.
At the trail’s end a gorgeous waterfall provided a scenic backdrop to lunch on the trail. Some participants made a full day of it, visiting Whitewater Falls on the return trip and even Devil’s Fork State Park for the last blooming Oconee Bells of the Season. A few of the botanical highlights are pictured below.
Paw Paw blossomsShowy orchiswild geraniumwood betonyVirginia pennywortPerfoliate bellwortthree-part violetOconee bells at Devils Fork State park
Parking: On the street, or at the North Star Academy corner of Montford & Courtland
On May 14, we’ll hold our 3rd annual Native Plant Swap at Charlotte Caplan’s house on Courtland Avenue, in the Montford neighborhood of Asheville. This is our main fundraiser for the year, so come out to have fun choosing plants for your garden, and support BRNN.
Our Plant swap is a great way to diversify your native garden collection at no cost. Now is the time to separate your perennials, thin out ground covers, dig up self-seeded “volunteers”, or take cuttings. Your garden will thank you for reducing crowding. Pot up the little plants, keep them watered, and bring them to the event. Start now and they’ll be in tip-top condition by May. For each plant you bring, you can take one away, for free.
Our emphasis is on plants that are native to the Southern Appalachians. We’ll have foamflower, wild ginger, bloodroot, green and gold, bee-balm, mountain mint, joe-pye weed, sweetshrub, pawpaw, and many others. But we’ll accept non-natives too, even houseplants and vegetable starts, as long as they are not considered invasive in NC – see list on https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/2455
No pots? Just save plastic containers from the recycling bin. Medium-sized yoghurt, cottage cheese, sour cream pots are ideal. Poke a few holes in the bottom and voila! You can cut up a pot up to make labels, too.
No plants to contribute? No problem. We’ll have a large stock for sale at a modest $4 each.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Donate plants from your garden for our starting display. These are the ones we make money from! If possible, drop them off in the front yard at 39 Courtland Ave. a day or so before the event.
Give us a couple of hours of time: on Saturday May 13th, 2-4 PM or on Sunday 14th from 8 AM on. It’s fun, and no special plant knowledge is needed. Contact Charlotte at ccaplannc1@juno.com with your preferred time slot.
Lend an outdoor table (or more). Folding plastic tables are ideal. We’ll protect them with a plastic cover. Stick a name label underneath and drop it off, before 2 PM on May 13th if you can.
Western North Carolina is one of the most biodiverse areas of the world! Native plants beautify natural landscapes and benefit both people and nature. Horticulturalist Steve Pettis will present his favorite native landscape plants for gardens and pollinators and will recommend beautiful species that are easy to grow and available locally.
Pettis is a NC State Cooperative Extension Agent in Henderson County, where he consults with homeowners, business owners and government officials on horticultural, agricultural, and environmental topics.
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.
