Bartram Trail Hike with Brent Martin at Overflow Creek

Brent teaches us about some of William Bartram's travels while we hike in the Overflow Creek area.
Photos by Karen Lawrence

Magnolias with Jack Johnston

Photos by David Fann from our trip to see Jack's magnolias.

Winter Tree Identification with Shannon Rabby

Our Winer Tree identification class with Shannon Rabby was excellent.  Even though snow was dumped on us in the parking lot as we departed from Franklin, we made it safely to Haywood Community College and found much better weather.  With Shannon's extensive experience,  knowledge and interesting presentation,  and with the help of his assistant, Blake, we learned to recognize differences in bark, twigs, buds, and scars as clues to tree species.  After some basics in the classroom we worked outside on the campus which was established as an arboretum and has many mature lovely trees.  Shannon teaches a tree id class in the summer "Student for a Day" program.  If you missed our Winter id class and/or want to learn more about trees put it on your agenda.

Linville Gorge Wilderness with Gary Kauffman contributed by Jean Hunnicutt

It was another wonderful day with Gary.

We were a small group (because of the limit of group size in designated Wilderness areas) but our enthusiasm for this beautiful area with its diversity of plant life was huge.

The walk was spectacular:  from the Table Rock parking area through pine-oak/heath forest/woodland, chestnut oak forest to the low-elevation rocky summit at The Chimneys.  These plant communities are fire adapted and maintained with recurrent burns.  We were heartened to see both of the federally listed plants at the summit:  Mountain Golden Heather, Hudsonia montana, and Heller’s Blazing Star, Liatris helleri.  We helped Gary with an inventory of the Liatris; the final count was more than 100 plants!

As usual, we were overwhelmed by Gary's knowledge and enthusiasm - and his ability to challenge us to be better botanists.

Fly Poison

The Group

Rhododendron regrowth after burn

Large Leafed Aster

Tapestry with Indian Cucumber Root

Nancy

View of Table Rock at lunch

Fetterbush 

Corydalis sempervirens, Rock Harlequin

Chinquapin 

Chimney

Chimney

Hudsonian montana 

Chimney

Liatris helleri

Here is a link to a pdf of the plant list.  Linville Plant List Aug 2015