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The Village Nature Series
Written By: Luke Osteen | Issue: May 2024
The Village Nature Series springs back to glorious life with presentations exploring the precarious future of North Carolina hemlocks and the adaptations that our native opossums have made to remain our irrepressible, meddlesome neighbors.
A mother opossum carries babies on back
First up, it’s “Awesome Opossums,” the first program by the Youth Village Nature Series.
Presenter Gina Patton of Balsam Mountain Trust will lead the program along with the trust’s ambassador opossum. Most people know that opossums are creatures of the night who might climb into your garbage can or eat the dog food left on the porch. But few people know of the incredible adaptations this marsupial species has. It’s a presentation loaded with surprises and at least a few laughs.
It’ll be staged from 4:00 to 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, May 14 at The Village Green Commons 160 Frank Allen Road in Cashiers.
Next is “Hope for the Hemlocks,” led by Olivia Hall and Thom Green of the Hemlock Restoration Initiative.
Woolly Adelgid on Hemlock Branch
Set for May 28, this program explores the ways that North Carolina’s hemlock trees need your help.
“We have two species of hemlocks in North Carolina, the eastern and the Carolina, and the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid threatens both,” says Olivia Hall. “Though hemlocks are declining, there is hope to bring them back to their previous glory. The mission of Hemlock Restoration Initiative is to work with a variety of partners and existing programs to restore hemlocks to long-term health throughout North Carolina and ensure that eastern and Carolina hemlocks can resist hemlock woolly adelgid and survive to maturity on North Carolina’s public and private lands. Join Olivia and Thom to learn about hemlock ecology, woolly adelgid biology, what is being done to help, and management strategies to take care of hemlocks on your own land.”
The presentation will be staged from 5:30 to 6:30 P.M. inside Lewis Hall at 160 Frank Allen Road in Cashiers.
“Both of these events are completely free, open to the public, held rain or shine, and no registration is necessary,” says Ward. “Thank you to Cedar Creek Club for sponsoring this amazing series for the community!”
