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When Panthers Roamed These Hills
Many generations back in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, people were outnumbered by the wild animals of the forests. Several times a year, every homesteader had to deal with monstrous six-foot long black panthers with a tail as long as their body. Sheep, piglets and fowl had to be cooped up at night for safety, or one …
Highlands First Mayor
In the late 1870s Highlands was still struggling to get a solid footing on the Plateau. But in 1878 a powerhouse came roaring up the mountain from Horse Cove in the guise of Stanhope W. Hill and wife, Celia Edwards Hill. Stanhope lived in Horse Cove over 30 years before heading for Highlands. While a resident of the Cove, he’d …
The Appalachian Dulcimer
If you’ve been to the Cashiers Farmers Market at the Village Green during the summer, chances are you’ve seen a band of good ol’ country folk filling the air with harmonious bluegrass melodies. Everyone is familiar with the stereotypical bluegrass instruments: fiddles, banjos, the occasional cello. The most beautiful of them is the mountain dulcimer. There is no instrument …
Rare Oconnee Bells
Among the large diversity of native plants in the Botanical Garden of the Highlands Biological Station, Oconee Bells (Shortia galacifolia), is quite possibly the most fabled wildflower of the region. It was first described by the French botanist, Andre Michaux in 1787 and not found again until 1877. The 19th century American botanist Dr. Asa Gray described it as “perhaps …
A Fine Flyer Filled
The Carolina Wren, State Bird of South Carolina, produces some of the loudest, most distinct vocalizations in the forest. Its various calls and songs, intoning dozens of phrase patterns, have been described by Sibley as “a rolling chant of rich phrases pidaro pidaro pidaro or TWEE pudo TWEE pudo TWEEP and other variations.” Calls are “a harsh, complaining zhwee zhwee …
My Day In March
The month of March can symbolize a lot of different things to a lot of different fly anglers. Here in North Carolina, it means the start of the Delayed Harvest Season, a start to a new fishing season, and the beginning of changing springtime weather. Flowers and trees are starting to show their buds, and songbirds start singing a …
Green’s the Theme
March is named for Mars, and we all know the original green thumbs come from Mars, right? Well, maybe they’re green all over, but green is still the theme for March considering St. Patrick. If you practice the three P’s, you may notice more green all season, not to mention those green with envy when they see your plants. We’ve …
The Magic of Secret Falls
Secret Falls is a hidden gem nestled just south of downtown Highlands that makes for an excellent day hike. A half-mile hike leads to a multi-tiered Secret Falls off Horse Cove Road. Visitors can see the falls from the top, by the swim hole at its base, or a riverbend downstream with several small drop-offs. The view from the bend …
Crown Heritage Flowers
It’s easy to be enchanted by Crown Heritage Flowers in Highlands Plaza. For one thing, it’s quiet. Not a Hospital Zone kind of quiet, but a Zen-like hushed forest quiet. And then there are the subtle colors. Lavender and cheeky pastels, setting a backdrop for little explosions of green. And a rainbow of blossoms that give the place an undeniable …
The South Side of Town
For some first-time visitors to Highlands (and even some people who’ve lived on the Plateau for decades), the Highlands Shopping Experience extends for a couple of blocks along Main Street. This is a bit puzzling, since serious shoppers know that the avenues leading in and out of town are laced with businesses offering unique treasures and services, each deserving of …
From the Recipe File of J.T. Fields
Many of you know J.T. Fields. The former co-owner of Mountain Fresh Grocery is a local celebrity of sorts. To many of his customers he was a beacon – a broad-smiling, enthusiastic dude who seemed to know more than anyone should about the mysteries and glories of food and wine. Perennially energetic (those of us in the store referred …
Cornbread’s Critters
Guineas – yes, guinea chicks and hens – have made Georgia folk artist John “Cornbread” Anderson famous around the world. You can expect to see his guinea paintings anywhere and everywhere – magazine exposés, restaurants, hotels, private collections, etc. All this squawking about a three- pound bird! For most collectors, the guinea painting, in some variation, is generally their first …
