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There are so many great articles in the pages of The Laurel Magazine, sometimes you want to read them again. You won’t miss a thing. Use these helpful search parameters and find just what you’re looking for about Highlands, NC and Cashiers, NC.
Active Participant in your Own Care
We’re all faced with choices and decisions every day regarding many aspects of our lives: what to eat, where to travel, what clothes to wear, etc. When it comes to good health, the decision-making can be constant! We have choices at our fingertips and the discernment process needs to be taken seriously. Good health is our choice, for …
Let’s Talk & Save Lives
When my son was nine his dad let him watch “Alien.” He came home withdrawn and frightened. It took several hours to get him to tell me the whole story. He’d also fallen in the tub and bruised his back. When he saw the bruise, he was convinced he had an alien inside him for about three days before he …
Founders Day & Local Heritage
Third and fourth-graders from Blue Ridge School, Summit School and homeschoolers will be learning about their local heritage and enjoying activities under blue September skies when the Cashiers Historical Society stages Founders Day on Thursday, September 26, on the grounds of the Zachary-Tolbert House. The day is jammed with events designed to educate the children about life in the Cashiers Valley …
The Fate of the Fairfield
In the 1890s, a group of Pennsylvania investors established the Toxaway Company and bought thousands of acres of mountain land in Jackson and Transylvania Counties. Their initial plan was to cut and extract lumber so a railroad line was built from Hendersonville to Toxaway. When the group saw the stunning beauty of land a new plan was formed, resulting in …
Bob Padgett Tulip Tree
Highlands is known for its magnificent forests. The Highlands Biological Station plays a huge role in supporting them. There are two organizations that contributed greatly to HBS’s foundation: one, the Highlands Scientific Society (1886) founded by Thomas Harbison; and two, the Southern Blue Ridge Horticultural Society (1891-95). It is the latter that researched the variety of tree that …
England’s Great Golf Courses
With the Open Championship returning to Royal St. George’s in 2020, England and its great courses are in the spotlight. Many people overlook England as a golf destination with such great options nearby in Scotland and Ireland. But as you can see in the testimonial below, England is an incredible golf destination worth considering for your next golf trip. Tom’s …
A Window Into Appalachia’s Heart
One of Highlands’ best trail systems runs through the Highlands Botanical Garden, which was established in 1962 as a refuge and demonstration garden for the diverse flora of the Southern Appalachians and its unique communities. Today, the garden is a popular destination for visitors of all ages, with blooming Water Lilies, purple Pitcher Plants, and rare Oconee Bells scattered …
A Jewel of a Bird
The male Indigo Bunting, pictured above, is a radiant hue that is well-described as sapphire blue. They are stunning sights in the summer forest The Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) breeding range covers the eastern half of the continental U.S. from which they migrate due south to winter in Florida and Central America. They fly at night when migrating, using the …
Wading Boots & Waders
The question is often asked, “Do you always need waders to fish?” No, you don’t. During the summer months, the air and water is significantly warmer, and you can get away with quick dry pants or shorts, as long as you have a felt-soled boot or sandal to wear. The rivers in Western North Carolina are heavily canopied. That’s a …
Helenium Dautumnale
Helenium sort of sashays into your landscape late summer and prances around throughout September. She may not be a showstopper, but she certainly has perfect timing as most of the other flowers are fading out of the spotlight. With a name like Helenium, she sort of demands respect, right? I bet she never knew others would give her the derogatory, …
A Tree, a Trail, and a Tale
A little known trail, an unnamed waterfall, and the third tallest tree in North Carolina. The Plateau is chocked full of amazing day hikes for all seasons, but one that doesn’t usually make the guidebooks is The Padgett Poplar Tree Trail, which leads to the third largest tree in the state. The trail is named after James “Bob” Padgett, who bribed …
Making a Wish
One of the newest businesses to join the upscale retail district in Highlands is South Florida-based Wish & Shoes, which opened its fifth store here in May. This unique boutique offers shoppers the utmost in personal service, at a level usually reserved for Rodeo Drive and 5th Avenue. Owners Rachel Gottfried and Peter Mastrorio said they visited several towns and …
