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Native Alternatives to Invasives
The Coalition for Non-native Invasive Plant Management is offering a free seminar for property owners on Friday, July 29, from 9:00 A.M. until noon at the Community Building next to the ball park in Highlands. The organizations sponsoring the seminar include the Town of Highlands, Highlands Biological Station, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, Highlands Plateau Audubon Society, Highlands Plateau Greenway, and the …
Astilbe Leads Your Plant Parade
If your garden were a marching band, astilbe would be the drum major, not the tallest one in the group, but proudly wearing their shakos with the ornamental, feathery plume to announce their existence. Their deep green and glossy fernlike leaves are pretty showy too, and both leaf stems and plumes can be used in cut flower arrangements. The plume …
A High-Flying Job
Outdoor activities and a perfect summer climate bring thousands of visitors to our area. The seasonal impact on employment puts a strain on employers and employees; but with more and more visitors recognizing the benefits of the “off season,” this is becoming less of a problem. One of the area’s most popular attractions, Highlands Aerial Park, has found the balance …
Brown Thrasher
This large songbird is common on the plateau in the summer and can be seen using its long bill to toss leaves while feeding undercover on insects. It is rufous above, streaked below and has a piercing yellow eye. The song is a variety of rich musical notes repeated two or three times with pauses between sets.
Ladybugs
Ladybugs have been introduced from Asia by organic gardeners to be a biological control measure against aphids, mealy bugs, mites and other soft-bodied insects. In their native home, large numbers of lady bugs overwinter in mountains and craggy outcrops. Because North Carolina does not have the granite mountain features that the beetles seek to pass the winter, they are attracted …
Packrats, Nature’s Up-cyclers
On a recent green salamander expedition with North Carolina Wildlife Biologist Lori Williams, we uncovered a pack rat nest in a rocky outcropping. Lori admitted a fondness for packrats, a.k.a. wood rats. They’re docile little mountain critters that live in nests lined with leaves, grasses, twigs, and collected treasure and loot. “I was working with another biologist when we found a …
Booking the Old Course
As the owner of Toms Golf Tours, I’ve been booking the Old Course for groups for almost 20 years. No doubt it’s not easy to get on a course that has thousands of golfers trying every year, but there are three different ways. It is not as difficult as you may think. The Ballot (Lottery) There’s no guarantee with this …
An Avian Gem
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is an avian gem of the forest and field. The bright green crown and back as well as the male’s ruby red throat are iridescent, changing colors with changing light and movement. Its movement is unique in the avian world. With wingbeats of over 50 per second, it can reach dizzying speeds, start and stop …
Grits, Gravy & Shrimp
Mary Adair Leslie, Executive Director of the Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center, is the consummate hostess. Her dinner parties are glorious. It takes planning, vision, and most importantly, a great love of people. She grew up in Oklahoma where she majored in ballet and her creative talents take many forms. Cooking is just one way Mary Adair expresses herself. …
A Bang-Up Breakfast
As we celebrate our freedom on Independence Day, let’s remember that in this great nation everyone deserves to be free… free from worry about a very basic right, food. That’s why Fishes and Loaves invites one and all to their Big Ol’ Country Breakfast. Not only will attendees have the best breakfast ever, their donations will help the hungry get …
Getting Carry’d Away
Holly Roberts began her cooking career right out of college. After living in Boston, Washington DC, and Atlanta, she moved to Highlands in 1996 with her two young sons, helping to open the Rosewood Market with Donna Woods and Marty Rosenfield,the former owners of Lakeside Restaurant. In 2000, Holly went out on her own as a private chef, calling her business …
Summer’s Juicy Fruity Salad
Seasonal fruit makes salads more refreshing and full of life, as the salads explode in flavor and in color. The juicy, succulent fruit in this salad recipe makes you forget the veggies that are also in there. Considering the fact that this fruity salad is rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, multiple vitamins and folic acid, it’s a great, quick dish …
