Leslie Manning is now Executive Director of the Highlands Biological Foundation, bringing long experience in nonprofit leadership and a history of service to HBF.

Anna Gage Norton’s On Nochaway blends photography, memory, and ecology to explore how one family’s land reveals both personal history and the long‑lived story of the longleaf pine.

This space has described how, in 1909, the predecessor organization to the Highlands‑Cashiers Land Trust saved the summit of Satulah Mountain from development (November 2025). But there’s more to the story — once conserved, the mountain continued to play an important role in protecting the natural resources of our area.

September brings peak raptor and songbird migration to the Highlands–Cashiers Plateau, highlighted by Hawk Migration Week from September 12–20, when Broad‑winged Hawks, warblers, and other species move through the region.

A legendary waterfall and a historic railroad tunnel sit just off Highway 28, offering quick access to Issaqueena Falls and the first quarter mile of Stumphouse Tunnel.

The Highlands Biological Station hosts its biennial Native Plant Celebration on September 11–12, featuring free Friday activities, a Saturday symposium, and a fundraiser supporting the Highlands Botanical Gardens.

These ground‑nesting bees power North Carolina’s landscape, and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission explains how to stay calm, safe, and neighborly during their short time above ground.

Mountaintop Rotary hosts its 3rd Annual Highlands Pickleball on the Plateau tournament September 25–27, raising funds for youth programs through a weekend of spirited play, community support, and family‑friendly fun.

A young Highlands naturalist reminds his family – and his viewers – how much wonder returns when you slow down, pay attention, and stay curious.