Years ago, I learned from my pruner in Atlanta that there is such a thing as microclimates and that at that time, I had one in my very own backyard.

Fast forward to today and I am convinced I am living in one right now. When it rains down the hill from me, no rain at my place. Snow all around me? Nothing here. I find it fascinating but it also makes so much sense, especially living here in the mountains.

The mountain weather and microclimates create unique challenges as well as opportunities for gardeners. Our high elevations and varying terrain can significantly affect plant growth. I hope you find this as interesting as I did, I am calling it:

Microclimates 101

A microclimate is a localized climate that differs from the general area around it, often caused by topography, elevation, and other environmental factors. The diversity of microclimates in WNC means that the same mountain can have vastly different growing conditions on different sides. Here is how these can vary:

South-facing Slopes: These slopes receive more direct sunlight throughout the day, which leads to warmer temperatures. The extra sun can extend the growing season and help plants thrive that might not survive in cooler, shadier areas. Plants that prefer full sun – tomatoes, peppers, and herbs – can do well here.

North-facing Slopes: These areas receive less sunlight and often stay cooler and wetter. North-facing gardens may have a longer winter season, but they can be ideal for plants that prefer cooler conditions, such as leafy greens (spinach, lettuce), root vegetables (carrots, beets), and some types of ferns or moss.

Valleys and Lowlands: Cold air can settle in valleys, creating frost pockets even when surrounding areas are warmer. These areas tend to be more sheltered from the wind, but they can also be prone to late spring frosts or early autumn freezes. Gardeners in these areas often must wait longer to plant or use from

Ridges and Mountain Tops: High ridges and mountaintops are exposed to harsher winds and cooler temperatures. The growing season here may be much shorter, and gardeners may have to be strategic with plant selection. However, the open air and abundant sunlight can benefit certain crops that need a lot of light, like some berry varieties.

So, there you have it! Sometimes it is not about how good your green thumb is but choosing the right plant for the right microclimate.

Happy Gardening!

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Our long-awaited Wayfinding project is almost complete. After years of planning (and a few covid-related delays), we’re finally installing a brand-new system of trail signs that will help you navigate the station like a pro.

Signs, Etc., the team behind the magic, has finished manufacturing the signs, and are currently building the stone bases for keymarkers around the Station.

This project is no small feat – it includes seven vehicular directional signs, 42 trail markers, 14 confidence markers for those longer trails, two informational kiosks, and two major entrance signs for the Highlands Nature Center and the HBS facilities. Funding for this project was provided through a North Carolina Science Museum Grant, as well as contributions from the Highlands Biological Foundation and HBS/Western Carolina University.

The signs themselves are pretty impressive—thermally modified hardwoods, brushed aluminum, and local stone bases make them both durable and beautiful. They’ll also correspond with our updated trail map, helping you find your way through the 1.5 miles of trails (even though it might feel like more with some of the out-and-back paths!).

Spring Programming at the Nature Center

Starting April 3, the Highlands Nature Center will be back in action with plenty of activities to get you excited about the season. We’ll be open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., offering a variety of educational programs, including weekly bird walks to catch the spring migration, and a monthly ecoEXPLORE program. Plus, our new Nature Center Drawing Club might make a comeback in April!

Best of all? Admission to the Nature Center is completely free, and the Highlands Botanical Garden and trails are open from dawn to dusk. So, come on out, enjoy the fresh air, and discover the natural beauty of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau this spring!

The post Time to Explore appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

Led by a local teenage guide, in March 1875 Samuel Kelsey and Clinton Hutchinson climbed the Cherokee trail from Franklin, negotiated the Cullasaja River and Dry Falls, and eventually made their way to the top of Satulah Mountain from where they visually surveyed the wilderness that would become the town of Highlands. The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust was founded less than a decade later as the Highlands Improvement Society, dedicated to beautifying the new town.

Kelsey and Hutchinson purchased 840 acres for $2 an acre, but what they got was essentially untamed wilderness; with the exception of a few acres of abandoned apple trees, the Plateau was covered in rhododendron thickets and primeval forests. Future roads were flagged but not cleared; an early visiting journalist describes following Kelsey through the clutch of rhododendrons while the developer pointed out “Main Street” and church sites.

As the town slowly emerged from the forest, the Highlands Improvement Society built planters and installed benches, even then focused on preserving the natural bounty that was already beginning to lure future Highlands citizens from around the country.

From its inception Highlands was promoted as a healthy destination. An 1876 brochure declared that there is “no better place in the world for health, comfort and enjoyment” and in 1887 it was claimed to be “the greatest health and pleasure resort in the United States.”

In 1909, prompted by fears of a rumored hotel, the Highlands Improvement Society led the effort to raise $500 from local citizens to purchase and protect the summit of Satulah Mountain. Five years later Ravenel Park, the location of Sunset and Sunrise Rocks, was conserved as a result of a gift from the Ravenel family.

The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is proud of its long history of protecting and conserving the natural attributes that make Highlands, Cashiers, and the surrounding area so special.

As part of Highlands’ sesquicentennial celebration HCLT will be providing the public 150 native tree saplings, including oak, birch, and even a few American Chestnuts cultivated from “survivor” trees on HCLT properties.  Please follow HCLT on Facebook and Instagram or check out hcltnc.org throughout the year for more details on our native tree giveaways.

The post No Better Place In the World appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

Spring is in the air, and for any outdoor enthusiast that is some exciting stuff! For most fly anglers, spring is a magical time of year that just cannot be matched.

Here in Western North Carolina, we are very fortunate to be able to fly fish all year long. Winters can be a little chilly, and summer can get a little hot (on the fish), but spring and fall are just right. Fall would be the runner-up on my favorite times to fish here at home, but in my opinion, the best time to fly fish here is springtime (March through mid-June).

As the days begin to get longer and warmer, a metamorphosis happens in both the waters and the woods. About the time that leaves begin to bud, and birds begin to lay on their nests above the water, there are also things happening below the surface that are more important to the fly angler.

Aquatic insects live most of their lifespan below water, but when it comes time for them to reproduce, they need to do that above water. This is what’s referred to as a “hatch.”

These bugs transform themselves from things that crawl and swim around on the riverbed into flying insects. When this happens, they leave the protection of the rocks that they live in, and swim freely in the water column up to the surface. The dinner bell rings, and the feast of all feasts happens for the trout!

It’s a spectacle to behold. Trout can be seen feeding voraciously below as well as on the surface of the water.

A sight like this can get an angler so excited it’s hard to tie a fly on to the tippet. It looks as if you could throw any fly in the box on the water and a trout would gobble it up. That’s not the case though – this is a chess match between the angler and the fish. In order to get the trout interested in eating the angler’s fly, it must look and act like the bugs they are actively feeding on.

Size, shape, and color are all things to consider when picking the right fly from your selection. Once you have that dialed in, then you must make the fly act like the other bugs on the water.

Are they floating lifelessly like a mayfly will, or are they skittering like a caddis? These interactions with mother nature are not uncommon on the trout streams around here in spring, which makes it my personal favorite time to fly fish.

You should get out and experience it!

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American Crow by William McReynolds

Both birds are found on our Plateau but if you see a large black bird on the wing or perching on a branch, it is likely to be an American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos). Crows are abundant in our area where some are year-rounders and others migrate from northern climes for the winter. Ravens (Corvus corax) are uncommon but they are here to be seen all year.

Crows are found across the lower 48 but some find their summer breeding grounds in Canada. Ravens, strong and hearty birds, are year-rounders in our Western states and across Canada, including northern Canada and Alaska. Their range includes our part of the Appalachians but very little of the Central and Southeastern U.S. where Crows predominate.

The differences between Crows and Ravens are as a catechism to experienced birders. The Raven is larger – having a wingspan reaching 53 inches on a bird weighing, perhaps, 41 ounces—and has a wedge-shaped tail, large bill and shaggy neck feathers. Crows are more streamlined, weighing up to 21 ounces with a wingspan of 20 inches. The difference in size is not always easy to detect in the field. Look for the large bill and shaggy head and neck of the Raven.

The calls and flight patterns are also different. Ravens soar effortlessly while Crows flap their wings vigorously in flight.

The familiar Crow call is a loud and distinct CaW, CaW while the Raven emits a variety of sounds ranging from deep, throaty croaks to high, bell-like notes: kraaah or brrronk and prruk. Consult your free Merlin app. Raven imitate sounds and, yes, someone has taught a captive Raven to say “Nevermore.”

Common Raven by Ed Boos

Both Raven and Crow are highly social but only Crows gather in large flocks called a “murder” of many thousands after breeding season.

If a treetop Crow sees you while taking you morning walk, you can hear it call out to all the other Crows in the area. Listen closely to hear the signal for “there’s a person down here.”

These birds have entered the English language in interesting ways. As a verb, to raven means to eat greedily or prowl for food, to devour, plunder or despoil. To crow is to brag or exult, to talk with self-satisfaction. These meanings seem to bespeak an earlier time when we lived closer to nature.

Happy spring birding from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. Our birds here on the Highlands Plateau are, indeed, something to crow about. We must not raven or despoil their natural habitat.

The mission of the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society is to provide opportunities to enjoy and learn about birds and other wildlife and to promote conservation and restoration of the habitats that support them. HPAS is a 501 (c)(3) organization, a Chapter of the National Audubon Society. Visit highlandsaudubonsociety.org for information on membership and all activities.

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Due to a primary diet of fish, they’re typically found around large bodies of water with old-growth forests nearby for nesting. A large bird, adult eagles typically weigh 10-15 pounds, boast wingspans between 5-7 feet, and build the largest nest of any bird in North America; after annually adding new material to reinforce the nest, it can eventually be as large as 13 feet deep, eight feet across, and weigh more than one metric ton! With an average lifespan of 20 years, each eagle pair typically mates for life and reuses the same nest over many years.

Because of the Bald Eagle’s huge size and impressive nests, they rely on old-growth forests and wetland ecosystems during their breeding season. Their preferred trees are over 66 feet tall with an open structure and large branches for perching, roosting, and nesting. Nesting pairs seek areas with minimal human disturbance. Female eagles produce between 1-3 eggs per year, and parents take turns incubating their eggs and hunting for food or nesting materials.

During the mid-20th century, Bald Eagle populations were severely affected by a variety of human-caused environmental impacts such as loss of suitable habitat due to logging, legal and illegal hunting, pollutants such as DDT, and lead shotgun pellets from scavenged carcasses. By the 1950s there were only 412 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states.

The Bald Eagle was initially protected in 1918 under the Migratory Bird Treaty, later gained greater protection through the 1940 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and was declared an endangered species in 1967. Environmental awareness, including from publications such as Silent Spring, helped inform the public about the impact of human pollutants in natural systems. As a growing initiative of conservation organizations focused on preserving their habitat, Bald Eagle populations rebounded. In 1995, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reclassified the species from “endangered” to “threatened” and in 2007 it was de-listed entirely. Today, there are more than 71,400 nesting pairs of Bald Eagles across the lower 48 states.

The Bald Eagle teetered on the brink of extinction but made a miraculous comeback due to the efforts of groups of people dedicated to preserving these magnificent animals and their habitats. The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is proud to contribute to the conservation of our natural resources.

The post Where Eagles Fly appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

This becomes even more acute during the winter, when it’s too easy to say that the weather is “uncomfortable” or iffy.

I don’t know if there’s quantifiable data to support this contention, but I swear that I can detect my IQ slowly diminishing as my screen time increases. There’s a distinct dulling of the senses and a nagging supposition that it’s not supposed to be this way.

Normally, I’d escape by way of undertaking a hike of the sort Deena C. Bouknight so masterfully describes in these pages. Or stepping out and resolving to watch and listen for whatever feathered neighbor has been spotlighted by our William McReynolds.

But last Sunday, I lacked the time to indulge in any of these escapes.

I’d been sitting at my desk for hours, working on the pages that you’re enjoying at this moment (right?) and I’d grown, let’s be diplomatic here, ripe.

And those hectic days leading up to publication don’t allow time for a hike into the deep woods or an inspiring vista.

But it turned out that an easy solution was right in front of me, or one-eighth of a mile in front of me.

Tricia decided that we’d pay a visit to the Horst Winkler Sculpture Trail. That’s a little green jewel that wanders through The Bascom’s campus and it’s packed with wonderments both subtle and startling.

And, since it unwinds beneath a cool canopy of branches and shadows a babbling tributary of Mill Creek, the effect is one of being miles and years from downtown Highlands.

The sculptures are arrayed across the trail and they never cease to surprise or beguile. And since there are outsized Seussian benches scattered about, you’re constantly invited to sit and contemplate.

We emerged from the trail 20 minutes later and 20 years younger. I promise there’s magic here.

And if you’re reading this in Southern Jackson County, you owe it to yourself to visit the Village Green’s Boardwalk, which has sprung into new, vivid life.

The Village Green is the crown jewel of the Cashiers area, a space enjoyed by hundreds of people a week, and one of its most cherished and utilized features is the raised boardwalk that winds its way through the wetlands at the center of the park.

This boardwalk joins the north and south sides of The Village Green and is enjoyed by walkers, young explorers, nature lovers, wildlife observers, bird watchers, and those who are simply looking for a quiet respite from the daily grind.  It is a peaceful oasis in an often-bustling world.

The boardwalk winds through wetlands and streams that flow into the headwaters of both the Chattooga and Horse Pasture Rivers and is home to a protected brook trout stream. These waters form a unique ecosystem that is soon to be designated as a mountain bog.  These same waters whose levels rise and fall are also the reason that the boardwalk had fallen into a state of disrepair over the years.

The boardwalk has been entirely restored with a much-improved design that will make the area safe and accessible for all to enjoy. The new boardwalk decking is raised above ground level to increase the longevity of the structure.  Its width increased to eight feet, allowing for safer pedestrian passing and allowing those who are mobility challenged or require a wheelchair to enjoy the wetlands.  Additional safety features are a 42-inch high handrail that’s backed by mesh.

In addition to the safety features, there are additional spaces to sit and relax.  Educational kiosks are featured throughout, highlighting the diverse wildlife and native plants of the area, as well as other area nonprofits whose mission is to protect and preserve our natural areas.

Also there’s an additional 800-linear feet of boardwalk near the playground.

Regardless of which trail you choose to experience, your mental and physical well-being will be fortified as we embrace this new season.

The post Step Out and Into Magic appeared first on Laurel Magazine.

Debby Hall and Gracie

As some of you may know, my sweet canine companion Gracie tore her CCL this past holiday season. If you are unfamiliar, and I hope you are, this is the equivalent of an ACL in a human. A very painful injury that can cause pain, instability, and lameness in the affected leg. In simple terms, it is a dreaded injury for any active pup.

Why am I writing about this, you ask? I want to share this as a reminder of how vulnerable we are to injury as we garden to our heart’s content. Not much contentment when you are nursing an injury, whether it’s minor or one that requires surgery.

As one of the “diggers” for the Mountain Garden Club, I can attest to how hard it is on your body to hang off the side of a mountain going for the coveted plant to dig, pot, and then sell at our Memorial Day sale!

Just like Gracie who most likely tore her CCL with a sudden movement, human gardeners can also suffer unexpected injuries. Gardening can sometimes involve heavy lifting, bending, or repetitive motions, all of which can strain muscles, ligaments, or joints. Whether you’re digging, lifting, or reaching for tools, it’s easy to make a sudden wrong move that can lead to injury. And if anyone under 30 is reading this, it can happen to you, too!

Lesson 1: Always warm up before starting heavy work and take breaks. Stretching and easing into our gardening tasks can reduce strain and prevent overexertion. Side note: I’ll share the short version of my eagerness to play tennis again after a pause from my college days. No warm up and let’s end it with; I was on crutches for 6 weeks. Ouch!

Since I was not outside when Gracie was playing with her friend, I can only assume she injured her knee due to a wrong move or a twist of the leg. In gardening, improper posture or technique (like bending at the waist instead of the knees) can result in back, knee, or joint injuries.

Lesson 2: Focus on body mechanics. Kneel instead of bending, use your legs for lifting heavy objects, and avoid twisting your body when moving heavy plants or objects. Use tools that reduce strain on your joints and muscles.

Just as my dog needs time to rest and recover from her injury, humans need to be mindful of overworking themselves in the garden, especially after periods of activity during the winter months. Pushing through pain or fatigue can lead to more serious injury.

Lesson 3: Pace yourself, and if you feel any strain or discomfort while gardening, take a break. Rest and allow your body to recover. If you do experience pain, don’t ignore it. Seek help or adjust your approach to gardening.

As we enjoy the winter months this may be a good time to explore simple exercises that will target strength, balance, and flexibility. Hopefully this may serve as an inspiration to get moving during these more sedentary months. We all know how rigorous gardening can be once warm weather hits!

Lesson 4: Incorporate stretching and strengthening exercises into your routine to build flexibility and strength in the muscles you use while gardening. This can include exercises for the back, shoulders, wrists, and legs to reduce the likelihood of strains or sprains.

While I don’t know exactly how my sweet girl got injured, I do know that on occasion I have tripped or slipped while gardening. Tools, rocks, or uneven ground can lead to falls or twists that can cause injuries.

Lesson 5: Keep your garden clear of obstacles, especially when it’s wet or muddy. Using non-slip shoes with good traction is a good first step. If your garden has uneven terrain, consider leveling those areas or add a pathway of pebbles to reduce trip hazards.

Gracie just turned nine, so she would be what I consider middle aged in human terms. While dogs as young as three have torn their CCL, it seems middle age to older dogs are the more common victims of this injury. What does that mean for us?

Lesson 6: Know your limitations. If you are gardening with a pre-existing condition (like arthritis), be aware of how your body feels during gardening tasks. Consider using raised beds, kneeling pads, or tools designed to be easy to use. Don’t slug it out. Those who know me hear me say this quite often; Work Smarter, Not Harder!

I hope by connecting Gracie’s injury to practices we can adopt in our own gardening habits, it serves as a reminder that preventing injury many times comes down to preparation, proper techniques, pacing, and strength. It’s important to take proactive steps to protect our bodies to ensure a long, enjoyable gardening season.

Writing this has certainly served as a reminder that I need to take my own advice. I’ll be doing a tune up this winter so I’ll be ready when we “diggers” hit the slopes!

Gracie and I wish you a happy winter season of rest and recuperation, however that looks for you.

Happy Gardening!

(with encouragement from Gracie)

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Slate-colored Junco

What role might feeding songbirds at backyard feeders contribute to transmission of avian influenza between songbirds, and what risk might this present to humans?

Importantly, most of the thousands of documented cases of avian H5N1 influenza are currently occurring in large bird species that congregate under conditions that favor influenza transmission; concentrated flocks of waterfowl and commercial poultry activities are two examples.

Additionally, bird species that may feed upon sick or dead H5N1 influenza virus-infected birds make up the bulk of the remaining documented avian influenza cases – vultures, eagles, ravens, crows, etc.

Since 2022, in Western North Carolina, there have been 8 documented reports of H5N1 from all types of wild birds tested and none of these species included songbirds (i.e., three Canada geese, three vultures, two mallards).

There is an absence of available evidence to suggest that feeding songbirds leads to an increase in the rate of transmission of avian influenza between songbirds above the low levels that might occur in the absence of bird feeders.

The one reported human death associated with H5N1 influenza in the U.S. had unspecified “underlying medical conditions” and contracted H5N1 after exposure to both a backyard poultry flock and “wild birds. Of the remaining 66 recognized human infections with avian H5N1 in the U.S., there is no available data suggesting that any of these examples of human disease have been associated with songbird feeders.

One suggestion for enhanced influenza hygiene with bird feeders would be to consider using feeders and bird baths that are readily cleaned with warm soapy water and that will dry out quickly after a good clean water rinse. Another goal might be to put out smaller amounts of bird feed at a time and clean feeders and bird baths often.

Human activities associated with ducks and chickens are recognized risk factors for the occasional human acquisition of the currently circulating H5N1 avian influenza. Handling dead or dying birds without disposable gloves is discouraged. Current vaccines for human seasonal influenza do not provide robust protection against human infection with avian H5N1 viruses.

By Russ Regnery, Ph.D.

Dr. Regnery is a microbiologist and member of the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. He is retired from a research career with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

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But what if by taking a stroll, you could also expand your knowledge? Many people may not be aware that Highlands offers just such an experience.

The Highlands Heritage Walking Trail takes individuals on sort of a walk-back-in-time, self-guided tour focusing on the places that have factored into this burgeoning town since it was founded in the latter 1800s.

The “trail,” which is actually a listing of historical buildings and sites within Highlands’ business district – essentially the areas surrounding Main and 4th streets – was compiled by Ran Shaffner, the archivist for the Highlands Historical Society. However, the project was sponsored by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Highlands, and the Highlands Historical Society.

To knock out the Highlands Heritage Walking Trail, either in one fell swoop or in chunks, access the website on a smartphone, blueridgeheritage.com/itineraries/highlands-heritage-trail/, and learn from the list where each stop is located, the site’s origins, and what is there currently. Also on this website is a map with some of the Heritage Walking Trail sites pinned.

Put on those walking shoes and plan to see and learn about such sites as:

The Partridge Rice Home, built in 1883, which is now the location of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce at 108 Main Street. The Partridge family’s flour and corn mill was situated at the back of their property on Mill Creek. For almost two decades people throughout the town depended on the mill for their grain. The reason the history of the house shares two names is because after the Partridge family lived there, the house was the home of Luke Rice, a butcher, who resided in the home from 1909-68.

The Rice-Thompson Building was built in 1928 and housed Irvin Rice’s Meat Market and Grocery, with his brother Luke running the meat market in the back. Florence Thompson had her tea room here in the early 1930s, and Lilly Pierson ran her hat and dress shop, followed by Sara Gilder’s grocery, Bert and Harold Rideout’s Satulah Café and Drug Store and Dee McCollum’s Paintin’ Place. Wit’s End has sold ladies’ and children’s clothing here since 1940.

The first school, built in 1878, once stood where Town Hall now stands at 210 South 4th Street. The original Highlands School was constructed of white pine planks and children were taught there for 40 years. Saved was the school bell, which continues to ring in the Millennium Clock Tower.

The House-Trapier-Wright (Prince) House, constructed in 1877, is the oldest existing house in Highlands and has housed the Highlands Historical Society since 2000. It was built by Arthur House, who operated a sawmill. The frame dwelling with a multi-gable roof was then occupied by Frank Wright in 1913 and remained in the family as the Prince house when Frank’s sister, Lizzie, married a man whose last name was Prince.

The Highlands House-Highlands Inn, built in 1880 by Joseph Halleck, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Located at 420 Main Street, it operates as a 31-room inn and offers a unique afternoon tea service – perfect for a respite after walking around town.

Dozens more places exist on this unique Highlands Heritage Walking Trail experience, which can be accomplished most seasons of the year. Impress friends and family and feel more connected with the community and history of Highlands by simply doing a walk-about town.

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