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A Riot of Color
Written By: Sonya Carpenter - Highlands Biological Foundation | Issue: 2016/04 - April | Photograph By: Clay Bolt
Each spring a remarkable event occurs in the deciduous woodlands of the Highlands Plateau and Cashiers Valley, the emergence of the spring wildflowers.
As the first warm rays of sunlight touch the forest floor, thousands of plants awaken from their winter slumber to present an unmatched seasonal exhibit of beauty. They decorate the forest floor with a riot of color and fragrance advertising their beauty to pollinators and humans alike. Nowhere else in the natural world is this display so lavish as in the southern Appalachians. Known as ephemerals, due to their short season of productive growth, many of these plants will disappear back into dormancy, not to be seen again until next year’s spring emergence. Don’t miss your opportunity to witness this fleeting display of beauty.
To mark the occasion, the Highlands Biological Foundation will host Wildflower Whimsy on May 6 and 7 at the Highlands Biological Station. This two-day event is a celebration of spring ephemerals and will feature wildflower walks, a native plant auction, a reception with a cocktail buffet, and special guest speaker Alan Weakley, Director and Curator of the UNC Herbarium at UNC Chapel Hill.
On Friday, May 6, join us for guided tours of the Highlands Botanical Garden, a repository of over 450 species of native pants. At 5:30 P.M. Dr. Alan Weakley will present “Plant Genealogy: the Origins of our Southern Blue Ridge Flora” at the Highlands Nature Center. Then stay for a native plant auction and a lively reception. On Saturday, May 7 you will have the opportunity to participate in one of four special guided wildflower pilgrimages.
All proceeds from Wildflower Whimsy benefit the Highlands Biological Foundation, whose mission is to foster research and education focused on the rich natural heritage of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Tickets include a lecture, plant auctions, live music, and wine reception on Friday, and a guided wildflower walk on Saturday. The registration fee is $75 for members of the Highlands Biological Foundation and $100 for non-members. For more information, visit highlandsbiological.org/wildflower-whimsy/ or call (828) 526-2221.
