Elk in Cataloochee by a lone tree in the field

This weekend I went on a trip to the Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  I joined the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for this trip.  NC Museum of Natural Sciences

I was fascinated by the elk in this grass field with the lone tree standing as a sentinel on this cool, fall foggy morning.  Most of the elk were eating the grass or resting; however, the bull elks went at it antler to antler.  The sounds, the smells and what we witnessed in this male elk ritual, created a sense of awe in all of us as we stood spell bound in silence.   To see nature in all it's majesty instilled a feeling of reverence in our group that is still with me.  I have such a feeling of gratitude and respect for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park for preserving the land and bringing back the elk to this habitat for us any others to be witness to a day in the life of such a magnificent species.

You can read more about the elk in Cataloochee at Smoky Mountain National Park Elk.

Cataloochee valley in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Elk mating behavior in Cataloochee Valley 

Apples are one amazing fall treat from nature!

North Georgia Apples in October

I have been eating so many apples this time of year.  If you have not gone to a local apple orchard, I encourage you to do so soon if you live near one.  I visited the Mercier orchard this year in Blue Ridge, Georgia.  Each year I visit a different orchard.  Here is the website for the Mercier orchard.

Mercier Orchard

Here is link with some orchards that are near me.

Apple orchards near Asheville

Enjoy!  Crunch!!!!

Pumpkins everywhere I look...

I like to envision the people I know and meet in a unique way.  I liken my friends and family and coworkers, well everyone I know actually, as a vegetable, a fruit, or a tree...I liken my own self as a pumpkin in the fall.  Yep, I am a pumpkin type of human.  This time of year is such fun for me.  I love to look at pumpkins.  I decided to share my pumpkin findings with you, here on my blog.  Enjoy your fall!  Get outside, take your shoes off, and feel the grass under your feet.

Fall leaf changes in North Carolina

Acer saccharum, Sugar Maple

Cornus florida, Flowering Dogwood

Carya Glabra, Pignut Hickory

Fall color is in North Carolina and is showing in the Hickories, the Dogwoods, and the Maples.  On the Blue Ridge Parkway the reds of the Black gum, the Red maples, and the Sourwoods are coloring the mountains.  Get outside and enjoy!!!

The Trees of the Botanical Gardens at Asheville - A GPS Guide

The Trees of the Botanical Gardens at Asheville - A GPS Guide 

This is my Community Action Partnership project that I have have completed with the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program.  You can click on the above link to access my booklet entitled, The Trees of the Botanical Gardens at Asheville.

This booklet (to quote from the booklet itself):

"contains a list of 32 Native trees* of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.  All 32 of these trees live at the Botanical Gardens at Asheville, located at 151 W.T. Weaver Boulevard in Asheville, North Carolina.  These 32 species of trees are members of 12 different families of trees.

This booklet has been written as a guide to challenge you to find all the trees listed;  and then, to get to know the trees by observing them.  You can get to know the trees by visiting the Botanical Gardens in every season to observe the many changes that the trees go through."

You will be able to locate the tree using GPS coordinates.  A GPS coordinate is given for each species as well as a leaf drawing.

Tree 31 is Tilia americana, Basswood.

GPS Coordinates are:

N 35° 36.777

W 082° 33.976

The Trees of the Botanical Gardens at Asheville - A GPS Guide

You can read more about the NC Environmental Education Certification Program by visiting
http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/certification--about-the-program.html

If you are in the Asheville area take time to visit the Botanical Gardens at Asheville.  You can print out my booklet and challenge yourself to locate all 32 tree species.

Have fun and enjoy learning about the trees,

Rebecca

Nature/Fitness Walks

Walking in nature

Tuesday, July 3rd join me for a walk starting at 9am.

I am walking about 3 miles an hour.  We will walk for about 75-90 minutes and then get out our journals and record what we saw.  Meet at 9am at Weaver Park on Murdock Ave. in Asheville.

Today, I saw:

Queen Anne's Lace
echinacea
Butterfly bush
Lavender
Chickory
Mullein
Coreopsis
Dandelion
Mountain Mint
Bee Balm


Beautiful day.  I walked with Seymour today in West Asheville.

A Year With the Trees Walks Begin Now. Come and join me in exercise and observation.

The Mountain Ash Tree on the Blue Ridge Parkway in June.  

A Year With the Trees Walks Beginning Soon.  
Come and join me in exercise and nature observation.

We will walk two to three miles each way beginning at a public park.  At the end of the walks, you can join me in recording in your own journals, what we observed on the walk.  I will post our observations each day on this blog.  You can walk one mile and return if you are short on time or energy.  Or, you can walk the entire four to six miles.  You can point out the species as we go and I will as well.  At the end of the walk, we will look up the species in the books that I bring and make our observations in our journals.  So, bring your journal, some water, good walking shoes, a hat, and lets go get some exercise in nature.

I am starting this nature walk for three reasons:

One, as a way to complete the requirements for my teaching experiences for my North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program.

Two, as a way to get in and stay fit while enjoying the out of doors.

Three, as a way to encourage others to be observant and learn all we can about nature.  For by knowing about other life, we will care more about protecting other life on our earth.

So come on out and join me for these nature walks.  You will get your exercise and learn more about nature every day.  You can find yourself learning the names of many Southern Appalachian trees,  flowers, butterflies, moths, and herbs.

The walks are scheduled for starting at Weaver Park in Asheville, North Carolina at 200 Murdock Ave.  There is no cost for this series of walk while I am completing my teaching experiences; just bring your energy and desire to learn more about nature.

July 3, Tuesday at 9 am
July 5, Thursday at 9am
July 7, Saturday at 9am
July 9, Monday at 9am
July 11, Wed. at 9am
July 13, Friday at 9am

Come join me as we walk about and observe nature in all her beauty!

A Summer Field of Daisys

Rebecca