Summer Flower Foray

The WNC Wildseed Library is a Mainspring volunteer program that seeks to connect people to the natural heritage of the Southern Blue Ridge by providing native seeds and information on how to grow them. We place an emphasis on collecting these seeds from wild plants growing locally, which means we need to head out into the woods to find the plants! Join us for a foray into a mid-elevation field near Bryson City to discover the beautiful flowers that may be growing wild there. This is a great opportunity to practice or start to develop your plant identification skills; we will bring identification resources and walk through the identification process together. We hope to find garden-suitable species with high wildlife value like Wreath Goldenrod (Solidago caesia), Rough-Leafed Goldenrod (Solidago patula), Wrinkle-Leafed Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa), Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum), and more.

We will meet off Conoleys Creek Forest Service Road in Big Laurel just before 9:00am on Wednesday, August 6th. See the map below for exact location. Please note that to access this location, participants will need to forge a small creek. Water is generally less than 2 feet deep, and a passenger car with moderate clearance such as a Subaru can handle this crossing with no issues. We may be wandering along the Forest Service road, primitive trails, or bushwhacking during this volunteer event.

This volunteer opportunity is free and open to the public. Registration is not required to attend, but is suggested so you receive communications around weather-related delays or other scheduling considerations. We suggest bringing water, sun protection, bug protection, and any personal naturalist tools you may want such as field guides, notebooks, hand lenses, etc. We also suggest wearing sturdy, closed-toed shoes plus long sleeves and pants. Read more about the WNC Wildseed Library program here, including how to join our volunteer list. 

MEET YOUR TEACHER

As Mainspring’s Conservation Outreach Director, Skye Cahoon inspires people to connect with their local landscape and value the conservation efforts that protect it. As a kid, she could often be found climbing trees, hunting for salamanders, or chasing fish at the swimming hole. Her passion for nature grew with her, and in 2020 she earned her Zoology B.S. from the University of Maine. Integrating her experience in wildlife research with her excitement about the natural world, Skye now strives to make science fun and accessible. She leads a variety of educational programs here at Mainspring, and enjoys continuing to learn about the diverse and fascinating creatures that call the Southern Appalachians home.