Photo by Camilla Calnan By Andrew Dallas-Marconi Beginning Saturday, May 4, the North Carolina Arboretum will celebrate spring’s return with the immersive floral exhibit Bloom with a View designed by Ibo Gülsen, owner of the Dutch company IGMPR. Attendance at the inaugural event at the Arboretum last year exceeded expectations. “While spring is a glorious time to visit the Arboretum and witness the emergence of colorful flowers both in our gardens and growing wild,” says Arboretum marketing and public relations manager Brian Postelle, “Bloom with a View takes the experience to an entirely di ..read more

All-women SAWS field crew on Tusquitee Bald. Photo by Kristy Ealdwine By Emma Castleberry Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS) was founded in 2010 to address the need for stewardship across the southeast. Wilderness maintenance is a unique challenge­—the areas are remote and difficult to access, and often the use of motorized tools like chainsaws is prohibited. Sometimes local trail clubs are reluctant to support the designation of new wilderness because they don’t have the capacity to maintain it. “SAWS was born from this need for stewardship, particularly from young adults and t ..read more

Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander. Photo by Todd Pierson By Paula Musto Have you ever seen a green salamander? Probably not. These elusive creatures spend much of their time tucked into moist rock crevices or scavenging for insects high in the lofty realms of a forest canopy. But this ancient species of amphibians could be the poster child for wildlife conservation in our region of the world. The Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander is found only in a single spot on the planet—a 14-mile stretch of heavily forested land and streams straddling Henderson and Rutherford counties. With only an est ..read more

Paul Kisielewski and Ethan Hollifield The foundation of Southern Appalachian Anglers has always been trusted guides and exceptional service. “Our guides are personable, polite, professional and encompass a wealth of knowledge for teaching young and old generations the art of fly fishing,” says founder Paul Kisielewski. “Our goal is to make you and your family’s experience a success when choosing our fly fishing guide service; from the first time you call in to schedule a trip, to the pre-trip call from the guide, to the on-the-water experience and future interactions with our company.” Paul ..read more

Cristina Reitz-Krueger, artist By Carol Howard On his way to speak at Asheville’s Allen High School for African American girls in 1949, the great Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes stayed overnight at Black Mountain College, which he described in a letter to the writer Carl Van Vechten as “just about the most amazing campus I have ever seen in my natural life – and interracial, too!” The next day, he performed selections from his jazz- and blues-inspired poetry twice at the Allen School, first for the students and then for the general public. The matinee performance for students was org ..read more

Apple Country String Band By Candace McLaughlin Mark your calendars for another Mills River Day on Saturday, May 4, at North River Farms. This free, family-friendly event is coordinated by the Town of Mills River, Henderson County Cooperative Extension, Mills River Partnership and North River Farms. Held on the first Saturday each May, Mills River Day highlights agriculture, community and natural resource management. The event hosts talent and businesses from in and around the Mills River community and features local vendors, outdoor laser tag, live music, farm tours, hands-on activities, bo ..read more

By  Casey First The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) is part of the Thrush family, and is the state bird of New York and Missouri. Along with the Cardinal, it is an iconic and popular backyard bird, and one that even the most novice birder can identify. This popularity is not surprising because the male has an unmistakably striking bright blue upper coat contrasted with a rusty throat, breast and sides with a white underbelly. The female counterpart is equally as stunning, having the same colors, just more muted. Eastern Bluebird. Stephanie Sipp, illustrator To many, the sight of Bluebi ..read more

Photo by Monica Stevenson The countdown has begun for the highly anticipated 76th running of Tryon’s Historic Block House Steeplechase, set to take place on Saturday, April 13, at Green Creek Race Course in Columbus. This annual event brings together a parade of spectators, jockeys and fast horses to celebrate the arrival of spring. Fashion reigns supreme at the race, with spectators donning extravagant hats and “go to hell” pants, a type of slacks with garish patterns. The tailgate festivities are another draw of the event, with selections of extravagant gourmet finger foods, homey snacks l ..read more

By Bellamy Crawford This spring, Organic Growers School (OGS) will host a four-part Gardening Series with Peace Gardens & Market in West Asheville. The Spring Gardening Series provides high-quality, affordable, hands-on, sustainable gardening instruction specifically for the Western North Carolina bioregion. “Since the Gardening Series was first introduced as part of OGS’ annual programs in 2014, we have tried to ensure that the series is a community-centered event, focusing not just on grower-to-grower education but the overall ways local growing enriches our lives, our neighbors and our ..read more

Table Rock Mountain view on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photo by Judith Canty Graves “Now in April comes the real beginning of the year. Now everything is new, everything is young.” ~ Gladys Taber By Judith Canty Graves April is the month when there is a noticeable change around us in our environment. After weeks of subtle changes in our yards and gardens, suddenly spring begins to be visible everywhere, with grass and leaves showing the lovely color of green that we all crave after months of a brown landscape. During the winter, I begin to notice some plants emerge, especially if the weather is ..read more