Participants in winter plant identification classes at Sarah P. Duke Gardens and the N.C. Botanical Garden are making friends with numerous trees that are easily recognized when they are bare and leafless.
Category: Flora
Reading the landscape
Reading the landscape can be really engaging for those who take to our local trails with an intention to get more than exercise or a dog walk.
Ivy removal success stories
What do Springer’s Point on Ocracoke Island and UNC’s Battle Park have in common? English ivy, Hedera helix – that’s what they have in common.
A special place for flora and fauna
Not far from Chapel Hill’s Merritt Pasture stands Stillhouse Bottom.
Birding and botanizing
There are birders and there are botanizers. Birders are not necessarily ornithologists and botanizers are not necessarily botanists.
New Year’s resolve for weekly explorations
By Ken Moore
Flora Columnist
This time every year, I encourage folks to resolve to walk a trail through local natural areas at least every weekend, beginning with New Year’s Day.
Don’t orphan that special tree
As we approach all the celebration and joys of Dec. 25, take a time out to reflect on the specialness of that tree you brought indoors to accompany your family traditions.
Mistletoe in the news
Mistletoe was in the news last week.
Bringing evergreens indoors
When I was a youngster, bringing evergreen holly branches indoors at Christmas time just seemed like the thing to do.
Exploring with like-minded folk
Thanksgiving Day included a walk in the woods. Lingering fall color and the beautiful beginnings of the winter forest landscape were worthy of giving thanks.
Thanksgiving explorations
Here we are observing another Thanksgiving. Folks remaining here at home most likely have family and friends joining them for the seasonal tradition.
Celebrating North Carolina Native- American heritage
Two plants I mentioned last week when leading into the coral honeysuckle story are wax myrtle and yaupon holly.
Botanical surprises on the beach dunes
Botanical surprises on the beach dunes
Thankfully, when my surf fishing is not successful, I can fall back on the pleasures of taking a closer look at the variety of plants holding the sandy dunes in place.
A trail just for walkers!
Three cheers for the guys who manage UNC Carolina North’s 20-plus miles of trails! There is now a footpath reserved exclusively for walkers. Believe it or not, the markers at the trailheads state that the trail is for “walking only, no dogs, no runners, and no bikes.â€
Flora and fauna on Cane Creek Reservoir
I thank UNC librarian and Flora reader Margaretta Yarborough for sharing stories and pictures of her frequent Cane Creek Reservoir paddling adventures. As a kayak-birder, she manages to capture some engaging images from her kayak. Those images influenced me to go paddling on the lake this past Saturday.