Nature Archives - Page 4 of 5 - First Peak of the Blue Ridge
1-800-440-7848
1 (800) 440-7848

Speaker Series at Walnut Creek Preserve

Free event: “The Backyard Chorus – Insect Songs Through the Seasons” on June 15 10:30am-12pm Timothy G Forrest talks about insects. Advance registration is required “Why do insects make sounds?  How do they make sounds?  What are the common sound-producing species in North Carolina and when are they most active?  If you are curious about these questions, this is a presentation for you!  This presentation is a brief introduction to the most common singing insects with special reference to those in North Carolina.  The talk discusses the function and mechanisms of sound production for crickets, katydids, and cicadas.  Along with learning tidbits of natural history and the behavior of singing insects, you hear the species-specific songs that help you identify them and you learn how the chorus in your backyard changes during the year. Tim Forrest is an Emeritus Professor of Biology at UNC-Asheville and has been studying and teaching about insect biology and behavior for over 40 years.   He received Masters and Doctoral degrees in Entomology from the University of Florida. After postdoctoral research in Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell University, he took a position in the Biology Department at UNCA.  There, Tim taught courses in Ecology, Evolution, Animal Behavior, Invertebrate Zoology, and Entomology.  For 9 years during his tenure at UNCA, Tim organized and ran Bug Camp, a week-long summer camp for middle school...

Speaker Series at Walnut Creek Preserve

Free speaker series on Saturday, May 18, 10:30am-12pm Speaker Robin Edgar discusses the shocking facts about plastic pollution and how plastics effects plant and animal life. Advance registration is required at:...

Animals we Love to Hate at FENCE

Enjoy this free presentation. Join Naturalist Carlton Burke for a live animal program featuring Animals we love to hate. There are certain species of animals that many people fear and hate, largely due to prejudice and misinformation. Far from being the pests or villains however, many of these creatures are actually beneficial to man and play very important roles in the natural world. Assembled in this presentation are many of these animals we love to...

Lake Adger Celebration

The Lake Adger Celebration is free and fun for the whole family. There will be guided kayak tours, fishing demonstrations, guided bird walks, activities for kids, and more. Meet at the Lake Adger boat ramp, 4741 Lake Adger Road, Mill Spring, NC.

40th Anniversary Community Bash at FENCE

Celebration Bash at FENCE Free community event at FENCE on Sunday, April 28, 12-4pm. Enjoy a free lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs, see classic cars, let the kids play on the inflatable slides and bounce houses, play games, enjoy free popcorn, and free cotton candy. Free music by The Basement Bunch and a special performance by the Sizemore Gymnastic Academy of Tryon. Polk County Sheriff’s Office will have K9 demos and vehicles on display. Polk County EMS, Columbus Fire Department, Polk County Parks and Rec., Polk County Libraries, and more will be available to answer questions and talk with the community. There will be booths and information tables with goodie bags for distribution, local businesses will be on hand to provide information and lots more....

Speaker Series at Saluda Library

Enjoy the free speaker series at Saluda Library. Please RSVP to attend the event at: https://conservingcarolina.org/ June 11 at 2pm. “An Introduction to Western Carolina Butterflies” led by Dr. David Ahrenholz. Participants will learn how to identify the butterflies of western Carolina’s through photographs, as well as the food plants needed to attract both the caterpillar and adult stages to your home butterfly...

“For the Love of Bats” Presentation at Saluda Library

Free: May 14, 2pm, at Saluda Library. The program will focus on the only flying mammal, bats. Mark Ray will discuss some of the bat species found in western North Carolina, where they live, and why they are beneficial to have around. He will also share the most recent research on White Nose Syndrome and the NCWRC’s bat conservation efforts. Please RSVP at: https://conservingcarolina.org...

Gardening for Life Speaker & Event

  Free event at Polk County High School – tickets are required and available at: http://www.conservingcarolina.org beginning Feb 1. The Gardening for Life Celebration is a free community event celebrating ways we can all make a difference to preserve and protect biodiversity in the Carolina Foothills and beyond. Enjoy a day of discovery, surprise and lively community conversations. Event highlights: 2024 Keynote Speaker: Jim McCormac: Award-winning author, botanist, conservationist, photographer Native plant sale Educational exhibits Free drawing of great giveaways Much more Come ready to shop from a wide variety of native plant species (some very hard to find species, too!) available in our region....

Creating an Ecologically Sustainable Landscape at Saluda Library

April 9, 2-3:30pm at Saluda Library, 44 W. Main St., Saluda, NC. Using plants in ways that create pleasing and attractive gardens can be as simple as using nature for your inspiration. By including a diversity of native plants, focusing on species that support native insects, birds, and other wildlife, your landscape can become not only sustainable, but attractive and easily maintained. Learn how to choose plants that naturally work together using a plant community approach, reflecting the aesthetic of natural Blue Ridge landscapes. This is a free event. Please RSVP here:...